Moving House in Dubai: A Checklist
Four weeks, in the order things actually need doing — not a generic list written for somewhere else.
Most moving stress comes from doing things in the wrong order: packing before deciding what to throw away, booking a truck before knowing the lift slot, or cancelling the internet before the new line is live.
This is the order that works in Dubai, where the building paperwork matters as much as the boxes.
Week 1
Four weeks before
Confirm your dates
Handover, tenancy start and the day you want to move. Everything else hangs off these.
Ask both buildings what they need
Move permit, NOC, deposit, lift booking, allowed hours. Get it in writing.
Get quotes
Send a list or a walkthrough video rather than "a two-bedroom flat" — you get a firmer number.
Start sorting
One pile to keep, one to sell, one to give away. Everything you remove is money saved.
Two weeks before
Book the mover and the lift
Confirm the slot and give the moving company the approved window.
Sort out DEWA and internet
Arrange the move or final bills for electricity and water, and book the internet transfer — providers often need notice.
Update your address
Bank, insurance, school, delivery apps and anywhere your Emirates ID details are held.
Start packing what you do not use
Out-of-season clothes, books, spare linen, décor.
Week 4
The last week
Confirm everything in writing
Date, time, crew size, what is being packed, and the final price.
Pack an essentials bag
Documents, medicines, chargers, a change of clothes, basic toiletries, kettle and mugs.
Empty and defrost the fridge
At least 24 hours before, or it travels with water in it.
Label boxes by room
On the side, not the top, and mark fragile boxes clearly.
Photograph valuables
Quick photos of electronics and anything delicate before it is wrapped.
Moving day
Be there at the start
Ten minutes with the crew leader at the beginning saves an hour of questions later.
Point out the special items
Fragile, heavy, "do not move", and what should be loaded last so it comes off first.
Keep valuables with you
Cash, jewellery, passports and documents travel with you, never in the truck.
Check the old place room by room
Cupboards, balconies, store rooms, the space behind doors.
Decide where things go before they arrive
Tell the crew which room each box belongs in so nothing is stacked twice.
Check the lift and corridors at both ends
Protection on, and a quick look afterwards, protects your deposit.
After the move
Reassemble first, unpack second — beds, wardrobes and the kitchen before anything else, which is the order our crews work in anyway.
Then the small jobs: curtains, TV brackets, mirrors and anything that needs fixing to a wall. We can do those at the end of the move, see assembly and handyman work. Finally, close your old DEWA account and confirm the deposit refund with your old building.
Questions people also ask
When should I book movers in Dubai?
A few days ahead is usually enough, but book two weeks ahead for a month-end weekend, which is the busiest time.
Should I pack myself or pay for packing?
Pack the easy, non-fragile things if you want to save. Leave the kitchen, glass and electronics to the crew — that is where breakages happen.
How early should I start the permit?
As soon as your date is fixed. It is the step most likely to delay a move — see the permit guide.
What should never go in the truck?
Cash, jewellery, passports, documents, medicines, and anything hazardous or perishable.
Related pages
- Permit guideHow building approvals work
- Home moversThe full household move
- Packing servicesMaterials and fragile items
- Get a free quoteSend your list, get a price
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Our LocationDubai, United Arab Emirates
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