What to Look For When Hiring Local Movers in Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Whether you’re relocating across town or moving between nearby Emirates, planning a local move in the UAE comes with its own set of challenges. Families in Dubai and Abu Dhabi often wonder how to choose a company they can trust, understand costs upfront, and feel confident that their belongings will arrive safely.

The busy city life also brings practical challenges like high-rise building rules, parking restrictions, and scheduling around Dubai’s climate. In this guide, we break down the key issues to consider when choosing local movers in Dubai or local moving services in Abu Dhabi, helping your move go as smoothly as possible.

1. Verify Reputation and Licenses

Trust and reliability are paramount when selecting movers in the UAE’s crowded market. Beyond simply opting for well-established companies, it’s essential to scrutinize written reviews, not just star ratings.

While high scores can be misleading, sometimes inflated through incentivized reviews — authentic customer experiences often reveal themselves in detailed feedback.

Look for specifics in reviews: Did the movers handle fragile items carefully? Were timelines respected? Did the company resolve issues promptly? Genuine reviews typically include personal anecdotes, photos, or recurring praise (or complaints) across multiple platforms. Cross-reference Google, social media, and community forums to ensure consistency.

A good moving company will conduct a survey of your home to estimate costs; beware of companies that give a low quote over the phone without an in-person visit, as this is often a red flag for a bait-and-switch scam.

Licensed movers are required to carry insurance for property damage and loss. Before booking, confirm the company’s licensing and insurance coverage.

Always sign a written contract and keep a copy, so there’s a clear record of the agreed services and costs.

2. Get Clear, Itemized Pricing

Transparent pricing is another top concern. In our research and reviews, families often mention unexpected fees or upselling as stress points. To avoid hidden charges, insist on a detailed written quote that lists all expected costs. Ask the mover to explain any extra fees for packing materials, special items (like pianos or safes), disassembly, or long carries. Some common extra costs in the UAE include disconnecting plumbed products, installation of electronics such as wall-hanging televisions, handling heavy or oversized furniture, and any last-minute changes to your booking.

At Crown Relocations, many of these services—like disconnecting appliances, mounting TVs, or basic handyman support—are included as standard, not added extras. That’s why it’s important to compare not just the base price, but what’s actually covered.

One tip is to obtain quotes from three or more movers and compare them, focusing on what’s included rather than just the total price.

This way, you can spot unusually low bids – which could mean a bait-and-switch – or high fees that are not justified.

3. Protecting Your Belongings

A big worry is the safety of furniture and valuables during transit. Quality movers will offer professional packing services, sturdy materials, and careful handling. Ask about how fragile items are handled.

You can also help by labelling each box and keeping an inventory list, so it’s clear what’s inside each package. Most importantly, ensure you have coverage for loss or damage. Good companies will offer some level of transit protection for your goods.

Confirm whether this is included or if it’s an extra service, and what it costs. If you have very valuable or sentimental items (jewellery, heirlooms, important documents), consider carrying them with you instead of packing them on the truck.

Packing checklist: When using movers, make sure they provide or recommend good packing supplies. Ideally, you should have quality boxes, furniture covers, and strong packing tape. Packing your own essentials (like clothes and toiletries) is also wise; some families pack an “overnight box” with items they need right away on arrival (snacks, chargers, medications, etc.). Finally, double-check that all agreed services (like disassembly of large furniture, or reassembling them in your new home) are clearly listed in the contract to avoid surprises later.

4. Scheduling, Timing, and Peak Seasons

Coordination is key. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s busy cities, movers often start very early in the day to avoid outside working restrictions due to the desert heat. Plan with that in mind: if you work from home or have children to send off to school, let the moving team know your timing needs.

Booking well in advance is crucial – we recommend confirming your moving date at least two to three weeks ahead, especially if you’re moving on a weekend or at the end of the month. Weekend mornings and public holidays can be fully booked quickly, so give yourself plenty of lead time.

Avoid Dubai summer afternoons – not only is it hotter, but movers are legally prohibited from working outdoors during midday in summer, which could delay you. Lastly, communicate any fixed end-of-tenancy or school-deadline dates to the mover early.

Changing your moving date at the last minute can be difficult and may incur fees, so aim to finalize the schedule once and stick to it.

5. Navigating Permits and Building Rules

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have many gated communities and high-rise apartments, each with their own moving rules. An often-overlooked step is obtaining a formal move-in/move-out permit. For example, in Dubai’s Emaar communities (like Arabian Ranches, Dubai Marina, etc.), residents must apply for a Move-In/Move-Out permit through the developer’s online portal.

This permit process usually requires uploading your tenancy contract, Emirates ID, and move details in advance. It’s free to apply but still necessary for security and scheduling. Other developers (Nakheel, Dubai Properties, etc.) have similar systems. Likewise, most apartment buildings in both cities require prior approval.

In Abu Dhabi (and even some Dubai apartment towers), the building management often asks tenants to submit a copy of the lease, passport, and visa a week before moving to reserve the elevator and loading area. If you neglect this step, you may find a locked gate or a hold-up on moving day. Always check with your landlord or property management about any permit or notice requirements.

6. Access and Practical Logistics

Even after permits, moving day logistics can be tricky. Make sure to reserve the service elevator or loading dock time in your new building. High-rises often dedicate one elevator for moves, and if it’s not booked, you could face long waits. In some narrow Dubai streets (old neighbourhood’s or villa communities), large trucks may have difficulty parking.

Ask your mover if a smaller van will be needed, or if they can secure parking permission from the municipality or guardhouse. Keep an eye on weather and traffic. Movers in the UAE will often avoid peak traffic hours; some may suggest starting very early to beat rush-hour. This is generally a good idea – less time sitting in traffic means a faster, cheaper move (hourly rates can add up).

Also, inform the movers of any special requirements in your buildings (for example, some upscale communities have dress codes for workers, and others may have safety rules requiring children to stay away during furniture delivery).

7. Post-Move Tips and Final Checks

Once the last box is unloaded, don’t forget to do a final check. It’s wise to do a quick walkthrough inventory against the checklist to note any missing or damaged items as soon as possible. If something is wrong, report it right away to the moving supervisor; most companies have a short window for filing claims.

Clean-up is usually not included, so arrange a cleaning team if you’re handing back the keys. Finally, tie up loose ends: update your address on Emirates ID (especially if you changed Emirates), and notify utility companies of your move.

In Abu Dhabi, for instance, remember to cancel your ADDC (formerly ADWEA) account so you get your deposit back.

If keys were handed to the movers or belonged to previous tenants, consider changing the locks for added security.

While these tasks are not about the movers themselves, planning them into your moving timeline will help everything finish smoothly.