A complete relocation hub for anyone moving to United Arab Emirates — whether you are relocating for work, joining family, retiring or moving a household internationally for the first time. Costs, shipping, visas, customs, housing, schools, pets and vehicles in one place.
The UAE clears household goods against your residence visa and Emirates ID, filed by a licensed agent in the emirate of entry. Content screening is real: alcohol, media and some medicines are handled separately from ordinary personal effects.
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Quick facts
Indicative planning benchmarks for an international household move — not a quotation.
Typical moving cost
from $2,800
Door-to-door benchmark, 20ft container entry point
Typical transit time
4–7 weeks
Ocean freight to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Port Rashid; transit varies by origin, with road delivery to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the northern emirates after clearance
Cost of living
$$$
Dubai is the highest-cost hub
Key visa routes
Employment residence visa (employer-sponsored) · Golden Visa — long-term residence
Green Visa — skilled and self-employed · Virtual working (remote work) residence · Family sponsorship
Customs difficulty
Moderate
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs grants relief on Personal-effects declaration lodged by a licensed agent against your residence visa and Emirates ID, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival.
Major arrival cities
Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Sharjah
Dubai (DXB) · Abu Dhabi (AUH) · Sharjah (SHJ)
Plan
Overview
How households actually arrive in United Arab Emirates: where they move from, how their goods travel, and what customs and tax treatment to expect.
Customs treatment depends on your origin as much as on United Arab Emirates — see the origin selector below.
| Household | Volume | Usual shipping option |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / partial load | 3–5 CBM | LCL groupage or luggage express |
| 1-bedroom apartment | 8–12 CBM | LCL consolidated groupage |
| 2-bedroom home | 18–22 CBM | 20ft sole-use container |
| 3-bedroom home | 28–32 CBM | 20ft high-cube or 40ft container |
| 4+ bedroom home | 45–60 CBM | 40ft high-cube container |
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs grants relief on Personal-effects declaration lodged by a licensed agent against your residence visa and Emirates ID, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival. Required registration: Emirates ID and residence visa.
Household goods entering United Arab Emirates are in principle liable to import duty and 5% import VAT. Used personal-effects clearance against a residence visa is the relief that removes that charge for genuine transfers of residence, filed with Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs. New purchases, goods owned for less than the qualifying period, alcohol, tobacco and vehicles are assessed separately and are the most common source of unexpected charges.
Shipments arriving from the United States are treated as a third-country import into United Arab Emirates. Relief from duty and the 5% import VAT normally depends on Personal-effects declaration lodged by a licensed agent against your residence visa and Emirates ID filed with Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs, evidence that you lived in the United States for the required qualifying period, and an itemised inventory. Documentation issued in the United States (proof of address, visa, ownership records) is what customs will ask for.
| Shipping option | Typical volume | Indicative cost | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean LCL (shared container)Partial household moves and apartment shipments | Under 14 CBM | $35 – $90 / CBM ($1,500 minimum) | 3 – 8 weeks |
| Ocean FCL — 20ft container1–3 bedroom full household moves | 14 – 33 CBM | $2,500 – $13,000 per container | 3 – 8 weeks (EU) / 6 – 10 weeks (Oceania) |
| Ocean FCL — 40ft container3–5 bedroom moves plus vehicle transport | 33 – 67 CBM | $4,000 – $19,000 per container | 3 – 8 weeks (EU) / 6 – 10 weeks (Oceania) |
| Air freight (expedited)High-value gear and time-critical relocations | Any — charged by weight | $2.50 – $8.50 / kg | 3 – 7 days |
| Cross-border FTL / LTL (ground)Direct surface moves to Mexico and Canada | Full or partial trailer | $1,200 – $5,500 per trailer | 1 – 5 days |
Price
Households typically budget from $2,800 door-to-door for a container move, with the final figure set by volume, service level and season. Use the estimator for a route-specific range.
Volume in cubic metres is the single largest driver — decluttering before survey is the cheapest saving available.
Port-to-port, partial pack and full door-to-door packing differ by thousands on the same load.
Narrow streets, stairs and permit parking in Dubai can require a shuttle vehicle and extra crew.
May to September sailings and vans book out first and price highest; shoulder months are materially cheaper.
Terminal handling, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs inspection, quarantine and storage are billed to you and are usually excluded from headline freight rates.
We're building detailed benchmarks for the world's most-used relocation corridors, so you get your move size, recommended shipping method and a realistic door-to-door cost before you request quotes. If your route isn't benchmarked yet, we'll help you with a manual estimate.
Estimated moving cost range
A realistic low-to-high bracket for your route
Recommended shipping method
Shared container, full container or air freight
Typical transit time
How long your belongings are likely to travel
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This is an estimated relocation cost for planning purposes, not a binding quote. Final pricing is confirmed by a vetted international moving partner after a survey.
Plan
High-level educational overview of the residence routes most relocating households use. This is not legal or immigration advice.
Most commonly used by: Professionals, Families, Entrepreneurs, Remote professionals.
Educational information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, thresholds and processing times change frequently and depend on your nationality and circumstances. Confirm current requirements with the United Arab Emirates immigration authority or a qualified adviser before you commit to a moving date.
Execute
Almost everyone rents. Apartments and villas are usually let unfurnished but with white goods, on annual contracts, and rent is commonly paid in a small number of cheques across the year. Buildings control move-in day through a permit and a booked service lift, with a refundable deposit.
Find furnished temporary housing through our AltoVita partnership.
MyExpatGo helps connect you with temporary housing options. Availability is subject to AltoVita and provider inventory — MyExpatGo does not guarantee or book accommodation.
| City | Profile | Cost index |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Largest expat base; high-rise living with permit-controlled move-in slots | $$$ |
| Abu Dhabi | Government, energy and diplomatic base; villas and island communities | $$$ |
| Sharjah | Lower-cost residential option within commuting distance of Dubai | $$ |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Quieter coastal emirate with growing residential development | $$ |
Plan
The UAE has one of the largest international-school markets in the world, with British, American, IB, Indian and French curricula across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Popular schools fill early and fees are a major budget line, so apply before you commit to a neighbourhood.
Working language: Arabic (English widely used in business). Apply to schools before you ship — admission dates rarely align with container transit.
Plan
Pet import rules for United Arab Emirates are set by the national veterinary authority and typically involve microchipping, rabies vaccination and an official health certificate issued close to travel.
Execute
Vehicle import is possible but is subject to specification, age and testing rules set at emirate level, so confirm eligibility before shipping. Many arrivals buy or lease locally instead.
Calculate landed vehicle taxesExecute
Traffic drives on the right in United Arab Emirates.
Dubai has a driverless metro, tram and bus network plus abundant ride-hailing; Abu Dhabi is more car-dependent. The UAE drives on the right, and residents convert or apply for a UAE licence depending on their nationality. Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Sharjah (SHJ) all handle long-haul flights.
Whether you can drive on your existing licence, for how long, and whether it can be exchanged rather than re-tested depends on the country that issued it and on your residence status in United Arab Emirates. Check the national licensing authority before your current entitlement runs out.
Execute
Personal-effects treatment depends on your residence visa and Emirates ID. Shipping before your status is issued usually means storage charges while paperwork catches up.
Every carton is listed with values and serial numbers for electronics. Vague inventories are the most common cause of inspection delays at Jebel Ali.
Alcohol, pork products, some medicines, drones, telecom equipment and printed or recorded media are controlled. Declare them rather than packing them quietly — inspections are thorough.
Most towers require a booked service lift, a move-in permit and a security deposit from the building management. Arrange it as soon as the tenancy contract is signed.
Prove continuous residence outside the destination country for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before the move.
Every shipped item must have been owned and personally used for at least 6 consecutive months before departure. Newly purchased goods are valued and taxed normally.
Goods must arrive within 12 months of the formal residency transfer, and cannot be sold, rented, pledged or transferred for 12 months after import.
Execute
The first-30-days sequence specific to United Arab Emirates, in the order most households need it.
Complete local registration
Register your address as required in United Arab Emirates — Emirates ID and residence visa.
Confirm customs clearance status
Your mover or broker lodges the import declaration with Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs; keep the cleared declaration.
Open a local bank account
Needed for a long-term lease, utilities and salary payments.
Register for healthcare
Enrol in United Arab Emirates's health system or activate private cover from day one.
Arrange utilities and connectivity
Electricity, water, internet and a local mobile number for delivery coordination.
Sort driving entitlement
No personal income tax, employer-sponsored packages, a very large international community and direct flights to most of the world.
Book school places
International and bilingual schools in the main cities admit on waiting lists.
Schedule delivery and unpack
Confirm access, parking and lift booking before the container is released.
Customs step
Your moving company or licensed broker lodges the import declaration with Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs.
Customs step
Ports of entry commonly used: Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Port Rashid, Sharjah.
Plan
United Arab Emirates runs a statutory or mandatory health insurance system, with private cover available alongside it. New residents usually have to enrol in a scheme, and the route you enrol through depends on whether you are employed, self-employed or not working. Many households keep international or travel medical cover in place for the gap between departure and local enrolment. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice — confirm cover for your own circumstances before you move.
Moving to United Arab Emirates? Before you leave, review how you'll handle healthcare and international coverage in your new country — and make sure you understand what is and isn't covered for your situation. SafetyWing offers two Nomad Insurance options to explore; check current pricing, eligibility and full policy details directly with SafetyWing.
Coverage, eligibility, pricing and exclusions vary. Review the current policy details before purchasing.
Partner recommendation · MYEXPATGO may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Compare
Accredited international moving companies in our network with proven capability on this destination. MyExpatGo is an independent platform — we are not a moving company.
🇦🇪 Dubai, United Arab Emirates · since 2011
UAE-based international removals specialist serving the GCC and worldwide destinations.
🇮🇳 Bangalore, India · since 2010
International moving and relocation experts since 2010, moving door-to-door from India, the UAE and Singapore to more than 150 countries worldwide.
🇵🇰 Islamabad, Pakistan · since 1988
Leading packing, shipping and freight forwarding company of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan since 1988, headquartered in Islamabad with branches in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Riyadh and Kabul.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR · since 1968
Asia's leading relocation group with 14 country offices across the region's primary commercial centres.
🇮🇳 Chennai, India · since 2010
India-based global relocation specialist offering fine art and pet relocation services.
🇮🇳 Bangalore, India · since 1971
India's longest-established international mover, with a door-to-door network spanning 180+ countries.
Partner availability on any specific corridor is confirmed when you request quotes. How we vet our partners.
Plan
Small things that make the first months easier — and the ones people most often leave too late.
Resources
There is no single country-wide price: the cost depends on where you are moving from, how much you ship, the service level and the season. Households moving a container to United Arab Emirates typically budget from $2,800 door-to-door as a planning benchmark. Use the MyExpatGo estimator for a route-specific range, or request quotes from vetted movers for a real price.
Plan for around 4–7 weeks door-to-door on a typical lane. Ocean freight to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Port Rashid; transit varies by origin, with road delivery to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the northern emirates after clearance. Customs clearance, destination handling and delivery access all sit on top of the sailing time, so confirm the schedule with your mover for your specific route.
Used household goods and personal effects are the normal shipment. Relief from duty and the 5% import VAT is applied for through Personal-effects declaration lodged by a licensed agent against your residence visa and Emirates ID with Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs, subject to eligibility. New purchases, alcohol, tobacco, vehicles and any restricted items are assessed separately — check the current rules with Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs before you pack.
Visa requirements depend on your nationality, purpose of stay and intended length of residence. Routes commonly used by relocating households include Employment residence visa (employer-sponsored), Golden Visa — long-term residence, Green Visa — skilled and self-employed. Confirm current requirements with the United Arab Emirates immigration authority or a qualified adviser.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah are the main arrival cities for international households. Most people rent first, often using temporary or serviced accommodation for the first weeks while they view long-term homes and wait for their shipment to clear.
United Arab Emirates runs a statutory or mandatory health insurance system, with private cover available alongside it. New residents usually have to enrol in a scheme, and the route you enrol through depends on whether you are employed, self-employed or not working. Many households keep international or travel medical cover in place for the gap between departure and local enrolment. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice — confirm cover for your own circumstances before you move.
We rate it moderate. Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs grants relief on Personal-effects declaration lodged by a licensed agent against your residence visa and Emirates ID, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival. Complete, accurate paperwork filed before arrival is the single biggest factor in avoiding storage and demurrage charges.
Confirm your visa or residence route, get a moving cost benchmark, compare quotes from accredited movers, file your customs relief paperwork, arrange temporary accommodation, and plan pets, vehicles and school places well ahead of your shipping date.
Start with an independent cost benchmark for your route, then compare quotes from vetted movers who work this destination.
This United Arab Emirates guide is published for general education and planning. It is not legal, tax, immigration or customs advice, and it is not a quotation. Always confirm current requirements with Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, with emirate-level customs such as Dubai Customs, your visa authority or a qualified professional before shipping. Costs and transit times are indicative benchmarks.
Regulatory and customs content last reviewed 2 September 2026.
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How international moving pricing is built up.
Customs & Transfer of Residence guide
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