Removals to Dubai from the UK
1st Choice Removals, a family-run BAR member near Wimborne in Dorset, handles removals to Dubai from the UK: we survey, export-pack and ship your belongings by sea, and partner agents in Dubai handle customs clearance and delivery. You arrange your own marine insurance for the voyage.
How removals to Dubai from the UK work
Every overseas move starts with a quote. If you live in a BH postcode or DT11, Book your free home visit. Everywhere else, Get an online quote by sending short room videos or photos from your phone, or call 01202 570970.
From there we plan your shipment together, and your written quote sets out exactly what is included. Many people moving to Dubai go for work, so we plan around your start date and the timing of your residence visa.
- Free home visit or online quote, then a written quote
- Export packing by our own full-time, uniformed crews, never agency staff
- Loading and shipping by sea
- Help preparing your export and import paperwork
- Customs clearance and delivery in Dubai handled by our partner agents there
- Unpacking and furniture dismantling and reassembly available as optional extras, charged on top of your quote
Packing for a long sea journey
Goods shipped to Dubai travel a long way and are handled several times, so they need more protection than a local move. Our crews wrap fragile items properly, pad furniture and build bespoke wooden crates for antiques, artwork and other valuable pieces.
Everything is listed on a detailed inventory, which you will need for customs and for your insurance. Dubai is hot and humid, so electronics, artwork and wooden furniture benefit from extra care in packing.
Prefer to pack some things yourself? We sell packing materials individually, or our packing service can do as much or as little as you like. Unpacking at your new home and furniture dismantling and reassembly are available as optional extras, charged on top of your quote.
UAE customs: what to expect
Household goods arriving in Dubai are cleared by Dubai Customs. You will usually need your passport, your UAE residence visa, your Emirates ID and the inventory.
Used personal and household effects belonging to residents are generally cleared without duty. Having your residence visa in place before your goods arrive makes clearance much simpler.
- Some medicines, including some common in the UK, need approval before entering the UAE
- Do not pack alcohol or pork products
- Drones and some communication equipment need permission
- Books, films and other media can be checked for content
Fiona holds a BTEC in Customs Export and Import Procedures, and we will go through the rules with you before anything is packed.
Marine insurance: you must arrange it yourself
This is the most important point on this page. 1st Choice moves are insured for goods in transit, but that is not marine insurance and it does not cover the sea voyage to Dubai.
If you want your belongings covered while they are shipped, you must arrange marine insurance yourself before they leave the UK. We do not provide it.
- Value your items properly, using your inventory as the basis
- Check the excess and any limits on single items
- Ask whether items you packed yourself are covered, as many policies treat them differently
Storage and currency exchange
If your home in Dubai is not ready, we can keep your belongings in containerised storage in Dorset until you are ready to ship. We run around 1,000 storage units across four local sites, for short or long periods.
Sending money for a deposit, rent or a purchase? Our partner Regency FX offers currency exchange into UAE dirhams, as a one-off transfer or regular payments.
For a step-by-step plan, read our moving abroad checklist, or see all our worldwide removals.
Your questions answered
How much does it cost to move to Dubai from the UK?
We do not publish prices for overseas moves because every shipment is different. The cost depends mainly on how much you are taking, how much packing you want us to do, any crating for valuable items and where in Dubai you are going. Book your free home visit if you live in a BH postcode or DT11, or Get an online quote from anywhere else, and we will give you a clear written quote.
Do I need marine insurance to ship my furniture to Dubai?
We strongly recommend it, and you must arrange it yourself. 1st Choice moves are insured for goods in transit, but that does not cover your belongings on the sea voyage to Dubai. Take out a marine insurance policy before your goods leave the UK, value items using your inventory, and check the excess and what the policy says about items you packed.
Who handles customs clearance and delivery in Dubai?
Our partner agents in Dubai handle customs clearance at the destination and deliver your belongings to your new home. 1st Choice surveys and plans the move, export-packs your belongings in the UK and arranges the shipment. Unpacking and furniture dismantling and reassembly are optional extras, charged on top of your quote.
What paperwork do I need to ship household goods to Dubai?
You will usually need your passport, your UAE residence visa, your Emirates ID and a detailed inventory of your goods. The shipping documents are prepared as part of the export. It helps to have your residence visa in place before your shipment arrives, and we will go through the paperwork with you at the planning stage.
What can't I take to Dubai?
Do not pack alcohol or pork products in your household goods. Some medicines, including some that are common in the UK, need approval before they can enter the UAE, so check yours in advance. Drones and some communication equipment need permission, and books, films and other media may be checked. If in doubt, ask us at your survey.
Do I pay import duty on household goods in Dubai?
Used personal and household effects belonging to UAE residents are generally cleared without duty. You will usually need your residence visa and Emirates ID for this, which is why it helps to have them before your shipment arrives. New goods and some restricted items may be treated differently, so check with Dubai Customs if you are unsure.
Can you ship a piano, antiques or artwork to Dubai?
Yes. Pianos, antiques and artwork are part of our specialist removals work. We build bespoke wooden crates for delicate or valuable pieces so they are protected in the container. Mention these items at your survey so we can plan the crating and include it in your quote, and make sure your own marine insurance covers their full value.