Removals to the UAE | Simpsons International Removals

The Move

The UAE is one of our fastest major routes, and one of the most popular.

Every year we help British families and professionals settle in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the wider Emirates. Your move may be a handful of boxes or a complete household. Either way, we manage the packing, the paperwork and the customs clearance so the whole thing feels calm and predictable.

Sea freight is the usual choice for a household move to the Gulf. It is cost effective, dependable and generous with space. Air freight covers anything you need sooner.

Popular destinations we ship to

DubaiAbu DhabiSharjah AjmanRas Al KhaimahFujairah

Typical Transit Times

Sole-use container5–6 weeks

Shared (groupage) container6–9 weeks

Air freight1–2 weeks

Times shown are to port. Please allow additional time for UAE customs clearance on arrival. We recommend booking 2 to 4 months ahead of your move date.

Your options

Choose the right way to ship

Every move to the UAE is different, so we shape the service around yours.

Sea · Sole-use

Your own 20ft or 40ft container

Your belongings travel alone, packed and sealed at your door and not opened again until they reach you. The fastest and most secure sea option.

Best for: full household moves

Sea · Shared

Groupage / part-load container

Your goods share container space with other shipments heading to the Gulf, splitting the cost between several moves. Slightly longer transit, but excellent value.

Best for: smaller moves, flexible budgets

Air Freight

Fast-track for essentials

Air freight suits the things you need soon after you land, such as documents, clothing and everyday items. It arrives in a fraction of the time.

Best for: essentials & smaller shipments

Excess Baggage

A few boxes or suitcases

Not moving a whole household? Our excess baggage service is a simple, affordable way to send personal items and smaller consignments overseas.

Best for: light movers & students

Desert dunes in the United Arab Emirates

Good to know

UAE customs are thorough, and we prepare everything for you

Shipments arriving in the Emirates are inspected carefully, and a small number of items are restricted or need declaring in advance. We prepare your inventory and documentation before anything sails, so your shipment clears the border without delay.

Alcohol

Alcohol is strictly controlled and usually cannot travel in a household shipment. We will advise you before packing begins.

Medications

Some prescription and everyday medicines are restricted. Keep documentation with anything you carry.

Books, film & artwork

Printed and recorded material may be checked on arrival, and anything considered offensive can be seized.

New goods & valuables

Brand new items and high value pieces can attract duty, so keep receipts where you can.

★★★★★

Simpsons packed our London flat on a Tuesday and everything reached our Dubai apartment ahead of schedule. The crew were careful, the office kept us informed, and nothing arrived with so much as a scratch.

Illustrative example · London to Dubai, UAE

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Moving you anywhere in the world

Door-to-door across the Continent

Everything your move needs

International Removals to the UAE