The UAE

UAE Relocation Concierge

Your UAE life,
beautifully placed.

We take the overwhelm out of moving to the UAE, and moving on from it, so both ends of the journey are handled.

"My greatest wish is for every person who makes this move to spend their energy falling in love with it, just as we have. Looking back on our own early months, the one thing I would have changed is having someone on hand to offer guidance and reassurance, and that's exactly the role I would love to play for other families making this journey."

Melanie Wallace  ·  Co-Founder, The Relocation Collective

UAE lifestyle
2+ Years on the ground

Think of us as your personal concierge for one of life's biggest moves.

The way a great hotel concierge just knows: the best table, the right neighbourhood, who to call. That's what we are for your UAE relocation. One call and we handle the rest.

From overwhelmed to settled
in 30 days.

Without a concierge

200 browser tabs, three contradictory Facebook groups, zero clarity
No idea which suburb suits your family, your budget, your school needs
Signing a lease before understanding the school zone commute
Discovering your preferred school has an 18-month waiting list, after you've arrived
Months of settling in that should have been weeks of living

With The Relocation Collective

One conversation. One concierge. Everything handled.
School shortlisted, neighbourhood matched, lease negotiated
Banking sorted, community found, the best coffee spot already bookmarked
Keys in hand, kids enrolled, family settled
90 days of WhatsApp support for every question that follows

This could be your Saturday morning.

Beach clubs. Sunshine. A city that feels both glamorous and safe. Once you're settled, this is the life the UAE delivers every single week.

UAE beach club lifestyle

Every pillar of your
UAE relocation.

We cover the six things that make or break a family relocation.

01

Schooling

Curriculum comparisons, shortlists matched to your family, application guidance, and waiting list reality checks. We know which schools have spaces, and which don't.

02

Housing

Area guides by budget and lifestyle, vetted rental shortlists, virtual walk-throughs, and lease negotiation. We match neighbourhood to school before you sign anything.

03

Banking

Step-by-step setup guides for the UAE's major banks, with the right documents prepared in advance. No queues. No surprises.

04

Emirates ID

Documentation checklist, process guidance and timeline management for your Emirates ID application. One of the most important steps, handled properly from the start.

05

Community & Lifestyle

The neighbourhoods, the beach clubs, the healthcare providers, the expat networks. We help you find your people, and your favourite Saturday morning spot.

06

Ongoing Support

WhatsApp and email support for every question: big, small, practical, or just reassuring. The concierge relationship doesn't end on arrival day.

UAE architecture

A country unlike anywhere else in the world.

Ancient culture and world-class modernity side by side. Among the safest places on earth. A lifestyle that rewards families who make the leap.

Choose your level
of concierge.

Every package is built on the same belief: whether you are arriving or moving on, you deserve to be living, not still figuring it out.

Self-guided

The Essential

From AED 1,800

A comprehensive digital concierge package: all the insider knowledge, beautifully organised, so you can move with confidence on your own terms.

  • School directory & curriculum comparison
  • Area guides by budget & family type
  • UAE banking setup guide
  • Emirates ID application guide
  • Lifestyle guide: communities, healthcare, transport
  • Pre-arrival checklist
  • 30 days email support

Perfect for the independent mover who wants expert intel without the full concierge.

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Guided Support

The Guided

From AED 3,500

Everything in The Essential, plus the personal guidance to point you in the right direction from day one: a discovery call, a shortlist you can trust, and a friendly voice on WhatsApp while you settle in.

  • Everything in The Essential
  • One 1-on-1 discovery call (60 minutes)
  • Personalised area recommendation based on your brief
  • Curated school shortlist (without application support)
  • 60 days WhatsApp support

Perfect for families who want expert direction without full hands-on management.

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Full Concierge

The Bespoke

From AED 9,000

Everything in The Essential, plus Melanie and Kate working alongside you personally, your dedicated concierge from first call to fully settled.

  • Two 1-on-1 discovery calls with Melanie and Kate
  • One in-person meeting in your first week
  • Personalised school shortlist with application support
  • Vetted rental shortlist of 3–5 matched properties
  • Virtual property walk-through coordination
  • Emirates ID application guidance & documentation support
  • 90 days WhatsApp & email support

Add-ons: in-person school visit (AED 800), property viewing day (AED 1,200), lease negotiation (AED 500), Golden Visa eligibility check (AED 400), pet relocation guide (AED 350), will & estate planning (AED 600).

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Leaving the UAE

The Onward Package

For leaving the UAE well.

Leaving is arrival in reverse, and just as much to manage. We coordinate the exit end to end. One point of contact, the same trusted panel, nothing forgotten.

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  • Lease cancellation and property handover
  • Selling or exporting the car
  • De-registering children from school
  • Closing bank accounts
  • Final utilities and telecoms settlement
  • Pet export
  • Shipping
  • The cross-border tax conversation before you go

B2B and corporate concierge available. Contact us to discuss.

Questions families
ask us every week.

Can we actually afford to live in the UAE?

Most families are pleasantly surprised. There's no income tax, schooling is competitive, and depending on your budget, your standard of living can be significantly higher than back home. That said, there are hidden costs to be aware of. A little preparation goes a long way.

Which curriculum is best for our children?

It depends on your long-term plans. British and Australian curricula suit families likely to return home. IB suits globally mobile families. American works well for US-bound families. We help you map this before you shortlist a single school.

How long do school waiting lists really take?

The most popular schools in the UAE can have waiting lists of 12–18 months. This is the single most common mistake we help families avoid: school selection must happen before housing, not after.

Do we need a car in the UAE?

Almost always yes. The UAE isn't built for walking, and school runs, grocery trips and weekend life are largely car-dependent. We factor commute times into every neighbourhood and school recommendation.

Can foreigners buy property in the UAE?

Yes, in designated freehold zones. Many of our Bespoke clients receive a property investment primer so they understand the market before committing to renting or buying.

Is the UAE safe for families?

The UAE consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world, with some of the lowest crime rates globally. It's one of the most commonly cited reasons families fall in love with life here.

Your concierge journey,
from first call to settled.

01

Reach Out

Send us a message and we will be in touch.

02

Discovery Call

We learn about your family, timeline, and priorities. This is where the concierge relationship begins.

03

Your Package

We match you to the right level of support and everything gets underway: school, home, life.

04

Arrive & Thrive

Melanie and Kate stay in your corner well past landing day.

05

Move On Well

When it’s time to leave, we unwind the whole setup: home, car, schools, banking, pets and shipping, so you close this chapter cleanly and land well wherever’s next.

Families we’ve landed well.

Meet the team.

Melanie Wallace
Melanie Wallace  ·  Co-Founder

Melanie Wallace

Co-Founder  ·  UAE

Melanie moved to Abu Dhabi with her husband and two children aged 10 and 6 and fell completely in love with the life the UAE offers families. The sun, the safety, the opportunity. She wanted everyone to experience it. But she also knew firsthand how overwhelming the logistics could be. All of it standing between a family and the life they came for.

So she built The Relocation Collective, to be the knowledgeable, warm, utterly reliable concierge every family deserves when they make this move. Now into her second year on the ground, with all the contacts, all the insights, and a genuine passion for helping people land well and love where they've landed.

Melanie with her family

Melanie & her family

Kate Gundelach
Kate Gundelach  ·  Co-Founder

Kate Gundelach

Co-Founder  ·  UAE

Kate moved to Abu Dhabi two years ago with her husband and two little ones, aged six and four, and knows exactly what that first chapter feels like: the excitement, the chaos, the endless WhatsApp groups, the moment you realise you signed a lease before properly understanding the school zones.

She's Australian, she's a mum, and she's lived the relocation experience from the inside. The difference is, she also spent 15 years working with some of the world's biggest digital brands, so she knows how to cut through noise, find the right people, and get things done. The empathy of someone who's been there, and the connections to make it smoother for you.

Kate with her family

Kate & her family

We support families relocating right across the UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and beyond. Get in touch and we'll let you know how we can help.

Let's talk about
your move.

Whether you're just beginning to wonder if the UAE could be your family's next chapter, you have a flight booked, or you are starting to plan your move on from the UAE, reach out. This is exactly what our concierge is here for.

Phone / WhatsApp

+971 5568 22270

Tell us about your move