How much does moving home cost in Dubai?
In Dubai the building often sets the price of a move more than the movers do: a tower that grants the service lift for a two-hour slot, holds a refundable deposit of up to AED 2,000 and turns a crew away at the barrier without a permit decides how many people and how many hours you are paying for.
A quote for a move is mostly a guess about volume and access. The same two-bedroom apartment can cost 1,800 or 3,500 depending on how much furniture there is, whether the crew packs it, how many floors there are to carry, and whether the building gives you the service lift for the whole morning or only for an hour. The useful thing to settle before you call is what you will pack yourself, and what your building’s move permit says.
Describe the work, location and access details. Review any offers you receive before choosing a professional.
UAE price references for planning a job in Dubai
| Job | AED |
|---|---|
| Studio, within Dubai 500–1,200 AED The sources disagree at the low end: ServiceMarket publishes 1,000–1,200 and Real Estate Club Dubai 750–1,200, while Jeebly puts a studio at 500–800. Ask whether wrapping and reassembly are included before comparing a low quote with a high one. | 500–1,200 |
| One-bedroom apartment, within Dubai 1,000–2,000 AED ServiceMarket publishes 1,200–1,500, Real Estate Club Dubai 1,000–1,600 and Engel & Völkers up to 2,000. Jeebly is the outlier at 400–900, or 700–1,300 with professional packing. | 1,000–2,000 |
| Two-bedroom apartment, within Dubai 1,800–3,500 AED ServiceMarket 1,800–2,500, Real Estate Club Dubai 1,800–2,800, E House Movers 1,800–3,200 with packing and paperwork, Engel & Völkers 2,000–3,500. Packing is what moves a quote from the bottom of this range to the top. | 1,800–3,500 |
| Three-bedroom apartment, within Dubai 3,000–5,000 AED Real Estate Club Dubai gives 3,000–4,500 for a three-bedroom apartment or townhouse; Engel & Völkers starts at 3,500 and ServiceMarket gives 4,000–5,000 for a three-bedroom home. | 3,000–5,000 |
| Villa, within Dubai 4,000–7,000+ AED Three bedrooms is 4,000–5,000 in both ServiceMarket and Real Estate Club Dubai; four or more is 6,000–7,000+. Dismantling, garden furniture and more floors to carry are where the extra goes. | 4,000–7,000+ |
| A few items or a single piece from 199 AED ServiceMarket publishes AED 199 to start, before packing, then 400 for 2–3 pieces, 500 for 4–5 and 700 for 5–10. Larger loads are priced by volume, at 75–85 per cubic metre. | from 199 |
| Movers by the hour, crew of two 150–200 / hour AED E House Movers’ crew rate; the truck is charged on top — 350–500 for a 3-tonne truck, which fits a studio or one-bedroom. Ask about the minimum booking and whether waiting time is billed. | 150–200 / hour |
| Full packing service +500–1,500 AED Jeebly publishes 500–1,500 to pack everything; E House Movers 800–1,500 for a two-bedroom. Packing only the fragile items is 300–700. | +500–1,500 |
| Packing materials only, apartment +100–550 AED Jeebly 150–400; E House Movers 100–300 for a studio or one-bedroom and 300–550 for a two-bedroom. A villa runs 550–1,000. | +100–550 |
| Dubai to Abu Dhabi, apartment 1,800–4,500 AED Only one source publishes a route price: Jeebly, 1,800–4,500 for an apartment and 3,500–8,000 for a villa. Get a written quote for your exact route. | 1,800–4,500 |
Published UAE price references, largely drawn from Dubai sources, compiled on 21 October 2026. The table is not a separate price survey of Dubai. Confirm local availability, scope and price directly with the provider.
What moves the price in Dubai
Dubai is the reference market: nearly every published price list in the UAE is a Dubai list, which is why the ranges below are quoted the way they are. Marina, Downtown and JLT sit at the top of them — parking and lift access cost the pro time before the work starts.
Towers are the complication. Building management usually wants an NOC or a work permit for the contractor before anyone is let upstairs, some require it a day ahead, and a few hold a refundable deposit against damage to the lifts. Ask your building what it needs when you agree the job, not when the pro is at the barrier.
Who has to approve the work
DEWA — Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. Anything that touches the incoming supply — the distribution board, a new circuit, meter-side work — has to be done by a DEWA-registered contractor. Replacing a socket, a switch or a light fitting on an existing circuit does not, and that is where most handyman electrical work sits.
Homes and access in Dubai
Most of Dubai rents rather than owns, and most of it lives in towers held by management companies. Tenancies turn over on an annual cycle, so the same snag list — a dripping mixer, a socket that stopped working, a wardrobe to rebuild — arrives in waves every summer.
Questions people ask
Two quotes for the same flat are a thousand dirhams apart. Why?
Usually because they are not quoting the same job. One includes packing, wrapping, and taking apart and reassembling the furniture; the other is a crew and a truck. Ask each mover for an itemised written quote after a survey, by video if not in person. A low phone quote that grows once the truck is loaded is the complaint you hear most in this trade.
What does my building need before the movers arrive?
Most Dubai towers and communities ask for a move permit from building management, for moving out and again for moving in. Published figures put the non-refundable fee at around AED 100–250, and many buildings also hold a refundable deposit for the lift, often AED 500–2,000. Apply a few days ahead and check the hours movers are allowed in: a crew turned away at the barrier still bills for its time.
Does the moving company need a licence?
Yes. A company that moves furniture for a fee needs a trade licence covering that activity, and its vehicles need an RTA permit — the RTA lists furniture removal among the activities it has to approve. Ask for the trade licence number and check that the truck belongs to the company you are paying. If something breaks, an unlicensed man with a van leaves you nobody to claim from.
Is it cheaper to pack myself?
Usually, by the cost of the packing labour — published figures for full packing run from about 500 to 1,500. Two things to know first: many movers will not cover boxes they did not pack, and fragile items are where damage claims come from. A common middle way is to pack books and clothes yourself and let the crew do the kitchen and the glass.
Is there a cheaper time to move?
The end and the start of the month are busiest, because that is when most tenancies turn over, and some movers add a surcharge for short notice — Jeebly publishes 200–600 for bookings under 48 hours ahead. A weekday in the middle of the month is when a quote has room to come down. Check your building’s rules first: some do not allow moves on certain days.
Get a price for your own job
Use these price references to prepare your questions. Describe the work you need, review any offers you receive, and confirm the scope, inclusions and total directly with the professional before agreeing to the work.
Where these numbers come from
This reference set was compiled on 21 October 2026 from published UAE price lists and cost guides, largely covering Dubai. Source dates, units and inclusions differ. The figures are not HandyMan transaction data or a separate survey of each emirate; follow the linked sources for their context.
Moving prices elsewhere in the UAE
Other trades in Dubai
Longer read: How to Hire a Handyman: What to Check Before You Book. Work in this trade yourself? See Dubai jobs on HandyMan. Explore handyman services across the UAE. Read the movers hiring guide.