Cost to Get Licensed & Move to the Gulf
Add up every fee β DataFlow, exam, licence, visa, flights and setup.
Add up the real, one-time cost of getting licensed and moving to the Gulf β from DataFlow and the exam to attestation, visa, flights and setup β so there are no surprises.
Tick the costs that apply to you. Some, like the work visa, are usually paid by your employer.
Good to know
Under UAE labour law your employer must legally cover the work permit, medical and Emirates ID once you're hired β so your real out-of-pocket cost is often the lower end. Saudi (SCFHS) costs are broadly comparable in SAR: classification/registration ~SAR 200, Prometric ~SAR 1,000β1,100, DataFlow ~SAR 1,000β1,400 (separate). Employers typically sponsor the Iqama, medical and one-way flight, similar to the UAE.
Indicative AED ranges compiled from 2026 public sources; attestation, visa and housing vary widely by city, employer and your documents. DataFlow and the exam are shown separately as they're paid to different bodies.
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Budgeting your move, honestly
The licensing costs (DataFlow, exam, licence) are unavoidable and paid to three different bodies. The relocation costs (attestation, visa, medical, Emirates ID, flight, accommodation) vary a lot β and a good chunk is legally your employer's responsibility once you have a job offer. The smartest approach is to fund the pre-job steps yourself, secure an offer, then let the employer sponsor the rest.
Planning the money is only worth it if you'll earn it back fast β and in the tax-free Gulf you usually do. See what you could earn after licensing, check your eligibility, and estimate the timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Budget roughly AED 6,000β20,000 in one-time costs to get licensed and relocate β DataFlow (~AED 935), the DHA exam (~AED 800β1,100), licence issuance, degree attestation, medical, Emirates ID and a flight. Much of the visa/medical cost is legally covered by your employer, so out-of-pocket is often the lower end, plus your first month's living costs.
Under UAE labour law the employer must cover the work permit/visa, medical fitness test and Emirates ID once you're hired. You typically fund the steps that come before a job β DataFlow, the exam, attestation and your flight β plus your initial living expenses.
No. DataFlow (primary source verification) is paid to the DataFlow Group, the exam is paid to Prometric, and the licence fee is paid to the health authority β three separate payments. Our calculator lists them separately so nothing is hidden.
On top of the one-time relocation costs, keep 1β2 months of living expenses. Shared accommodation in Dubai/Abu Dhabi starts around AED 1,500β3,000/month; a deposit plus first month for your own place can be AED 5,000β12,000.
Broadly yes, in SAR: SCFHS registration ~SAR 200, Prometric ~SAR 1,000β1,100, DataFlow ~SAR 1,000β1,400. As in the UAE, employers usually sponsor the Iqama, medical and flight.
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