Relocation


Before you leave your home country for Dubai you will need to sort out your goods into take, keep/store and give-away/discard piles before you start packing up. When deciding on what goes into which category you will need to consider some of the following:

  • How long are you going to be gone? On a 2 year contract it would be cheaper and simpler to rent furnished accommodation when you land.
  • Does your new employment package include any relocation allowance for shipping of items? If not, can you afford this expense? What is the cost to store your items instead?
  • What are the customs regulations? Find out about any prohibited items - in Dubai you are not permitted to have alcohol, drugs or narcotics, arms & ammunitions, pornography, religious or blasphemous books or any endangered animal items (ivory, tiger skin and so on).
  • What would it cost to move and clear your belongings at customs as well as obtaining clearance for these items on arrival in Dubai vs. buying new or second-hand when you have arrived and settled? Consider the size of the accommodation you are likely to find vs. the type of home you have now. Your furniture may not even fit!
  • inventory everything you are storing or shipping as you box it. Trust me you will want this info later.
  • lastly consider if your appliances will work here? Electricity voltage, TV signals, DVD zones and so on may be incompatible.

    • Once you are ready to ship your belongings make sure to contract an international moving company that is insured and reputable, preferably with branches in both cities (old and new) or at least a good partnership at the other end. Remember you may not be able to receive and clear your items until you have your residence visa in hand. Bear in mind that container shipments can take 6-12 weeks or longer, so you may need to book into a hotel or serviced apartment initially. If you are letting your existing property in your home country for the duration of your contract, or if you place some items into storage, you will need to update your personal insurance company that you have made this change.

    For you and your family you may want to enlist the help of a Dubai-based Relocation Company before you arrive. A Relocation Company is an organisation that can assist you with various aspects of "hitting the ground running". Some companies will even include this expense in your new contract, so make sure you ask for it. Drawing on their relationships with other professionals (Real Estate Agents, Schools, Government Agencies), and their own experience, a Relocation Company will make the arrival and settling-in process as painless as humanly possible, as well as answering all your questions and giving you invaluable advice.

    The services provided will include some, if not all, of the following:

  • Area Orientation
  • Home Search and Settling-in Support
  • Red-tape and Utility Connection Management
  • School Search advice and assistance
  • Cultural information and events
  • Home Furnishing Assistance
  • Lease Renewal Negotiations
  • Exit Service

    • Don't forget that your pets deserve special attention too. The help of a specialist Pet Relocator will help you with importing your furry friends. Happily there is no quarantine in Dubai, and aside from some banned breeds, you will find this pretty straight-forward (if all their paperwork is in order). Each adult passport holder is allowed to import two animals. See the Partners page for details on these companies and our recommendations.

    See http://www.mymovedubai.com/my-move/pets.html



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