Gulf & Energy Economies

Relocating Your Family From the UAE to the Netherlands

Updated: 18 August 2026 Holdwise editorial team UAE Family Relocation

UAE families make the smoothest Gulf-to-Netherlands relocate: they already live internationally, with expat schools, global neighbours and English everywhere. The Dutch chapter feels like a change of scenery. What changes: four seasons, bicycles, and a school system with a public option to consider. At Holdwise, we keep this answer up to date. You find the steps further down this page.

Schools and fees

The international schools in Amsterdam, Amstelveen and The Hague teach the same programmes that families know from Dubai: IB, British and American. The fees are usually lower than in the Emirates. Dutch public and bilingual schools are among the best in the world, and tuition at these schools is free. Many families who stay longer relocate their younger children to these schools after one year. See international schools in the Netherlands.

Homes and neighbourhoods

Families who live in a Marina tower often choose an apartment or a canal house in Amsterdam-Zuid. Families who live in a villa often choose Wassenaar, Amstelveen or the Gooi. See buying a luxury home in the Netherlands. On a family home, the transfer tax is 2%. Investment property is held in a separate structure. See Dutch real estate through a BV for UAE investors.

Planning to buy a family home? See how buyers from abroad buy Dutch property and which transfer tax applies.

Weather and daily life

Summers are 22°C to 26°C, so you rarely need air conditioning. Winters are short and mild, with many grey days. Families use the bicycle more than the car, and children from the UAE get used to this fastest. Halal food and mosques are available across the Randstad. There are several direct flights a day between Dubai and Schiphol, so the family can visit the grandparents often.

Compare the Netherlands with Ireland and Germany on tax, substance, running costs and time. See setting up a Dutch subsidiary for a foreign parent company.

Residence and sequence

The family business comes first: recognised sponsorship through your own BV or the self-employment scheme: the 90-day checklist, with the company registered first: the UAE incorporation guide. Managing both cities is its own skill: the twin-base pattern.

Free advice

Want our team to have a look?

We help you set up your business in the Netherlands: your company, your tax and your residence permit. Tell us where you stand or what you are planning. You get free advice on your next step.

Part of Doing Business in the Netherlands, the complete 2026 guide.

Frequently asked questions

Will the children adjust after life in Dubai? +

Yes, usually within one school term. They follow the same international programmes, with classmates from many countries. They also get more freedom. Children from the UAE most often mention cycling to school and to their friends.

Is the cost of living higher or lower than Dubai? +

Mostly lower or about the same. Top-end housing in Amsterdam costs less than in Dubai, and schools usually cost less too. Health insurance costs €150 per adult per month. Groceries and restaurants cost about the same. Families with a villa and a pool in Dubai often choose a house with a garden on a canal.

Can we keep the UAE residency alongside? +

Yes, many families do. They keep their UAE residency through the free-zone company while they also live in the Netherlands. Your tax residence depends on the facts, such as where your home is and how many days you spend in each country. Plan your days and your paperwork together.

Sources Belastingdienst · KVK · wetten.overheid.nl Last updated: 18 August 2026