If you’re landing in Dubai for the first time with meaningful wealth – a crypto founder, an emerging-market entrepreneur, a family principal – here’s the 48-hour checklist our advance teams use for arriving clients.
Airport to residence
- Meet-and-greet service airside where status allows; otherwise curbside at Terminal 1/3 or DWC VIP.
- Single, pre-inspected vehicle with two operators; a separate chase car for larger delegations.
- Route pre-planned with two primary and one alternate option.
First 24 hours at residence
- Residence walk-through: entry points, blind spots, existing CCTV, staff access.
- Emergency egress plan briefed to principal and household.
- SIM and communications setup – local numbers, encrypted messaging, backup devices.
- Medical: nearest A&E, private clinic on retainer, medications reconciled.
Day two
- Local orientation drive – office, bank, preferred restaurants, school if relevant.
- Banking appointments with protective coverage. Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and ENBD Private typically require advance booking.
- Legal and tax introductions if required.
Common mistakes
- Booking the famous hotel. Boutique residences off the tourist paths are harder to target.
- Flashing cash at valet. Dubai runs on cards; cash draws attention.
- Trusting the airport currency kiosks.
If you want the long-form version of this checklist tailored to your arrival, message us on WhatsApp.