How to Move Antiques Safely in Dubai

To move antiques safely in Dubai, document and value each piece first, have it wrapped in acid-free and padded layers (or crated if it is fragile or going abroad), keep it out of the heat at every stage, and agree the insurance cover in writing before moving day. Old wood, glue, finishes and paint react badly to heat, sudden temperature changes and knocks, and a damaged antique cannot be replaced, only restored.

Start with documents, not boxes

Good records protect the piece and any claim you might need to make.

• Photographs: take clear, well-lit photos of each piece from every side, plus close-ups of maker’s marks, labels, signatures and any existing damage or repairs. Put a ruler in a few shots for scale.
• Condition notes: for each piece, write down how the joints, legs, drawers, veneer, finish, hardware and any earlier restoration look today.
• Value: for valuable pieces, get a written valuation from a qualified appraiser. Insurers and movers usually want a recent one before they will agree to cover an item at its full value.
• Provenance: keep receipts, certificates and any history of the piece together. They matter for insurance and, for moves abroad, for customs.

Share the list and photos with your mover during the survey, and keep your own copy.

How Dubai’s climate affects antiques

Heat and humidity are the main risks in a Dubai move. Wood swells and shrinks as humidity changes, which can crack panels and lift veneer and inlay. Older animal glues and traditional finishes such as shellac soften in heat, and finishes can turn cloudy. Paint on canvas can crack when the canvas moves. A truck parked in the sun, or a hot loading bay, is where most of this damage starts.

• If you can choose, move antiques between November and March, and start early in the day.
• Ask whether the truck’s cargo area is air-conditioned, and plan the route so antiques spend as little time as possible in a parked vehicle.
• Never leave an antique in a car or truck while you run an errand.
• Cool the new home before the pieces arrive, and leave them wrapped for a day or two so they adjust slowly.

Packing methods by type

Specialist packers start with a soft, clean layer against the surface, add padding, and only then an outer layer. Tape never touches an antique surface.

Packing methods by type

Item	How it is usually packed
Wooden furniture	Acid-free tissue on the surface, cotton furniture pads, then stretch wrap over the pads only. Drawers and loose parts removed and packed separately. Corners and legs padded.
Paintings and framed works	Glassine or tissue over the face, corner protectors, then a padded travel frame or a custom crate. Carried upright.
Porcelain and ceramics	Each piece wrapped in tissue and padding, set in a divided carton or a box within a box with cushioning all round.
Silver and metalwork	Anti-tarnish cloth or bags, then padding. Kept dry.
Rugs and textiles	Rolled, never folded, around a tube, then wrapped in a breathable cover.
Clocks	Pendulum, weights and key removed and packed separately; the movement secured as the maker or a clock specialist advises.
Mirrors, chandeliers, lamps	Glass and crystal parts removed and wrapped one by one; the frame or body padded and usually crated.

Handling antique furniture

• Lift by the strongest part of the frame, never by arms, tops or decorative edges, and never drag.
• Carry pieces level with enough people to share the weight.
• Take out drawers and shelves; tie doors closed with soft ties, not tape.
• Move marble and stone tops separately from their bases, on edge.
• Stand tall pieces upright in the truck, and never stack anything on top of an antique.

When a custom crate is worth it

Pad-wrapping is enough for most sturdy furniture on a short local move. A wooden crate built to the piece’s size is worth paying for when the item is very fragile (gilded frames, glass, marquetry), when it has delicate parts that stick out, when it is going abroad or into a shared container, or when it is going into storage for a long time. Ask the mover to quote crating per item so you can decide piece by piece.

Insurance and liability

A mover’s standard liability is often limited, for example by weight or to a fixed amount per item, which can be far below what an antique is worth. Before moving day:

• Ask the mover for its liability terms in writing, and what extra cover it offers for declared high-value items.
• Ask your home or contents insurer whether your policy covers items in transit.
• For a valuable collection, consider a specialist fine-art transit policy.
• Check how quickly damage must be reported. Inspect every piece before you sign the delivery form.

Our guide to moving insurance and damage claims explains the different kinds of cover.

What to ask antique furniture movers

• Which antiques or artworks have they moved recently, and can they describe how they packed them?
• Do they pack and crate in-house, or use a subcontractor?
• Is the truck’s cargo area air-conditioned, and how will the load be secured?
• Who will carry the pieces, and will the same team unpack and place them?
• What is their liability per item, and what does extra cover cost?
• Will they write a condition report with you at collection and again at delivery?

Our page on art and antique movers in Dubai explains what specialist movers usually include and how they price crating.

Shipping antiques abroad

• Export and import rules: some countries restrict the export or import of old or culturally important objects. Check the rules of both countries before you ship.
• Protected materials: items containing ivory, tortoiseshell, some rosewoods or other protected species may need CITES permits. In the UAE these are handled by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
• Wood treatment: some countries ask for proof that wooden items or crates were heat-treated or fumigated.
• Sea or air: sea freight costs less but takes longer and exposes the piece to more humidity change. See sea freight or air freight.

Storing antiques in Dubai

If antiques need to go into storage between homes, use a unit with controlled temperature and humidity. A unit without air conditioning gets very hot in summer, which damages wood, finishes, textiles and paintings. Ask how the climate is controlled and monitored, and how often staff check the space. See storage in Dubai for the options.

After the move

• Check each piece against your photos and condition notes before the crew leaves, and write any damage on the delivery form.
• Leave pieces wrapped for a day or two in the cooled room before unwrapping.
• Place antiques away from windows, direct sun and air-conditioning vents, and keep the air conditioning running steadily rather than switching it on and off.
• If anything is damaged, report it to the mover and your insurer in writing straight away, and do not attempt a repair before the claim is assessed.

For pianos and other instruments, which share many of the same risks, see piano movers in Dubai. When you are ready, request a free quote and describe each antique in the notes, so the mover that contacts you can plan packing, crating and crew.