You have just arrived in Dubai- or perhaps Abu Dhabi. The customs line is cloudy, the sun is burning and it is all new. But, the zinger is you have turned into roaming mode, and your favorite applications are denied access, and life becomes a bit detached.
Welcome to UAE – in here your convenient expat life will begin not only with a visa or an apartment, but with an excellent digital toolset.
The following are the fundamental digital tools that will make your expat life in the UAE smarter, safer and much more comfortable in 2025.
1. Secure Your Connection: VPNs Are a Must
Don this, install a quality VPN (Virtual Private Network) before you even unpack it. The UAE also implements internet blockages, and such services as WhatsApp voice calls, Skype, or even certain streaming are not supported.
Why a VPN matters:
- Get geo-blocked material
- Keep your information safe in a shared network
- Banking, cloud storage, and others are secured
Best recommendations: VeePN, NordVPN, ExpressVPN
Tip: Adopt VPNs in a right and legal way as suggested by UAE.
2. Communication Without Chaos
Miss your friends in home country? Most VoIP apps are blocked in UAE, however legal video and voice calls can be made with the help of approved alternatives Botim and HiU Messenger app.
Bonus Tools:
- Google meet (usually through VPN), Zoom (in some cases, VPN as well)
- World Time Buddy -Go Across the clock gap
- Every Time Zone Simple graphical planner
Being in touch without a mess of appointments.
3. Manage Your Money Smartly
Expats have to balance out between two financial universes which include home country banking and accounts based in UAE. It is important to make it easy to transfer money and not to be subjected to occasionally unwisdom surcharges.
Must-Have Tools:
- Wise (TransferWise) Cross-border transfers at low costs
- Revolut / Payoneer– Multicurrency support and budgeting
- XE / Currency Converter Plus – real time exchange tracking
The Emirates NBD, ADCB, and FAB mobile applications are expat-friendly and digital-first in case of local banking.
4. Work From Anywhere (Literally)
Teleworking or even hybrid work is on the rise and the UAE has what it takes to employ digital professionals.
Productivity Stack:
- Notion, Trello, ClickUp – Tasks and projects organization
- Dropbox / Google Drive－Keep and share important documents
- Evernote Personal project management idea capture
Don’t forget:
- Password manager: 1Password, or Bitwarden
- 2FA apps: Google Authenicator, Authy, Duo
Backup visas, Emirates ID and passports to stores in a secure manner.
5. Daily Life & Local Living
As a settler, there are the basics that you will require to live in that place, such as groceries, transportation, learning Arabic and networking.
Go-To Apps:
Careem Ride-hailing, food, grocery
Talabat / Deliveroo / Noon -Food / e-commerce
Duolingo / Mondly: learn basics of Arabic behind the go
Meetup/ Internations– Create a social network
Expat life can be lonely – this is how you can find your people in the expat world.
6. Digital Safety & Hygiene
When you live in a foreign county, your online presence is also broader and less safe. Take initiative against online security.
Digital Safety Tools:
- VPN– Secure browsing, one that is always on
- 2FA apps Two Factor Authentication apps
- Password Managers Learn to safe keep credentials
- Cloud Backup– Google Drive/ icloud docs& memories
Always protect devices through screen locks, biometrics and encrypted memory.
