In the process of planning a relocation, it’s essential to understand that it takes time and flexibility. We recently moved back to France after a year-long experience in Dubai, and even though we had previously moved to France from Hong Kong a few years ago, we encountered several challenges. Our experience taught us that preparing for the move OUT is just as important as settling IN the new place.
1. Moving out of Dubai
Dubai is known for welcoming expatriates with open arms, but leaving the country presents its unique set of challenges. Despite our efforts to plan three months in advance, we encountered various hurdles.
1.1 Selling our car
When we arrived in Dubai in 2022, it was during the summer, a peak time for expatriates to integrate their children into school. This period sees a high influx of people, causing demand for resources like cars and homes to soar while supply dwindles. We initially anticipated finding a second-hand car at a reasonable price, but upon arrival, we realized the reliable options were either gone or extremely expensive. Eventually, we invested in a brand new Toyota, the most reliable brand in the region, with a one-month waiting period due to low stock.
May and June are peak months for expatriates preparing to leave the country. This time frame presents a buyer’s market, and we used platforms like Dubizzle and SellAnyCar.com, along with social media channels like Facebook and WhatsApp Groups to sell our car.
Dubizzle is rife with scammers and low-ball offers, while SellAnyCar offers a better experience, allowing you to set your asking and bottom prices. Both platforms charge a commission in the range of 3-5% once the car is sold. We recommend them for a quick sale, although at a discount.
Facebook and WhatsApp Groups, especially those with expat and community-based members, are great options for more genuine and respectful offers. While there might be fewer offers, they are generally more serious. In the end, we manage to sell our car to a family who recently arrived and was in a similar situation as we were a year ago.
1.2 Closing Bank accounts
Closing our bank accounts proved to be a cumbersome process. Cancelling a credit card at Emirates NBD linked to a Fixed Deposit Account required multiple steps and waiting times, which could have been expedited by declaring the card lost. Some steps need to be performed on the phone, others at the branch, and obviously no one has a clear view on the overall process. Additionally, breaking the deposit account required an additional 45-day waiting period. Nevertheless, after 2 months, the deposit account wasn’t yet broken. Resolving these issues ultimately required raising a formal complaint through the bank’s app. We recommend using this feature (buried into the “Contact us” section) whenever services are not performed as expected.
1.3 Managing transportation of household belongings
I made quotes with movers 3 months before relocating, in order to get good quotes and clarification on the process and timeline. This industry is notoriously unreliable, and our goods took 1 more month than the 2-months that they agreed on. Thus you should include an extra month in your planning, and warmer or cooler set of clothes while packing.
We also discovered a tax-saving opportunity by using Groupage through Rotterdam to import our goods to Europe, avoiding import duty if we would have shipped our goods directly to France.
Moving to France
Returning to France was a relief, offering fresh air, beautiful landscapes, and the joy of reconnecting with friends and family. While France has its imperfections, it was a stark contrast to Dubai, and we cherished the change.
If you’re interested in more details about settling for FIRE in France, check out our previous post “How to successfully settle for FIRE in France?”. Feel free to ask questions in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Where are we now?
If you are interested to know, we came back to Annecy. We were missing the mountains, the landscapes, the outdoor. Our kids were able to rejoin their school, reunite with their friends and participate in many activities. We reconnected with friends and adjusted our lifestyle. We cherish what we have and are grateful for life. It sometimes takes to lose something, to finally truly appreciate its value.
Have you relocated to a different country? We invite you to share your relocation experiences and the challenges you’ve faced, whether at your starting point or destination. Your insights will help our community better navigate the relocation process.
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