Moving Costs in Dubai: Typical Prices by Home Size
A move within Dubai typically costs AED 800–1,200 for a studio, AED 1,800–3,000 for a 2-bedroom apartment and AED 3,500–6,000 for a 3-bedroom villa, before packing and building fees. These are market ranges, not prices set by Movers Dubai.
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Each range runs from the median published low to the median published high across at least two independent price pages; the pages are listed under Sources.
Budget optionsApartment moving costs in Dubai
Ranges for loading, transport and unloading within Dubai. In towers, the service-lift slot and the distance from the loading bay often decide how long the job takes, and so where in the range a quote lands. See apartment movers in Dubai.
| Item | Typical range (per move) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment | AED 800–1,200 | Loading, transport and unloading within Dubai with a small crew and one truck. Packing and boxes usually cost extra. |
| 1-bedroom apartment | AED 1,200–1,800 | Loading, transport and unloading within Dubai. Packing, wardrobe boxes and long carries from the loading bay can push a quote above this range. |
| 2-bedroom apartment | AED 1,800–3,000 | Loading, transport and unloading within Dubai, usually one large truck or two small ones. Full packing is extra. |
| 3-bedroom apartment | AED 3,000–4,500 | Loading, transport and unloading within Dubai. Tower rules such as service-lift slots and loading-bay times often decide how long the job takes. |
Villa moving costs in Dubai
Villa moves need a bigger crew and often two trucks. Garden furniture, appliances and built-in wardrobes add time. More on villa movers in Dubai.
| Item | Typical range (per move) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 3-bedroom villa | AED 3,500–6,000 | A full day for a larger crew, usually two trucks. Garden furniture, appliances and built-in wardrobes add time. Packing is extra. |
| 4-bedroom villa | AED 5,000–7,000 | Often a mix of truck sizes and a crew of six or more. Packing is extra. |
| 5-bedroom villa | AED 7,000–10,000 | Can run over two days with several truck loads. Art, pianos and other special items are quoted on top. |
Packing service costs
Packing labour and materials, added to a move or booked on their own. Quoted separately from the ranges above. If you are hiring a full crew, read what movers and packers packages usually include.
| Item | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Packing, studio | AED 300–500 | Packing labour and materials, added to a move or booked on its own. |
| Packing, 1-bedroom apartment | AED 500–800 | Packing labour and materials, added to a move or booked on its own. |
| Packing, 2-bedroom apartment | AED 800–1,200 | Full packing of a 2-bedroom home. Packing only the kitchen and fragile items costs less. |
| Packing, 3-bedroom apartment | AED 1,200–1,800 | Packing labour and materials for a 3-bedroom apartment. |
| Packing, 3 to 4-bedroom villa | AED 1,500–3,000 | Packing labour and materials for a 3 or 4-bedroom villa. |
| Packing, 5-bedroom villa | AED 3,500–4,000 | Packing labour and materials for a 5-bedroom villa. Only two sources publish this size. |
Extras and building charges
Lines that often appear on a quote or a building’s move form. Building deposits and permit fees are set by the building or community, not the mover. The full list of charges to ask about is in hidden moving charges.
| Item | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture take-apart and reassembly | AED 100–400 | For pieces outside the standard quote, such as large wardrobes, modular units or flat-pack furniture. Simple beds and tables are often included in a full-service move. |
| Handyman visit (curtains, TV mount, small fixes) | AED 150–600 | Curtain rods, TV wall mounts, light fittings and similar jobs at the new home. |
| Refundable move deposit (some buildings) | AED 1,000–2,000 | A damage deposit some towers and communities hold while the service lift and common areas are in use. It is refunded if no damage is found. Many buildings ask for none. |
| Move permit or lift booking fee | up to AED 500 | Charged by some buildings or management companies for the move permit or service-lift booking. Many charge nothing. |
Most published ranges do not say whether 5% VAT is included. Ask each mover to show VAT on the written quote. The standard UAE VAT rate is 5%.
Other costs of moving home in Dubai
Not part of the mover’s bill, but due around the same week. Fees as published by the authority in October 2026:
- Ejari registration: AED 177.75 in total through the Dubai REST app or the DLD website, or AED 220 at a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre. Ejari guide
- DEWA move-in: a security deposit of AED 2,000 for a flat or AED 4,000 for a villa, plus an activation charge of AED 125 for a small meter or AED 300 for a large one and AED 30 in registration, knowledge and innovation fees. Moving your DEWA account
Office moving costs
Office moves are priced on desks, IT and the hours the crew can work. No two sources agree on large offices of 50 desks or more, so those are left out. See office relocation in Dubai.
| Item | Typical range (per move) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Small office (about 5 to 15 desks) | AED 3,000–7,000 | Packing, transport and desk reassembly for a small office without a server room. Weekend or overnight work usually costs more. |
| Medium office (about 15 to 50 desks) | AED 7,000–12,000 | Full packing, modular furniture and basic IT handling. Server rooms, free zone approvals and phased moves are quoted separately. |
Moving between emirates
Only two bands are published consistently enough to show. Route guides: Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Sharjah.
| Item | Typical range (per move) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai to Abu Dhabi, 2-bedroom apartment | AED 2,500–3,500 | Transport, loading and unloading for a move of about 120 km. Packing is extra. |
| Dubai to Sharjah, studio to villa | AED 1,400–5,500 | Full-service range across home sizes. A 1 or 2-bedroom apartment sits in the lower part; villas in the upper part. Traffic at the border crossings and waiting time affect the price. |
Storage and packing materials
Storage helps when the old lease ends before the new one starts. Prices are per month; some facilities quote before VAT. Guides: storage in Dubai and moving boxes and materials.
| Item | Typical range (per month) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Storage locker, 20 to 30 sq ft | AED 400–500 | Boxes, suitcases and a few small items. Some facilities quote before 5% VAT, others include it. |
| Storage unit, 50 sq ft | AED 650–900 | Roughly the contents of a studio or a small 1-bedroom flat. Check whether the quote includes 5% VAT. |
| Storage unit, 100 sq ft | AED 1,300–1,600 | Roughly the contents of a 1 to 2-bedroom apartment. Check whether the quote includes 5% VAT. |
| Storage unit, 200 sq ft | AED 2,400–3,000 | Roughly the contents of a 3-bedroom home or small villa. Check whether the quote includes 5% VAT. |
| Item | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Small box (book box) | AED 3–5 | Standard boxes bought in packs. Heavy-duty double-wall boxes cost more. |
| Medium box | AED 6–8 | The everyday size for kitchenware, shoes and folded clothes. Heavy-duty boxes cost more. |
| Large box (linen and bedding) | AED 9–12 | For pillows, duvets and light, bulky items. Heavy-duty boxes cost more. |
| Wardrobe box with hanging rail | AED 20–40 | Tall box with a rail so clothes travel on hangers. |
| Bubble wrap roll | AED 30–55 | Roll lengths differ between sellers, so compare the metres per roll. |
International moving costs from Dubai
Door-to-door ranges per shipment. Sea freight rates change often, so recheck with movers on the day you book. Country guides: UK, USA, Canada and India.
| Item | Typical range (per shipment) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai to the UK, 20 ft container | AED 18,000–27,000 | Door to door for a 20 ft container, usually enough for a 1 or 2-bedroom home. UK duty and VAT apply only if transfer of residence relief is not granted. Sea freight rates move often, so movers quote on the day. |
| Dubai to the UK, shared container (part load) | AED 4,000–9,500 | A part load of roughly 5 to 10 cubic metres. Freight-only quotes sit at the low end; door to door with packing sits near the top. |
| Dubai to the USA, 20 ft container | AED 22,000–32,000 | Door to door. West Coast destinations cost more than East Coast ones. |
| Dubai to the USA, shared container (part load) | AED 9,000–16,000 | A part load of about 5 cubic metres, roughly a 1-bedroom home. |
| Dubai to Canada, 20 ft container | AED 22,000–34,000 | Door to door. Inland cities such as Calgary cost more than Toronto or Vancouver because of the rail leg. |
| Dubai to Canada, shared container (part load) | AED 8,500–17,000 | A part load of about 5 cubic metres, roughly a 1-bedroom home. |
| Dubai to India, 20 ft container | AED 8,000–13,000 | Door to door to a major port city. Duty-free allowances under India's transfer of residence rules depend on how long you lived abroad. |
What decides where your quote lands in the range
Volume, not room count
Movers price on how much has to go on the truck. Two flats with the same number of bedrooms can sit at opposite ends of a range.
Access at both ends
Service-lift slots, a long walk from the loading bay, stairs, or a villa street the truck cannot reach all add crew hours.
Packing
Full packing with materials is a separate charge. Packing only the kitchen and fragile items costs less than packing everything.
Distance and route
A move inside one community is quicker than one across the city. Moves to Abu Dhabi or Sharjah are priced as separate bands.
Special items
Pianos, safes, art, gym equipment and large modular wardrobes are usually quoted one by one.
Date and time
Truck bans on some roads at peak hours can push loading earlier or later. Ask each mover whether another day changes its price.
For a figure based on your own home, use the moving cost calculator, then check any quote you receive against the ranges above.
Budget options: how to find cheap movers in Dubai
The cheapest way to move is to pay for less work, not to pick the lowest quote. These options cut the bill without cutting out the protections you need if something breaks.
Book the move without the packing service
The packing service is priced on top of the move, typically AED 500–800 for a 1-bedroom apartment and AED 800–1,200 for a 2-bedroom one. Packing yourself removes that line, but agree with the mover who is responsible if a box you packed arrives damaged.
Buy only the boxes you need
Boxes typically cost AED 3–5 for a small box, AED 6–8 for a medium one and AED 9–12 for a large one. Small boxes suit books and kitchenware; overfilled large boxes split.
Get rid of things before the survey
Movers price on volume, so every piece you sell, donate or have collected before the survey comes off the quote.
Junk removal in DubaiUse a van for a small move
For a few pieces of furniture and boxes you have packed yourself, a driver with a van and helpers can cost less than a full crew. It is a poor fit for a whole home.
Man with a van or full-service moversShare a container when moving abroad
A part load in a shared container to the UK typically costs AED 4,000–9,500, against AED 18,000–27,000 for a full 20 ft container. It suits a smaller home but usually takes longer to arrive.
Sea or air freight from DubaiBe flexible on the date
Many leases end around the same dates, and some movers price busy days higher. Ask for prices on two or three dates once your building has confirmed the permit.
When a cheap quote is too cheap
A quote far below the ranges on this page usually leaves something out: fewer crew, no materials, no liability cover, or charges that appear on the day. Ask for it in writing with the inventory it is based on, and check the company’s trade licence before you pay a deposit. How to do that is in how to compare movers in Dubai.
Moving costs in Dubai: questions
Short answers on prices, VAT, building fees and storage
How much does it cost to move a 1-bedroom apartment in Dubai?
Typically AED 1,200–1,800 for loading, transport and unloading within Dubai, last checked October 2026. Adding the packing service typically costs AED 500–800. Long carries from the loading bay and wardrobe boxes can push a quote higher.
How much do villa movers charge in Dubai?
Typical ranges are AED 3,500–6,000 for a 3-bedroom villa, AED 5,000–7,000 for a 4-bedroom villa and AED 7,000–10,000 for a 5-bedroom villa, before packing. Larger villas often need several truck loads and can run over two days.
Do moving quotes in Dubai include VAT?
Not always. The standard 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 written quote.
Do buildings charge a fee to move in or out?
Some do. A refundable move deposit is typically AED 1,000–2,000 where a building asks for one, and a permit or lift booking fee ranges up to AED 500. Many buildings charge nothing. These charges are set by the building, not the mover.
What is the cheapest way to move in Dubai?
Pack yourself, get rid of what you do not need before the survey, and book a move-only quote. For a handful of items, a van with helpers can be cheaper than a full crew. Compare at least two written quotes.
How much does it cost to ship furniture from Dubai to the UK?
Typically AED 18,000–27,000 for a full 20 ft container door to door, or AED 4,000–9,500 for a part load in a shared container. Sea freight rates change often, so movers quote on the day.
How much does storage cost in Dubai?
Typical monthly ranges are AED 650–900 for a 50 sq ft unit, AED 1,300–1,600 for 100 sq ft and AED 2,400–3,000 for 200 sq ft. Check whether the price includes 5% VAT.
Why do two quotes for the same move differ so much?
Usually because they include different things: crew size, packing materials, dismantling, insurance cover or building fees. Line the quotes up item by item. A quote far below the others often leaves something out.
Sources
Checked October 2026. Each range runs from the median published low end to the median published high end across at least two independent price pages. An item is shown only when at least two independent publishers support it. Movers Dubai does not use its own job data, because it does not carry out moves.
Official sources
Published price pages
- MoveConnector: 2026 UAE Moving Cost Guide (page dated August 2026)
- Movers E Dubai: How much do movers in Dubai cost (page dated May 2026)
- Star Edge Movers: Movers and packers cost in Dubai (page dated October 2026)
- SAMA Movers: Moving costs Dubai, full breakdown (page dated March 2026)
- TaskRight: Moving company cost in Dubai by home size (page dated July 2026)
- Ruby Movers: House shifting cost in Dubai (page dated October 2026)
- ServiceMarket: How much does local moving cost in Dubai (page dated March 2026)
- Moovzy: Apartment moving cost Dubai
- Lucky General Land Transport: Apartment moving cost Dubai (page dated September 2026)
- Bestimate: Dubai moving cost calculator
- Insta Move Cargo Pack: Cost of home movers in Dubai (page dated March 2026)
- eHouse Movers: Moving cost breakdown Dubai (page dated July 2026)
- MoveConnector: Villa movers in Dubai, costs and permits (page dated February 2026)
- A2B Movers: Villa movers in Dubai
- Lucky General Land Transport: Villa moving cost in Dubai (page dated September 2026)
- Budget City Movers: How much does it cost to move a villa in Dubai (page dated January 2026)
- TaskRight: Villa movers in Dubai, what a villa move costs (page dated August 2026)
- eHouse Movers: 4 and 5 bedroom villa moving cost in 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)
- United Movers Dubai: Villa movers
- Prime Zone Movers: Office moving cost Dubai (page dated October 2026)
- E Office Movers: Office relocation cost in Dubai (page dated June 2026)
- Quality Movers: How much does an office move cost in Dubai (page dated September 2026)
- eHouse Movers: How much do office movers cost in Dubai (page dated July 2026)
- PacknDash: Office movers in Dubai (page dated July 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)
- 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
- GI Movers: What affects the cost of moving in Abu Dhabi (page dated July 2026)
- Bestimate: Movers and packers Sharjah cost guide (page dated June 2026)
- Movermarket.ae: Moving cost Sharjah
- MoveConnector: Estimated shipping costs from the UAE
- ISS Relocations: Moving to the UK from the UAE (page dated June 2026)
- Sirelo UAE: Container shipping rates (page dated January 2026)
- AGL Shipping: Cargo to UK from Dubai (page dated October 2025)
- Sirelo UAE: Shipping a container from Dubai to the UK (page dated January 2026)
- MoveConnector: Cost of moving from the UAE to the USA (page dated January 2026)
- MoveConnector: Cost of moving from the UAE to Canada (page dated January 2026)
- AGL: Container shipping to India from Dubai (page dated July 2026)
Want a price for your own move?
Send one free quote request. A mover that serves your area contacts you with its own quote, and you are not obliged to book.
Free to request, no obligation to book. Prices are set by the mover, not by Movers Dubai.