Once Bitten,
Maybe you're already aware of this, but its also a good idea to leave yourself a couple of weeks at least to shut down your personal mobile subscription, and those of your family. Mine was relatively simple but time consuming, but my wife was still trying to sort her roaming deposit refund a month after we'd left. (Visa cancellation with Etisalat owing you money is clearly not an issue). Buy some prepaid sim cards to keep you going for your final weeks.
Best of luck, there is most definitely life after DXB!
7B