When your furniture is going to another emirate or leaving the country altogether, it needs more than a local move: a closed truck built for a long road, packing that survives hours of vibration and heat, and paperwork in order if the destination is across a border. Al Basmah International Shipping moves furniture within a single emirate, between all seven emirates, by road to Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC, and by sea to countries farther away, with urgent light items sent by air. Send photos or a short video of your furniture on WhatsApp at +971557643821; the team works out the truck size, the route and the price, then keeps you posted on WhatsApp at every stage until delivery.
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Your Furniture’s Route
- Three routes: inside one emirate, between the seven emirates, or out of the country.
- Between emirates: closed white box trucks with tail-lifts; road time runs from twenty minutes to nearly three hours.
- Saudi Arabia and the GCC by road through Al Ghuwaifat, distant countries by sea, urgent light items by air.
- Prices start from AED 920 for a studio within one emirate; long-distance and international moves are priced on WhatsApp.
- Nothing leaves the country without a detailed inventory and copies of your ID, passport and residence.
Within the emirate, between emirates or abroad: what changes
Distance decides how the whole job is run. A move inside one emirate usually finishes in a day with a single crew, and the packing is about avoiding scratches on stairs, in lifts and through doorways. A move between two distant emirates, say Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, means two hours or more on the highway, so the load is strapped inside the box and fragile panels travel upright between blankets. A move out of the country adds paperwork, an inventory and packing that can be opened for customs inspection.
Within one emirate
Loading and unloading the same day, dismantling and reassembly, standard film and blanket wrap.
Between emirates
A closed truck for your load only, strapped rows, a crew that travels with it and reassembles at the other end.
Out of the UAE
Inventory list, export packing with double-wall cartons and wooden crates for glass and marble, coordination for border clearance.
Air freight
For light urgent items only: documents, small devices, clothes you need the day you land.
Pickup areas across the seven emirates
We collect from cities and suburbs in every emirate: towers, villas, staff accommodation and offices. These are areas we are asked to collect from often; the list is not closed:
| Emirate | Areas we collect from | Long-distance note |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Deira, Bur Dubai, Al Barsha, Dubai Marina, JLT, Mirdif, Al Qusais, Al Warqa, Jebel Ali | Towers need a service-lift booking and building move permit before the truck leaves |
| Abu Dhabi | Al Reem Island, Al Khalidiya, Al Mushrif, Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Shamkha, Musaffah, Ruwais | Al Dhafra in the west is the corridor to the Al Ghuwaifat border |
| Sharjah | Al Nahda, Al Majaz, Al Khan, Al Taawun, Muwaileh, Al Qasimia, Industrial Area | Morning traffic on Al Ittihad Road means we load early |
| Ajman | Al Nuaimiya, Al Rashidiya, Al Jurf, Al Hamidiyah, Al Rawda | Close to Sharjah: a short run to Dubai, but traffic sets the timing |
| Umm Al Quwain | Al Salamah, Al Raas, Al Ramlah, Al Humrah, Falaj Al Mualla | The Emirates Road makes trips north and south straightforward |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Al Nakheel, Al Dhait, Khuzam, Al Mamourah, Al Hamra, Julphar, Al Rams | The northernmost point, and the longest run to Abu Dhabi and the Saudi border |
| Fujairah | Faseel, Murbah, Merashid, Sakamkam, Dibba Al Fujairah | Mountain roads via Masafi or the Sheikh Khalifa Highway; loads are balanced for the gradients |
| Al Ain | Al Jimi, Al Muwaiji, Al Towayya, Zakhir, Al Hili, Al Maqam, Falaj Hazza | Close to the Oman crossings, relatively far from the northern coast |
Typical drive times between emirates
These are real driving times for a moving truck on the highways in normal traffic, not counting loading and unloading. Rush hour on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road or between Dubai and Sharjah can add half an hour or more, so we set departure times away from the peaks where we can.
| Route | Approx. distance | Approx. drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai ⇄ Sharjah | 30 km | 30–60 min depending on traffic |
| Dubai ⇄ Ajman | 40 km | 40–60 min |
| Dubai ⇄ Abu Dhabi | 140 km | about 1 h 30 min |
| Dubai ⇄ Al Ain | 130–150 km | about 1 h 30 min |
| Dubai ⇄ Ras Al Khaimah | 110 km | about 1 h 15 min |
| Dubai ⇄ Fujairah | 130 km | about 1 h 30 min |
| Abu Dhabi ⇄ Al Ain | 160 km | 1 h 30 – 1 h 45 min |
| Abu Dhabi ⇄ Ras Al Khaimah | 250 km | 2 – 2 h 30 min |
| Al Ain ⇄ Fujairah | 150 km | about 1 h 30 min |
| Abu Dhabi ⇄ Al Ghuwaifat border | 340–350 km | about 3 h 30 min |
In practice, any move between two emirates can be finished in one day if the home is mid-sized and loading starts in the morning. A large villa going from Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi may be loaded in the evening and delivered the next morning, with the truck parked and locked overnight.
How a long-distance furniture move works, step by step
- Remote survey: send a walk-through video or photos of the big pieces, with both addresses, the floor number and whether there is a lift.
- Route and truck: the team picks the size of the closed box and decides whether one trip is enough or the load must be split.
- Price and date: the price arrives on WhatsApp and you choose a day that matches the handover of your new home.
- Building permits: we coordinate the service lift and the move permit at both buildings together, because a delay at either end holds up the whole route.
- Dismantling and packing: beds and wardrobes are taken apart and everything is wrapped before loading.
- Loading and securing: heavy pieces low and towards the front of the box, glass standing upright, every row strapped.
- On the road: you get a WhatsApp message when the truck sets off, then when it arrives or clears the border.
- Unloading and assembly: furniture is reassembled in the rooms you choose and the packing waste is taken away.
Packing that survives a long road
A carton that is fine for a ten-minute move across the neighbourhood can give way after two hours of vibration on the Abu Dhabi–Dubai road. That is why long-distance packing is different:
- Double-wall cartons for crockery and books, none heavier than one person can carry comfortably.
- Thick moving blankets around wood, then a tight layer of stretch film against dust.
- Cardboard or plastic corner guards on table and wardrobe edges.
- Made-to-measure wooden crates for marble tops, large mirrors and glass, essential for shipments leaving the country.
- Screws in small labelled bags taped to the piece they belong to.
- Cartons numbered by room, with one copy of the list for you and one for the crew.
Appliances need their own care: the fridge is emptied and dried the day before, the washing-machine drum is locked, and the TV travels upright in its box or a padded cover.
Moving furniture out of the UAE: Saudi Arabia, the GCC and beyond
To Saudi Arabia, furniture goes by road through the Al Ghuwaifat border, opposite the Saudi Al Batha post, then on to Riyadh, the Eastern Province or Jeddah. Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait are reached by road across Saudi territory, and Oman through land crossings near Al Ain, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. Countries farther away, such as Egypt, India or Europe, are served by sea in a container, which calls for export packing because the trip is longer and the load is handled more than once.
The road to the Kingdom is covered in our UAE to Saudi Arabia shipping guide, and if you are heading to the capital, see shipping from the UAE to Riyadh.
Documents usually needed when furniture leaves the country
- Copy of your passport and Emirates ID.
- Copy of your residence permit or visa in the destination country; some countries only clear household goods for residents.
- A detailed inventory of every carton, its contents and rough value, in Arabic and English.
- An address and contact number at the destination for whoever will receive the load.
Duties and exemptions on arrival follow each country’s rules, and the team tells you what applies to your destination before loading. Nothing restricted in the destination country goes into the shipment, so ask for the list before you start packing.
Offices and heavy items on moves between emirates
Moving an office from Dubai to Sharjah or from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain is usually done after working hours or over the weekend, so staff walk into a ready office the next day. Desks, chairs and cabinets are numbered to the new floor plan and equipment travels in its cartons. A steel safe, a piano or heavy gym equipment needs lifting gear and a bigger crew, and is secured at the front of the box before the rest of the load. Mention these pieces in your first message so the truck and crew are planned for them.
Air freight for urgent items
Large furniture does not fly: the cost by weight and volume is far too high. But things that cannot wait for the truck or the container, like a work laptop, documents or the children’s school clothes, can go by air in a carton or two and land before you or with you, while the furniture follows by road or sea.
Prices start from
These are starting prices for a move within one emirate. They sit below the published Dubai market rates and apply across all the emirates:
| Home size | Price starts from |
|---|---|
| Studio | AED 920 |
| 1-bedroom apartment | AED 1,100 |
| 2-bedroom apartment | AED 1,650 |
| 3-bedroom villa | AED 3,700 |
| Single item, office, between emirates, abroad | Send the details on WhatsApp and get your price |
What decides the price?
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Volume | The number of rooms and large pieces sets the truck size and the number of trips. |
| Floors and lifts | A high floor with no service lift, or a small lift, adds working time. |
| Distance and route | Two neighbouring emirates cost less than Ras Al Khaimah to Abu Dhabi or to the border. |
| Packing level | Basic wrap, or full packing with double-wall cartons and export crates. |
| Dismantling | Large wardrobes and kitchens need extra time and tools. |
| Timing | Month-ends and family moving seasons are busier; after-hours office moves are planned separately. |
| Parking and permits | Building permit fees, or a truck that cannot park near the entrance. |
Tips before a long-distance moving day
- Photograph furniture before it is wrapped, especially glossy surfaces, so you know its condition before the road.
- Keep a two-day bag in your car: chargers, medicines, documents, clothes.
- Make sure the new home is ready to receive furniture; if not, book space in a furniture storage unit for days or weeks.
- Ask the team about optional insurance if the shipment is valuable or going abroad.
- Never leave gold, cash or passports in the cartons.
Warning: Do not lock in the truck date until the lift booking and building permit are confirmed at both ends. Many delays on moves between emirates come from a truck reaching a tower that will not allow unloading that day.
If you are moving a whole household rather than a few pieces, our guide to home movers in the UAE covers room-by-room packing and the moving-day plan, and furniture movers in the UAE covers dismantling and assembling each item.
FAQ: moving furniture in and out of the UAE
How long does it take to move furniture from one emirate to another?
The drive itself is between twenty minutes and about three hours depending on the two emirates, plus loading and unloading. A mid-sized apartment usually moves in a day; a large villa may take two.
Can furniture go from the UAE to Saudi Arabia by road?
Yes, through Al Ghuwaifat to Al Batha and on to your city. You need a detailed inventory and copies of your ID, passport and Saudi residence.
Do you ship to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman?
Yes. The road to Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait runs through Saudi Arabia, and Oman is reached through the northern and eastern land crossings. Send your destination on WhatsApp to get the route and timing.
Will you move a single piece between emirates?
Yes: a sofa, bed, wardrobe or gym machine. The price depends on the item and the distance, so send a photo and both addresses.
How will I hear about my furniture’s progress on the road?
The team messages you on WhatsApp at loading, at departure and on arrival or after the border, and you can ask at any time.
What if my new home is not ready?
The furniture goes into storage for a short period and is delivered when you are ready, without unwrapping and re-packing it.
Can some things go by air and the rest by road?
Yes. Light urgent cartons fly while the furniture travels by truck or container, and you get WhatsApp updates on both.
Ready to plan your furniture’s route?
Send photos of your furniture and the destination on WhatsApp, and get the price and a truck date.
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