Moving to the UAE, handled from door to door

Where we move clients to United Arab Emirates from

Other origins we cover

• France → United Arab Emirates
• Belgium → United Arab Emirates
• Netherlands → United Arab Emirates
• Luxembourg → United Arab Emirates
• Germany → United Arab Emirates
• Austria → United Arab Emirates
• Switzerland → United Arab Emirates
• Ireland → United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom → United Arab Emirates
• Spain → United Arab Emirates
• Portugal → United Arab Emirates
• Italy → United Arab Emirates

Customs & paperwork into United Arab Emirates

Clearing your household goods

UAE customs applies the same rules whatever country you move from.

Used household goods and personal effects of new residents are generally cleared free of duty. Clearance relies on your residence visa and Emirates ID: if they are not issued yet, an employment visa with a UAE entry stamp or the visa application documents can be used.

New items, commercial quantities and goods not linked to your move can be subject to customs duty.

Restricted items: check before packing

The UAE controls several categories of goods closely. Before packing, check in particular:

• medicines — bring a prescription; some common medicines are controlled in the UAE and need prior approval;
• alcohol — strictly regulated, tell us before including any in your shipment;
• books, films and media — may be inspected for content;
• electronic equipment such as drones or radio devices — may need approval.

Prohibited and restricted lists change; we check your inventory against UAE rules before your goods leave.

Allow about 4 to 5 working days for customs clearance of a sea shipment, and 3 to 4 days for air freight.

Documents usually required for customs clearance

• Copy of your passport
• Copy of your UAE residence visa, or employment visa with entry stamp
• Copy of your Emirates ID, or application
• A detailed packing list in English
• Bill of lading or air waybill (we provide it)
• Letter of authorisation for your UAE customs broker

Diplomats follow a separate procedure with an exemption letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vehicles and restricted items

• Vehicles Cars can be shipped to the UAE but must meet local specifications to be registered. Many European models are compatible; check before shipping.
• Medicines Carry prescriptions. Some medicines legal in Europe are controlled in the UAE.
• Alcohol Strictly regulated. Do not include alcohol without checking with us first.
• Pets Pets travel separately and need an import permit, a microchip, vaccinations and in most cases a rabies antibody test. Plan several months ahead.

How a move to United Arab Emirates works

1. Free quote. Share your origin, your delivery address in United Arab Emirates and roughly how much you are moving. A written quote lands in your inbox within 24 hours.
2. Survey and planning. A coordinator confirms your volume and the transport mode, and reviews the customs rules that apply to your move to United Arab Emirates.
3. Packing and collection. We bring the packing materials to your home, inventory each piece and load everything on moving day.
4. Transport. By road across Europe, or by sea container between continents — whichever best fits your route to United Arab Emirates.
5. Customs clearance (where required). We handle the clearance into United Arab Emirates end to end (UAE customs clearance and restricted-items check).
6. Delivery and set-up. We deliver at your new address and, if you asked for it on the quote, unpack boxes and reassemble furniture.

One coordinator follows your move to United Arab Emirates from the first call to the final delivery.

How your belongings travel — mode by mode

Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, where required, customs clearance.

Door-to-door times are indicative and include packing, ocean transit, UAE customs clearance and delivery. Most containers arrive at Jebel Ali, Dubai.

How the price of your move to United Arab Emirates is calculated

We price every move to United Arab Emirates with the same ingredients — nothing hidden, nothing improvised:

• Volume — the single biggest lever on the price, in m³. The online calculator walks you through it one room at a time.
• Distance and route — the actual door-to-door distance to United Arab Emirates, not a bird-flight shortcut.
• Transport mode — shared road load, a truck booked only for you, FCL or LCL by sea, or air for very small cargo.
• Services — packing, taking furniture apart and reassembling it, crating fragile pieces, storage, island delivery.
• Access — top-floor flats with no lift, narrow lanes, long carries, external hoists when the stairs will not do.
• Customs — brokerage, declaration and port handling charges on routes to United Arab Emirates that cross a customs border.
• Insurance — priced as a percentage of what you tell us your belongings are worth.

Typical volumes, as a guide:

Our online estimator gives you a starting price for road moves within Europe in two minutes. For sea and air freight, and for any move with customs, you receive a detailed written quote — reply within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay customs duty on my belongings when moving to the UAE?

Used household goods and personal effects of new residents are generally cleared free of duty, based on your residence visa. New items and commercial quantities can be taxed.

Can I ship before I have my Emirates ID?

Usually yes: an employment visa with a UAE entry stamp or your visa application documents can be used for clearance. We confirm this before shipping.

Can I bring my medicines?

Bring prescriptions. Some medicines that are common in Europe are controlled in the UAE and need approval, so check before packing.

Which port will my container arrive in?

Most household goods containers arrive at Jebel Ali, Dubai, and are delivered across the Emirates by road.

How long does a move from Europe to Dubai take?

Five to eight weeks door to door by sea container, or one to two weeks by air freight for small volumes.