Looking for home movers in Abu Dhabi who can clear a seven-bedroom villa or a flat on Al Reem Island without the day turning into chaos? Al Basmah International Shipping sends a trained crew that knows its roles before walking in, closed box trucks with tail-lifts, and coverage across the island and suburbs from Al Khalidiya to Al Shamkha. Prices start from AED 920 for a studio and AED 3,700 for a three-bedroom villa, with WhatsApp updates from packing to the last piece assembled.
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Your New Home, Ready
- Beds assembled, with their bedding in that room’s cartons.
- Wardrobes rebuilt and doors aligned.
- Kitchen and bathroom cartons in place to be opened first.
- Sofas, rugs and tables where you want them.
- Truck completely empty before anyone signs off.
Villa or apartment: what changes on moving day?
Abu Dhabi has two kinds of homes that move very differently. A flat in an Al Reem or Al Khalidiya tower depends on the lift and management hours, while a villa in Khalifa City or Mohammed Bin Zayed City depends on room count, annexes and the distance from door to street.
| Apartment | Villa | |
|---|---|---|
| Main challenge | Service lift and building hours | Size, annexes and the outdoor majlis |
| Typical crew | 3 to 4 | 6 to 8 depending on rooms |
| Truck | Usually one box truck | One large truck or two |
| Duration | One day | One to two days with packing |
| Often forgotten | Basement store room | Maid’s room, roof and garden |
A trained crew: who does what?
Moving-day chaos starts when everyone does everything. So the crew is split before it arrives:
Supervisor
Takes your floor plan for the new home, lists the delicate items and sends you updates.
Packing team
Starts with the kitchen and wardrobes because they are slowest, and numbers cartons by room.
Dismantling technician
Takes beds and wardrobes apart and bags screws in numbered bags.
Loading team
Arranges the truck: heavy at the back, glass and screens at the front.
Crews wear uniform and are trained to carry heavy pieces up and down stairs without marking walls or banisters, using straps and dollies instead of dragging.
Closed trucks in the Abu Dhabi heat
The run from the island to Al Shamkha or Al Shahama can stretch with traffic at the bridges, and an hour of sun on an open truck is enough to crack polished wood and soften wax and plastic. Closed trucks protect furniture from sun, dust and sea-air humidity, and the tail-lift lowers heavy pieces to the ground so nobody carries them on their shoulders.
Annexes, outdoor majlis and staff rooms
Many Abu Dhabi villas have a separate annex or an outdoor guest majlis, which on its own can equal a full apartment. Floor seating is folded and tied, cushions are bagged in large clean sacks, and low wooden tables are wrapped in blankets. Persian or hand-knotted rugs are never folded; they are rolled on a tube so the fibres do not break.
Driver and housekeeper rooms get their own cartons labelled with each person’s name, so everyone finds their things on the first night without searching through the whole household. An annex kitchen, if there is one, is packed separately from the main kitchen.
When to move in Abu Dhabi
In summer we start loading as close to dawn as we can, because the hours between noon and late afternoon wear crews down and slow work in large villas. On working days we avoid the commuter waves into and off the island; the road from Khalifa City to Al Khalidiya at first light is a very different drive from the same road at eight.
Areas we cover in Abu Dhabi
| Area | Neighbourhoods | Typical homes |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Island | Al Khalidiya, Al Bateen, Al Mushrif, Al Muroor, Al Zahiya, Al Manhal, Al Nahyan | Towers, flats and some older villas |
| The islands | Al Reem Island, Saadiyat, Yas, Al Maryah | Modern towers and villa communities |
| Eastern suburbs | Khalifa City, Al Raha Beach, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Shakhbout City | Villas and townhouses |
| North | Al Shamkha, Al Falah, Al Shahama, Al Rahba | Spacious villas for large families |
| West and south | Baniyas, residential Musaffah, Al Wathba | Villas and ground-level homes |
We also move from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain and the other emirates; for the countrywide view see home movers in the UAE.
How the move runs from start to finish
- Film the home: a WhatsApp video of every room, the annex and the garden if there is one.
- We set crew and truck: number of people, vehicle type, and whether packing needs its own day.
- Price and date fixed: the price arrives on WhatsApp with what it includes.
- Packing day: usually the day before for villas, the same morning for flats.
- Loading and the road: a message when the truck sets off and another as it gets close.
- Unloading and set-up: assembly and room-by-room placement so bedrooms are ready that night.
Packing room by room
Large villas mean many cartons, and it is easy for things to get lost among them. Each carton gets a colour or number matching its room in the new home, and the same number goes on that room’s door.
- Kitchen: glassware and china in double-wall cartons; large pots are filled with smaller pans that fit inside.
- Bedrooms: hanging cartons for clothes, covers for mattresses, pillows in large bags.
- Children’s rooms: small toys in closed boxes, small beds dismantled.
- Majlis and living room: rugs rolled after cleaning, large sofas in blankets and film.
- Chandeliers and ornaments: chandeliers taken down on request and each glass piece wrapped separately.
The home office deserves particular attention: papers go into small file cartons sealed with tape, ink cartridges come out of the printer, and cables are bagged together with the device they belong to. If you work from home, ask for this room to be packed last and set up first.
Buildings and lifts in Abu Dhabi
Towers on Al Reem and in Al Khalidiya usually need building management approval and a service lift booking, and some gated communities want crew names in advance. Villas rarely need this, but the narrow internal stairs of some older villas make taking wardrobes apart unavoidable.
- Ask tower management about permitted moving hours and any deposit.
- Book the lift in both the old and new buildings for the same day.
- At villas, check the outer gate is wide enough for dollies and the path to the door is clear of cars.
- Close the electricity and water account at the old home and open it at the new one a few days ahead.
Setting up the new home
The aim is for the family to sleep in the new home on the first night without hunting for anything. Bedrooms are assembled first, then sofas and tables, then kitchen cartons lined up in front of the cupboards they will go into. If you want a wooden kitchen refitted, it is scheduled the same day or the next depending on size.
If the new home is under maintenance or not yet handed over, there is short-term furniture storage in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi moving-day checklist
- Close the old electricity and water account and photograph the meters.
- Update your address on the Tawtheeq-registered lease if you rent.
- Find a nearby spot for the truck; some island streets have paid parking.
- Leave the supervisor a phone number for someone at the new home.
- Keep gold, papers and medicines with you.
Prices in Abu Dhabi
These are starting prices for a move within Abu Dhabi, including a closed truck, crew, basic packing and bed and wardrobe dismantling and assembly:
| Home | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Studio | AED 920 |
| One-bedroom | AED 1,100 |
| Two-bedroom | AED 1,650 |
| Three-bedroom villa | AED 3,700 |
| Larger villa, single item, office, or Abu Dhabi to another emirate or abroad | Send the details on WhatsApp and get your price |
What decides the price?
| Factor | Abu Dhabi example |
|---|---|
| Home size | A villa with an annex and outdoor majlis is bigger than one with the same room count |
| Floors and lifts | An Al Reem tower with a service lift is quicker than an older villa with narrow stairs |
| Distance | Al Khalidiya to Al Shamkha is further than a move within Khalifa City |
| Packing level | Full packing of china and chandeliers takes material and time |
| Dismantling | Kitchens, large wardrobes and chandeliers |
| Timing | Month-end and holidays |
| Parking and permits | Building hours and paid street parking |
Warning: Do not leave chandeliers hanging on their wiring hoping they can be taken down quickly on the day. It takes time and a careful electrician; mention them at the survey so the time is planned.
Tips before a villa move
- Start sorting in the maid’s room, store and roof; that is where most of what you do not need lives.
- Decide in advance what happens to garden furniture and outdoor play equipment.
- Point out heirlooms or valuable pieces before packing so they get extra care.
- Ask the team about optional insurance if the home has high-value furniture.
- Do not book maintenance workers at the new home on moving day.
Urgent items going abroad
If a family member is relocating to another country and needs some belongings fast, light items go by air freight and the rest follows by road or sea. Details are in furniture moving in and out of Abu Dhabi, and for single pieces or office furniture see furniture movers in Abu Dhabi.
Frequently asked questions
How many movers does a five-bedroom villa in Abu Dhabi need?
Usually six to eight plus a supervisor, sometimes with a separate packing day. The exact number is set after the video survey.
Can you move from Abu Dhabi Island to Al Shamkha or Al Shahama in one day?
Yes. We start early to beat bridge traffic and assemble the same day.
Do you take down and rehang chandeliers?
We take them down and pack them on request; we need to know at the survey because it takes time.
Can you move a majlis and large rugs?
Yes. Floor seating, Arabic sofas and rugs are wrapped and moved, and rugs are rolled after cleaning.
Do you work on Friday and Saturday?
Yes, and bookings reach us on WhatsApp at any time. Weekend days fill quickly.
What if the new home is not ready?
We store your belongings for a short period and deliver when the home is ready.
How do I know where the truck is?
The supervisor messages you on WhatsApp at each stage and shortly before arrival.
Villa or apartment in Abu Dhabi?
Send a video of your home on WhatsApp and we will tell you the crew, truck and price.
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