Costs
Extra Charges on a Dubai Moving Quote
The base price for a Dubai move usually covers loading, transport and unloading. Packing, boxes, furniture assembly, handyman work, storage, building fees and 5% VAT can come on top. Typical published ranges, checked October 2026: packing a 2-bedroom apartment AED 800–1,200, a medium box AED 6–8, and a building move permit up to AED 500.
By Movers Dubai editorial teamLast checked against UAE Federal Tax Authority (opens in a new tab)
Movers Dubai is an independent guide, not a moving company.
At a glance
- Base price
- Usually covers loading, transport and unloading
- Can come on top
- Packing, boxes, furniture assembly, handyman work, storage, building fees and 5% VAT
- Packing, 2-bedroom apartment
- AED 800–1,200
- Medium box
- AED 6–8 per box
- Move permit or lift booking fee
- up to AED 500
- VAT
- 5%; most published ranges do not say whether it is included
Last checked
Packing
Many quotes assume you pack. If the mover packs, it is a separate charge that covers labour and materials, priced by home size:
| Packing service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Packing, 1-bedroom apartment | AED 500–800 one-off |
| Packing, 2-bedroom apartment | AED 800–1,200 one-off |
| Packing, 3-bedroom apartment | AED 1,200–1,800 one-off |
| Packing, 3 to 4-bedroom villa | AED 1,500–3,000 one-off |
Packing only the kitchen and fragile items costs less than full packing. Ask for both prices.
Boxes and materials
If you pack yourself, you buy the materials. If the mover packs, check whether materials are inside the packing price or charged per box.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Medium box | AED 6–8 per box |
| Wardrobe box with hanging rail | AED 20–40 per box |
| Bubble wrap roll | AED 30–55 per roll |
How many you need is covered in the packing checklist.
Furniture assembly and handyman
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Furniture take-apart and reassembly | AED 100–400 per item |
| Handyman visit (curtains, TV mount, small fixes) | AED 150–600 per visit |
Simple beds and tables are often included in a full-service move; large wardrobes, modular units and flat-pack furniture are the usual extras. Ask the mover which of your items it counts as standard.
Building fees and deposits
These are set by the building or community, not by the mover. Some charge nothing; others charge for the permit or the lift booking, or hold a refundable deposit against damage to lifts and corridors.
| Building charge | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Move permit or lift booking fee | up to AED 500 one-off |
| Refundable move deposit (some buildings) | AED 1,000–2,000 one-off |
Your community’s own rules are in the permits guide. Nakheel, for example, states that its move permits are free.
Storage
If the move-out and move-in dates do not line up, storage is charged per month:
| Storage unit | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Storage unit, 50 sq ft | AED 650–900 per month |
| Storage unit, 100 sq ft | AED 1,300–1,600 per month |
Time-based charges
Some charges depend on what happens on the day, so they are not in a price list. Published price pages do not agree on a typical amount, so ask each mover for its rate in writing:
| Charge | When it applies | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting time | The crew waits for a lift slot, keys or a gate permit. | The hourly rate, and when waiting time starts. |
| Long carry or stairs | The truck cannot park near the entrance, or there is no usable lift. | Whether access was priced from the survey or will be added. |
| Extra hours | The job overruns the quoted crew hours. | Whether the quote is fixed or hourly after a point. |
| Extra truck or trip | The volume is larger than the inventory quoted. | What happens if items are added after the survey. |
| After-hours or weekend work | The building or your schedule needs an evening or weekend slot. | Whether there is a surcharge and how much. |
VAT
The standard UAE VAT rate is 5%, per the Federal Tax Authority. A quote that does not mention VAT may add it at the end. Compare quotes on the same basis: all with VAT or all without.
- Ask for VAT as a separate line.
- Check that the mover’s tax registration number is on the invoice if VAT is charged.
Questions about extra charges
What extra charges can a Dubai mover add?
The common ones are packing, boxes and wrapping, taking furniture apart and rebuilding it, handyman work, storage, building permit or lift fees, waiting time, long carries or stairs, and VAT. Each should be listed on the written quote before you accept it.
Is VAT included in moving quotes in Dubai?
Not always. The UAE VAT rate is 5%, and most published price ranges do not say whether it is included. Ask each mover to show VAT as a separate line on the quote.
Who pays the building move-in fee or deposit?
The building charges the resident, not the mover, although some movers pay it on your behalf and add it to the quote. Check the figure with the building, and make sure any refundable deposit is returned to you.
How do I avoid surprise charges on moving day?
Give every mover the same detailed inventory, the floors, lift and parking details at both ends, and the items that need dismantling. Ask for a written quote that lists what is included, what is extra and the rates for waiting time and extra hours.
Official sources
Where the price ranges come from
16 published price pages, read October 2026. Method: how the ranges are built.
- Ruby Movers: House shifting cost in Dubai (page dated October 2026)
- Lucky General Land Transport: Apartment moving cost Dubai (page dated September 2026)
- SAMA Movers: Packing and unpacking services
- Dar Al Salam Movers and Packers: Packing services in Dubai (page dated May 2026)
- eHouse Movers: Moving cost breakdown Dubai (page dated July 2026)
- SAMA Movers: Moving boxes Dubai, cheapest options (page dated April 2026)
- Storage Space: Packing material (page dated February 2026)
- ARZ Movers: Moving boxes and packing supplies
- Movers E Dubai: How much do movers in Dubai cost (page dated May 2026)
- SAMA Movers: Moving costs Dubai, full breakdown (page dated March 2026)
- United Movers Dubai: Villa movers
- TaskRight: Moving company cost in Dubai by home size (page dated July 2026)
- MoveConnector: 2026 UAE Moving Cost Guide (page dated August 2026)
- Self Store LLC: Prices
- SpaceVault Storage: Storage unit prices Dubai (page dated June 2026)
- Ruby Self Storage: Self storage cost in Dubai (page dated October 2026)
Want every extra on the quote?
Request a free quote and list what you need packed, dismantled or stored. Ask the mover to price each one as a separate line.
The mover sets the price, not Movers Dubai.