Furniture movers in the UAE: prices and how to choose a moving company

As of November 2026, a licensed moving company in Dubai typically charges AED 350 to 800 to move a studio, AED 800 to 2,000 for a two-bedroom flat and AED 2,500 to 6,000 for a three- or four-bedroom villa. Prices in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Al Ain are often similar or somewhat lower. A move between emirates usually adds AED 200 to 800.

Those numbers only mean something if the quote covers the same work. Before you book movers and packers in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE, check three things:

• The company holds a valid trade licence with a moving, packing or furniture transport activity on it.
• The quote is written and itemised after a survey, not a figure given on the phone.
• Your building has approved the move, with a permit and a lift slot for the day.

This guide explains what drives the price, what a fair quote includes, how insurance works, and what usually causes disputes on moving day. Our moving company price guide has the full table of ranges.

These are typical prices for a move within one city by a licensed company, as of November 2026. They are not quotes, and VAT of 5 percent is added where the company is VAT-registered.

• Studio: AED 350 to 800, usually one small truck and two workers.
• One-bedroom flat: AED 500 to 1,200.
• Two-bedroom flat: AED 800 to 2,000, a larger truck and a crew of three or four.
• Two-bedroom villa or townhouse: AED 1,500 to 3,500, including dismantling and reassembly of the main furniture.
• Three- or four-bedroom villa: AED 2,500 to 6,000, often two trucks and a full day.
• Full packing for a two-bedroom home: AED 300 to 1,200 on top of the move.
• Small storage unit: AED 150 to 600 a month, insurance usually extra.

Published price pages from movers and marketplaces vary a lot. Some quote a one-bedroom move at AED 1,000 or more once packing is included. That gap is why a survey matters more than any table.

Within one emirate or between emirates

A move inside Dubai, or from Abu Dhabi city to Khalifa City, is priced mainly on volume and access. A move from Dubai to Sharjah or Ajman adds distance, tolls and traffic time, so expect a surcharge of AED 200 to 800. Dubai to Abu Dhabi or Al Ain is a longer day and sits at the top of that range or above it. Ask whether the surcharge is already inside the quote.

If you are moving within one emirate, it often helps to ask local companies: compare licence-checked movers in Dubai, movers in Abu Dhabi, movers in Sharjah, movers in Ajman or movers in Al Ain.

What pushes the price up or down

• Volume: the number of items and the size of the truck matter most.
• Access: no service lift, a high floor or a long walk from the loading bay add hours.
• Timing: the end of the month, June to August and the start of the school year are busy. Mid-month and mid-week moves are often 10 to 20 percent cheaper.
• Packing and dismantling: full packing can add 30 to 50 percent to the moving price.
• Special items: a piano, a large aquarium, marble tables, gym equipment or artwork need extra crew or crating.

"Full service" means different things to different movers. Ask which of these are in the price.

• Packing materials: boxes, bubble wrap, stretch film, wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and mattress covers.
• Packing labour: the crew packs everything, or only fragile items, or nothing.
• Dismantling and reassembly: beds, wardrobes, dining tables and desks. Ask whether built-in or flat-pack wardrobes are included, because some crews refuse to reassemble them.
• Handyman work: taking down and hanging curtains, TV wall mounts, mirrors and light fittings. This is often charged separately, by item or by hour.
• Unpacking: placing boxes in the right rooms is common, unpacking them is usually extra.
• Debris removal: taking away the empty boxes and wrapping on the day or later.
• Insurance: covered in its own section below.
• Storage: short-term storage between two leases, priced per month.

A good quote names the number of trucks and workers, the start time, the expected duration, and what happens if the move runs over. Ask whether there is an hourly rate after the agreed time, and how much it is.

If you are leaving a rental, book the cleaning for the day after the movers finish. Our guide to deep cleaning and sofa cleaning in Dubai explains what a move-out clean covers.

The most common moving dispute in the UAE starts with a quote given over the phone from a rough list. On the day, the crew sees more items than expected and the price changes. To avoid this, fix the volume before anyone quotes.

1. Ask for a survey. A home visit or a video call where the surveyor walks through every room, including the balcony, storage room and maid's room.
2. Get a written inventory. The quote should list the main items: beds, wardrobes, sofas, appliances, boxes estimated, and special items.
3. Give the same brief to everyone. Ask three companies to quote on the same inventory, with the same packing level and the same date.
4. Compare line by line. Trucks, workers, hours, packing, dismantling, handyman tasks, insurance, storage, surcharge for the other emirate, and VAT.
5. Confirm in writing. The final booking should state the date, the arrival time, the total, the deposit and the cancellation terms.

When you request quotes from licence-checked movers, describe the home size, both addresses, the floors and lift access, and any items that need special care. The more detail you give, the closer the first quotes will be to the final price.

Ask every mover two separate questions: what they pay for if their crew damages something, and whether they offer transit insurance.

• The mover's own liability is usually limited and set out in their terms. Some cover only items they packed themselves, or cap the amount per item. Read this before you sign.
• Transit insurance is an optional policy that covers your goods during the move, usually priced as a percentage of the value you declare. It often excludes items you packed yourself, cash, jewellery and documents, and it may require you to report damage within a short time.
• Building damage to lifts, lobbies and corridors is often charged against the move-in or move-out deposit your building holds. Ask the mover whether they carry third-party liability cover.

Keep your valuables, passports, Emirates IDs, tenancy papers and laptops with you, not on the truck. Photograph expensive furniture before the move, and check items as they come off the truck. Note any damage on the delivery sheet before you sign it, and report it in writing the same day.

Most towers and many gated communities in the UAE require a move-in or move-out permit from the building management or the master developer. The rules vary by building, so ask both your old and your new building as soon as you have a date.

• Documents: often the tenancy contract (registered with Ejari in Dubai), Emirates ID, and sometimes a landlord no-objection letter or proof that service charges are paid.
• Deposit: many buildings hold a refundable deposit against damage to common areas. Typical amounts are AED 500 to 2,000, and some developers ask for more. It is refunded after an inspection.
• Lead time: some developers need a few working days to issue the permit. Apply at least a week ahead.
• Lift booking: movers must usually use the service lift, inside fixed hours. Book the slot at both buildings, and tell the mover the times.
• Security: the guard will usually ask to see the permit. Without it, the truck may be turned away and you still pay for the crew.

Timing

Weekday mornings are usually the easiest. In summer, from 15 June to 15 September, the UAE midday break bans outdoor work in direct sun from 12:30pm to 3pm, so loading may pause or the move may run over two shifts. Avoid the last two days of the month if you can, when most leases end.

Our moving house checklist covers the Ejari, DEWA and notice steps around the move.

Walk away, or ask more questions, if you see any of these:

• No licence you can check. A licensed mover can give you a trade licence number from the economic department of the emirate: DET in Dubai, ADDED in Abu Dhabi (including Al Ain), SEDD in Sharjah or the Ajman DED. Check that it is valid and that a moving or furniture transport activity is on it.
• Cash only, or payment to a personal account. Pay the company, by card or bank transfer, against an invoice in its name.
• A large deposit up front. A deposit above 20 to 30 percent before the move is a risk.
• No survey, no inventory. A firm price without seeing what you own is a guess.
• An unbranded pickup at half the price. If something breaks or goes missing, you have no one to claim from.
• A different truck or crew on the day from the one you booked.
• Vague answers on insurance. If they cannot tell you what they cover in writing, assume they cover nothing.
• Reviews that all appeared in the same week. Read the detailed ones and look for complaints about extra charges.

If you rent, the move is only one part of handing back the home. The landlord expects the property in the condition recorded at the start, apart from normal wear, and the security deposit depends on it.

1. Give notice as your tenancy contract requires, and agree the handover date in writing.
2. Apply for the move-out permit at your current building and the move-in permit at the new one.
3. Book the service lift at both buildings and share the times with the mover.
4. Get three written quotes after a survey, on the same inventory.
5. Check the chosen company's trade licence and the insurance terms.
6. Confirm the date, arrival time, crew size, total price, deposit and cancellation terms in writing.
7. Book the move-out clean and any small repairs, such as filling wall holes, for after the movers leave.
8. Arrange the final utility reading and disconnection, and the connection at the new home.
9. Keep valuables and documents with you on the day.
10. Inspect furniture as it is unloaded and note any damage before signing.

Who pays for what: the tenant pays the movers, the permits and usually the move-out clean. Damage to common areas caused by the crew comes out of your building deposit, so you may want to claim it back from the mover.

When you are ready, compare licence-checked movers and request free quotes from companies whose trade licence we have checked.