Your first 90 days in Dubai: a kabayan's checklist
Kamusta, kabayan. If you just landed in Dubai with a suitcase full of hope and a knot of excitement in your stomach, take a breath. The first 90 days are a whirlwind of new sights, new smells, and new systems that seem to move at their own pace. You are not alone in this. Every Filipino who has walked the corridors of Dubai airports knows that feeling of being both lost and found at the same time. This checklist is your kuya, your ate, and your trusted friend all in one. Kaya mo yan, and together we will walk through it step by step.
Your papers are your first true anchor in this city. Even before you worry about finding the best adobo in Karama, make it your business to understand your visa status and your Emirates ID journey. Your employer will typically handle the medical test, biometrics, and Emirates ID application, but the responsibility of tracking your status remains with you. Download the official UAE ICP smart services app and check your residency status regularly. Your Emirates ID is your golden key, as it unlocks everything from your SIM card to your bank account and your health insurance. Keep photocopies of your passport, visa page, and entry stamp in your wallet and a digital copy in your phone. Do not carry the original passport out unless you truly need it.
While waiting for your Emirates ID, you can already make your first practical step into daily life by getting your SIM card. The two main telecom providers, du and e&, have branches across the city, and many kiosks operate in the major malls. Bring your passport and your visa copy, and you can be connected within minutes. Ask the sales assistant for a prepaid plan that fits your first months, and do not be shy to ask about the promotions for new residents. Once you are connected, your family in the Philippines is just a video call away. That little connection is a lifeline that will help you survive the lonely evenings.
Your bank account should be next on your list, and this is where you start building your financial foundation in the UAE. Approach the bank where your employer has a salary account, as this often means faster processing and lower fees. Typical requirements are your passport, your Emirates ID, and an official salary certificate from your employer. Some banks have become friendly to newly arrived workers and will guide you through a simplified process. Do not rush this decision. Sit with a customer service officer, ask about monthly maintenance fees, ATM charges, and the ease of their mobile banking app. Remember that this account is your partner in many things to come, especially when the time comes to send money home.
Speaking of home, sending money is one of the most important rituals of kabayan life. Do not simply go to the first money exchange you see near the Metro. Take time in your first weeks to compare the exchange rates and fees across a few licensed exchange houses and banking apps. Many trusted remittance services have branches in Bur Dubai and Deira, and they are often open seven days a week. There are also digital options where you can transfer directly from your bank account to a Philippine bank in minutes. Your family back home relies on your padala, so make this a measured and thoughtful decision. Every extra dirham kept in your pocket is a little victory for your savings goals.
You will also need to think about housing, and this will likely be your biggest adjustment. In the beginning, many kabayans choose shared accommodations in areas like Karama, Satwa, Al Qusais, or Deira, where rents are more forgiving and the community is dense with Filipino faces. Before you commit your first advance payment, visit the place at different times of the day, especially during the evening rush and on weekends, to get a feel for the noise and the commute. If you rent directly from a landlord, you will encounter terms like security deposit, agency commission, and the famous one cheque payment system, so take a keen-eyed kabayan with you who understands the local ropes. Your home does not need to be fancy, but it should be your sanctuary after long shifts.
Your health insurance is not a luxury, and it is your right under the UAE system. Your employer should provide you with a health insurance card, and you must understand which hospitals and clinics are covered by that policy. Ask your HR or PRO for the list of network providers and keep the card with you at all times, whether at work or at play. If a colleague recommends a clinic in Karama or in Oud Metha, check if it accepts your insurance before you book an appointment. And for emergencies, know these numbers by heart: police is 999, and the ambulance is 998. Teach these numbers to your wife or your mother in the Philippines as well, so they have peace of mind knowing you know them.
Once the basics of survival are settled, your soul will begin to ask for community, and that is a beautiful need. You will find your people almost immediately, because the Filipino community in Dubai is vast, warm, and always ready to welcome a newcomer. Find your Sunday home at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oud Metha or at one of the Christian fellowships across the city, and you will leave Mass with a handful of new titas and titos who will check if you have eaten yet. There are also provincial associations and regional groups that host gatherings, outreach events, and the occasional kamayan dinner. Do not isolate yourself in the first months. Say yes to the lunch invitation. That is how you build your own family away from home.
Yet even with a strong community, there will be days when the weight of distance settles on your chest. Feeling homesick is not a weakness, and missing the sound of your mother's voice is not a reason for shame. In your first 90 days, build small anchors of stability for your mental health. Keep a regular sleep routine, prepare your own meals on your days off, and make a schedule for video calls with your family that both you and they can look forward to. Write in a journal or simply walk around your neighborhood in the evening to let your thoughts settle. If the sadness becomes too heavy, know that there are confidential counseling services in Dubai and that the Philippine Consulate General can guide you to appropriate support. You came here to build a better life, and that includes protecting the mind and heart that carry you through it.
At the end of these 90 days, you will realize that Dubai no longer feels like a strange, glittering maze. You will know which Metro station brings you home, which grocery carries your favorite Filipino snacks, and which karinderya in Satwa makes you feel like you are back in Manila. You will have built a small but steady routine, and with it, a quiet, growing confidence. The first weeks are never easy, but every kabayan who came before you has stood where you stand now. Look up, smile at the skyline, and keep going. Your journey is just beginning, and the best parts are still ahead of you.
