Moving to Dubai? Here's what you actually need (and what you don't)

You've signed the contract, the visa is in process, and you're staring at your house full of stuff wondering what to ship 5,000 miles to a city you've possibly visited once for an interview. The moving company is quoting AED 25,000+ for a full container, and your HR department is being vague about the relocation allowance.

Here's the truth that experienced Dubai expats will tell you: don't ship everything. In fact, don't ship most things. The pre-loved market in Dubai means you can furnish a home, equip a kitchen, and set up a nursery within days of arrival — at a fraction of the cost of buying new or shipping from home.

What to bring from home

Keep your shipping container small. Bring:

• Personal items: Photos, sentimental pieces, things that can't be replaced
• Clothing: Your wardrobe, obviously, though you'll need less winter wear than you think (one UK trip per year doesn't justify a full winter collection)
• Electronics: Your laptop and phone. Everything else can be bought locally, often cheaper
• Children's comfort items: Their favourite toys, blankets, the stuffed rabbit they can't sleep without

That's roughly it. Everything else is cheaper and easier to buy in Dubai than to ship.

What to buy pre-loved when you arrive

Furniture. This is the biggest win. Dubai apartments come unfurnished far more often than you'd expect, and a trip to IKEA or Pottery Barn can set you back AED 15,000–30,000 easily. The pre-loved market is full of leaving-sale furniture from expats doing exactly what you did — arriving, furnishing, and now departing.

Sofas, dining tables, bed frames, wardrobes, children's beds, desks — all of it turns up regularly on Souq'd's home section. Expect to pay 30–50% of retail for items that are typically 1–3 years old.

Kitchen equipment. Shipping kitchen appliances is rarely worth it due to voltage differences (UAE uses 220V) and the weight-to-value ratio. Buy a pre-loved KitchenAid, Nespresso, or Thermomix on the secondhand market instead. Dubai departures sell these constantly.

Baby and children's gear. If you're moving with little ones, this is where pre-loved really shines. Car seats (check the expiry date), strollers, cots, high chairs, baby monitors — families who arrived 18 months before you are selling exactly what you need.

Check the kids' section for current listings.

What you don't need (that you think you do)

A winter wardrobe. You need one coat for your annual trip back. That's it. From October to March, Dubai evenings might require a light jacket. From April to September, you live in air conditioning and the outdoor temperature is irrelevant because you don't go outside voluntarily.

Outdoor furniture you're emotionally attached to. The Dubai sun destroys outdoor furniture within 2–3 seasons. Buy cheap outdoor pieces locally and accept they're disposable. Your Cotswold teak set will bleach, crack, and warp.

UK/EU electrical appliances. The plug sockets are the same (Type G, same as UK), and the voltage matches, but many appliances are cheaper to buy locally due to Dubai's competitive retail market and frequent sales. Shipping heavy items like vacuum cleaners and irons makes no sense.

Books. Ship a box of favourites, but Dubai has excellent libraries (especially Dubai Public Library's branches in Umm Suqeim and Al Safa) and a thriving second-hand book market. Kinokuniya in Dubai Mall is worth a visit too.

The arrival timeline

Here's a practical schedule for your first two weeks in Dubai:

• Day 1–2: Stay in your hotel or temporary accommodation. Sort your Emirates ID, open a bank account, get a SIM card
• Day 3–4: View apartments. Once you sign, browse Souq'd for furniture and large items. The market moves fast in Dubai — don't wait
• Day 5–7: Start purchasing. With Aramex delivery, most items arrive within 2–3 days across the UAE
• Week 2: Fill in gaps. Kitchen essentials, children's items, any remaining furniture pieces

When you eventually leave

Here's the beautiful circularity of it: when your Dubai chapter ends, you sell everything you bought pre-loved to the next family arriving. Your net cost for three years of furniture might be AED 5,000–8,000 — versus AED 25,000+ buying new. And someone else gets to start their Dubai life with exactly what they need.

That's how the expat economy works when it works well. Smart buying, smart selling, and a marketplace that connects the two.

Browse what's available on Souq'd or start listing items you're selling as you prepare for your move.