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Key takeaways
Before move day, tell your Dubai movers about building permits and service lift slots at both addresses, access and parking details, a full inventory, oversized, fragile and high-value items, appliances that need disconnecting, furniture to dismantle, restricted items, and any plants or pets. Sharing this in writing a week ahead lets the mover send the right crew and truck, and avoids delays or extra charges.
Most moving day problems in Dubai start with information the crew never received: a tower that only allows moves until 5pm, a wardrobe that will not fit the service lift, or a gas cylinder nobody mentioned. With a fixed lift slot, that lost time cannot be recovered.
Movers quote, staff and pack based on what you tell them. Across the moves our specialists handle in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, early briefings lead to on-schedule moves, while missing details mean the wrong truck, too few people or no permit at the gate.
Most managed buildings and gated communities in Dubai require a move-in or move-out permit before movers are allowed through the gate. In Emaar-managed communities, for example, Emaar Community Management requires the permit at least one business day before the move and refuses access without it. Tell your movers whether each permit is approved and whether security needs crew IDs or the truck plate number in advance.
The service lift is often a separate booking with a fixed time window. Share the exact slot at both buildings and whether lift padding is required. If your tower restricts moves on certain days or after a set hour, the crew can plan the loading order around that cut-off.
For apartments, tell your movers the floor number, whether the loading bay fits a large truck, and how far the lift is from your door. For villas, mention the gate pass process, driveway width, narrow side passages and anything stored on a roof terrace. Experienced villa movers often request a site survey for this reason, since access decides the truck size.
Estimates go wrong when inventories are incomplete. Before the survey, check the maid's room, storeroom, balcony, garage and the space above wardrobes. A professional movers and packers team sizes the crew, packing materials and truck from this list, so forgotten items may not fit on the day.
Pianos, safes, marble or glass dining tables, gym equipment, double-door fridges and large wardrobes may need extra crew, special straps or hoisting. Measure them against the door frames and service lift at the new property, so the crew knows in advance whether the plan is stairs, dismantling or a hoist.
Point out artwork, mirrors, antiques, chandeliers and electronics. Fragile pieces need crating or extra wrapping, and high-value items should be declared for insurance cover. Keep cash, jewellery, passports and medicines with you. If you are packing some boxes yourself, follow proven methods for packing fragile items.
Mark everything that stays behind, such as the landlord's furniture, items for sale and donations, using coloured tape or a cleared room. Old electronics and batteries should go to an approved collection point, so plan your e-waste disposal before move day.
Tell your movers which appliances are moving and whether they are already disconnected. Fridges and freezers should be defrosted and dried at least 24 hours before the move, and washing machines drained with transit bolts refitted where possible. Most Dubai homes use central AC, which stays with the property, but split or window units you own need a technician to recover the refrigerant before removal. In summer, appliance electronics and rubber seals also face heat damage during loading, so ask how the crew protects them.
Beds, wardrobes, dining tables and modular units often need taking apart. Tell the crew which pieces need dismantling and reassembly, and list every wall-mounted item: TVs, shelves, curtain rods and mirrors. Mention whether wall holes need filling, since unrepaired damage can be deducted from your deposit.
Movers generally will not transport LPG cylinders, fuel, paint, aerosols, cleaning chemicals, fireworks or loose lithium batteries in bulk. Tell your movers what you have so they can advise on safe disposal. Undeclared flammables inside a closed truck during a UAE summer are a genuine fire risk.
Plants, wine, candles, vinyl records, medicines and cosmetics can be damaged by the heat inside a closed truck. Ask for these to be loaded last, or carry them in your own car. If you are moving with pets, tell the crew where the animals will be kept during loading, so doors can stay open safely.
Share a simple floor plan of the new home, with room names that match your box labels. Tell the crew which rooms to set up first, usually bedrooms and the kitchen, and which boxes can wait. If the new home has not been cleaned yet, book move-in deep cleaning before the furniture arrives, while the home is still empty.
Missing information usually shows up as delays at the gate or lift, extra charges for additional crew or hoisting, and damage to items that needed special handling. In buildings with fixed moving windows, a delay can push part of the move to another day. A complete, written briefing keeps the move on schedule and within the quote.
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