International movers from the UAE, door to door
In short
We move household and office goods from the UAE to almost any country by sea, air or road. A surveyor measures your volume, we advise whether a shared container, a full container or air freight is cheaper, and we handle export packing, UAE customs clearance and destination delivery. Sea freight typically takes three to six weeks; air freight five to ten days.
Leaving the UAE is mostly a paperwork problem wearing a logistics costume. The shipping itself is routine; what delays people is a missing passport copy, a packing list that does not match the container, or a destination country that wants proof you lived abroad for twelve months before it waives duty.
Should I ship by sea or by air?
Sea is the default for a household move because it is priced on space and a home full of furniture is bulky rather than heavy. Air makes sense for small, urgent or high-value loads — a few suitcases of clothes, a home office, the things you need in the first fortnight. A common and sensible split is to air-freight one or two cartons of essentials and send the rest by sea, so you are not living out of a hotel for five weeks waiting for a container.
What is the difference between LCL and FCL?
FCL means a full container hired for your goods alone — usually a 20ft or 40ft box. LCL means your shipment shares a container with other people's, and you pay only for the cubic metres you use. LCL is cheaper for smaller loads but adds a week or two because the container must be consolidated before departure and deconsolidated on arrival. As a rough rule, once a load passes about fifteen cubic metres a 20ft container often costs the same or less than the equivalent LCL space.
Which documents will I need?
Almost every destination asks for the same core set: a passport copy, a visa or residence permit for the destination, the itemised packing list we produce, and a signed authorisation letter letting our agent clear on your behalf. Beyond that the requirements diverge sharply — some countries want proof of residence abroad, others a transfer-of-residence certificate, others an original bill of lading rather than a telex release. The country page for your destination lists what applies, and we confirm it in writing before the container is booked.
Our process
Survey and quote
Volume measured, mode chosen, fixed price issued.
Pack and inventory
Export packing at your home and an itemised list produced.
Clear and sail
UAE export clearance, loading, and departure from Jebel Ali or DXB.
Deliver
Destination clearance and delivery into your new home.
What affects the price
| Volume and mode | Air is charged on weight and volume; sea on space used. |
|---|---|
| Shared vs full container | Shared is cheaper but slower; a full container is faster and sole-use. |
| Destination duty | Many countries waive duty on used personal effects if you qualify. |
| Access at both ends | A street a 40ft trailer cannot enter means a shuttle vehicle. |
| Storage at destination | If your new home is not ready, goods are stored and billed separately. |
Specialist pages
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from the UAE take?
Sea freight to Europe typically runs four to six weeks door to door, to India and Pakistan two to four, and to the GCC a few days by road. Air freight is five to ten days almost anywhere. The sailing itself is only part of it: packing, clearance at both ends and final delivery add roughly two weeks to any sea move.
Will I pay customs duty at the destination?
Often not. Most countries allow used household effects in duty-free under transfer-of-residence rules, provided you have lived abroad for a qualifying period and the goods are genuinely used and owned by you. New items still in their packaging, alcohol and vehicles are usually treated separately and may attract duty regardless.
Can you move just a few boxes?
Yes. Small shipments go as shared container space or as air freight, priced on the volume you actually use. For loads under about two cubic metres air freight is often competitive with sea once you account for the port and handling charges that apply to any sea shipment regardless of size.
Do you handle the destination side too?
Yes, through partner agents in the destination country. They clear the shipment, deliver to your address, unpack if you have booked that, and remove the packing debris. You deal with us throughout rather than being handed to a stranger once the container sails.
What cannot be shipped?
Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols, paint, fireworks and ammunition are refused everywhere. Beyond that each country has its own list: some prohibit drones or satellite phones, several restrict alcohol, and a few control printed material and religious items. We flag anything on your inventory that will cause a problem before it is packed.
Is my shipment insured?
Marine transit cover is offered separately from the freight price and is priced on the declared value of the goods. It is worth taking: standard carrier liability on an international move is limited by weight, not by what an item is actually worth, and that gap is where most disputes happen.
Get a free quote
A free survey and a fixed written price before you commit to anything.