About Outro · By expats, for expats
Big moves, done right
We are expats living in Dubai, like you. Most of us leave one day, and when we looked into what that takes, the answers were scattered across dozens of websites and nobody tells you the order. So we put it all in one place.
What Outro is
A free guide to closing everything properly before you go: job, visa, home, utilities, banks and car. Every step in the right order, with the official link for each one. No ads, no commissions, no sign-up.
We build it together
Every expat who leaves learns something the hard way. If you see something wrong, missing or unclear, or you know a tip that would help the next person, tell us. It takes a few seconds, needs no name or email, and makes the guide better for everyone who leaves after you.
How we keep it right
Each step is checked against the official page it links to, and all steps are checked again together. The date of the last check is at the bottom of every page, and every change is listed on What changed.
Every source we use (129)
- UAE government portal: ending an employment contract and notice periods
- MOHRE inquiry services (opens in Arabic: choose English at the top): View Approved Contract
- Gulf News: notice period rules (Article 43)
- Gulf News: notice period, compensation and probation
- UAE government portal: end-of-service benefits (private sector)
- MOHRE: cancellation of work permits and employment contracts
- Mondaq: resignation in the UAE
- MOHRE: register a labour complaint
- Gulf News: gratuity and the 14-day payment rule
- DLA Piper: resigning no longer reduces gratuity (new labour law)
- Gulf News: sign the settlement only after you are paid
- Gulf News: UAE gratuity calculation guide 2026
- GDRFA Dubai: Cancellation of all types of residence permits
- GDRFA Dubai: check your file status
- ICP: Cancellation of residency permits (grace periods by category)
- Gulf News: grace period after employment visa cancellation
- Gulf News: health cover during the grace period
- Gulf News: frozen accounts and debts when leaving
- u.ae: General provisions for the residence visa
- The National: Dubai links traffic fine payments to visa transactions (July 2025)
- MOHRE: Cancellation of a domestic worker’s work permit
- MOHRE: Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts
- Gulf News: MOHRE steps to cancel a work permit
- GDRFA Dubai: contact and Amer numbers
- u.ae: Golden visa
- u.ae: Residence visa for family members
- Dubai Law 26 of 2007 on landlords and tenants (Article 7)
- Rental Disputes Centre: frequently asked questions
- Gulf News: ending a Dubai rental contract early
- Mondaq: early termination and Article 20 deposit refund
- Rental Disputes Centre: register a writ of payment
- Dubai Land Department: Cancel Tenancy Contract (Ejari)
- Dubai Land Department: Ejari services guide
- DEWA: Deactivation of Electricity/Water (Move-out)
- Gulf News: how to deactivate DEWA when moving out
- Dubai Land Department: property sale registration
- The National: keeping a UAE account as a non-resident
- BSA Law: Land Department standards for powers of attorney
- UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021 (Articles 16 and 53)
- Gulf News: leaving staff accommodation after your contract ends
- DEWA: Request for Refund (times, limits, fees)
- Khaleej Times: DEWA deposit AED 2,000 flat, AED 4,000 villa
- Empower: E-Final Bill Procedure (documents, timing, refund options)
- Empower: final settlement request, step by step
- Empower: owner’s no-objection letter format
- Emicool: customers (cancellation and deposit refund)
- Emicool: tenant cancellation documents
- Tasleem (billing for Tabreed)
- Gulf News: discontinuing district cooling
- Royal Gas: disconnection, final invoice and deposit (questions and answers)
- Royal Gas: terms and conditions (deposit and moving out)
- Lootah BCGas: terms (disconnection and deposit refund)
- Lootah BCGas: customer portal guide (PDF)
- e&: Code of Practice (cancelling services)
- e&: Leaving the UAE (cancelling Postpaid and eLife)
- e&: Home Wireless cancellation charges
- e& eLife terms: early termination charges
- du: How can I cancel my Home Services?
- du: Consumer Services Agreement (ending your services)
- du Home plans: fees and questions
- Virgin Mobile: Home Internet (cancellation)
- Arab Times: disconnecting e&, du and Virgin
- e&: Wasel prepaid line (validity, SMS abroad)
- du: cancel a postpaid line or move it to prepaid
- du: How can I cancel my Prepaid line?
- Virgin Mobile: cancel my account
- Central Bank of the UAE: card closure rules (clause 5.1.1.32)
- Emirates NBD: cancelling your credit card
- Emirates NBD: request a clearance letter
- FAB: services now only in the app
- FAB: credit card terms (PDF)
- ADCB: credit card loans (questions)
- ADCB: mobile banking services
- Dubai Islamic Bank: card services key facts (PDF)
- Dubai Islamic Bank: card terms (PDF)
- Mashreq: credit card key facts (PDF)
- Emirates Islamic: request a clearance letter
- HSBC UAE: closing your account
- Emirates NBD: request a liability or no-liability letter
- Central Bank of the UAE: maximum fees (early settlement 1%, maximum AED 10,000)
- Dubai Police: services (Circulars and travel bans)
- u.ae: checks before you travel (travel ban)
- Abu Dhabi Judicial Department: Estafser
- Gulf News: check and lift travel bans online
- Khaleej Times: Circulars and Travel Bans enquiry service (December 2025)
- RTA: Pay Vehicle Fines
- Khaleej Times: updated Salik terms (July 2024)
- Emirates NBD: update your residency status
- The National: close your bank account last (Sept 2026)
- Khaleej Times: bank accounts after visa cancellation (April 2025)
- Emirates NBD: close an account
- ADCB: close your account in the app
- Dubai Islamic Bank: savings account key facts (PDF)
- Mashreq: NEO current account (questions)
- Mashreq: accounts (questions)
- Emirates Islamic: close an account
- FTA: Tax Residency Certificate (rules, fees, start the service)
- FTA EmaraTax login
- Central Bank of the UAE: unified motor policy (cancellation and refund scale)
- Policybazaar: cancelling health insurance and refunds
- Policybazaar: life insurance after visa cancellation
- RTA: Apply for Changing a Vehicle Ownership
- RTA: Cancel Vehicle Registration (Export Certificate)
- Salik (tags and balance)
- RTA: Insurance Refund Certificate
- Central Bank rulebook: Unified Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy
- Khaleej Times: car rental circular, deposit within 30 days (March 2024)
- Gulf News: car rental deposit refund rules
- KHDA (Dubai private schools)
- Dubai Scholars: a full term’s notice is common
- KHDA Registration and Refund Policy (effective 23 March 2026)
- Gulf News: Dubai school registration, deposit and refund rules (August 2026)
- KHDA: Attestation of School Certificate
- Gulf News: KHDA transfer certificate, fee and timing (March 2024)
- MOFA: Documents Attestation
- MOFA FAQs (AED 150 per individual document; digital attestation of birth certificates)
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table (UAE not a party)
- Federal Decree-Law 9 of 2022 on domestic workers
- MOCCAE export and import services
- Cabinet Resolution 152 of 2025: MOCCAE fees
- Khaleej Times: MOCCAE certificate, 30-day validity and airport check
- Dubai Police: Police Clearance Certificate (apply, fees, validity)
- Gulf News: Dubai Police clearance certificate
- Dubai health insurance bylaw, Article 26 (Administrative Resolution 78 of 2022)
- UAE government portal: customs clearance and declaring cash
- Dubai Municipality: services
- Khaleej Times: free bulk waste removal via WhatsApp 800900
- Central Bank of the UAE: Regulation 29/2011, Article 9 (bank accounts)
- HSBC UAE: personal banking terms (PDF)
Good to know
Outro is independent. It is not a government service, it is not connected with any authority, bank or company named on this site, and it is not legal, tax or financial advice. If an official page says something different from us, follow the official page and tell us.
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