Surviving Your First Year: 4 Tips for British Expats in Ras al-Khaimah

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A decade ago, virtually nobody is aware where Ras al-Khaimah is, but today, because of its continual economic growth, you may not only heard of this emirate if you were living under the rocks for the last couple of years. United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been very successful in making RAK an economic powerhouse, and this is apparent with numerous constructions of luxury hotels, openings of multi-national companies, and large migration to the city.



In 2006 RAK, enacted the Ras Al Khaimah International Company Law, a law comparable to successful international company regime of the British Virgin Islands. Today, due to the new legislations in the emirate, more businesses have set up their RAK offshore company. With minimum RAK offshore company formation fees, almost any medium to large business in the United Kingdom can afford to setup their offshore company.

In the past several years, many investors have cashed in on the growing economy of RAK. The result of this is expansive job market. Because of Ras al-Khaimah’s fairly healthy and growing job market, more and more people from other neighboring cities, emirates, and countries are moving to RAK in hopes of establishing a more lucrative career. RAK is currently the home of thousands of expats and foreign workers, even outnumbering locals.

This only proves that the small but economic giant emirate is a melting pot of professionals, skilled workers, business people, and even adventure-seeking tourists. This is why many British companies are interested in knowing more about RAK offshore company formation fees, in hopes of setting their own offshore company in the emirate.

If you are one of the British professionals who are intending to move to RAK to find a better career, you may want to learn about basic “survival” skills. These skills will help you have a convenient time adapting to UAE’s culture, lifestyle, and laws.

  1. Exchange local money to dirhams – The currency being used through UAE is dirham (AED). The exchange rate for GBP to AED is approximately AED 5.48. Before you move to Ras al-Khaimah, it is recommended to have your British pounds exchanged for dirhams so you will not have a hard time transacting with businesses when you arrive in RAK. You may also want to have your GBP exchanged for AED when you arrive at the airport.
  2. Ensure that you can use your cell phone in RAK – It is strongly recommended to consult your network carrier about using your cell phone in Ras al-Khaimah. You may also inquire the customer support of your cell phone brand to know whether or not your phone can be used in Ras al-Khaimah. Some cell phones are locked and can only be used in the country where it was bought. In order to avoid the hassle of not having a ready-to-use cell phone when you arrive in Ras al-Khaimah, you would have to contact your service provider before you move.
  3. Learn about the basics of RAK laws – RAK has some laws that may be alien to British professionals, and you have to watch out for these laws because you don’t want to spoil your stay in UAE. You should know that consuming alcohol outside establishments that are licensed to serve alcohol is illegal. Additionally, if you drink, don’t even think about driving as the UAE has zero tolerance for intoxicated driving. If you are a fan of public display of affection (PDA), better not think about doing it in the Emirates. PDA is not only frowned upon in UAE but is also unlawful.

Moving to UAE may not be a practical idea a decade ago, but because of its current economic stability, its job market is better than ever. One of the main reasons why workers and professionals flock the emirate is because there is no income tax.

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