Moving house in Dubai involves more than boxes and a truck. Between DEWA transfers, Ejari registration, school transfer certificates, and building move-in permits, there are government and utility steps most moving checklists gloss over — and missing one can mean a delayed move-in date or a lost security deposit. This checklist walks through everything a Dubai resident needs to handle, organized by how far out from moving day you should tackle it, with the actual fees and processing times so you’re not guessing.
4 to 6 Weeks Before: Planning and Booking
Set your moving budget and get quotes.
Get at least two or three quotes from licensed movers, comparing what’s actually included rather than just the bottom-line number. A basic quote might exclude packing materials that a “premium” quote from another company includes, so ask specifically what’s covered before comparing prices side by side.
Check your building’s moving permit requirements.
Nearly every residential tower and gated community in Dubai requires a moving permit or NOC before movers can access freight elevators, loading areas, or a villa’s gate. Emaar-managed buildings typically need 5 to 7 business days’ notice through the Emaar One app, Nakheel communities run a separate NOC process, and some developments require an additional security deposit of AED 500 to 3,000 that’s refunded after the move. Submit this application as soon as you know your move date — this is the single most common reason moves get delayed at the last minute.
Give notice on your current tenancy.
Most Dubai tenancy contracts require 90 days’ notice before the renewal date if you’re not renewing. Check your contract’s notice clause now, since missing this window can mean an automatic one-year renewal you didn’t intend.
Start a decluttering pass.
Sort belongings into keep, sell, and donate before you start packing anything. Anything unused for more than five months rarely gets used again, and moving fewer items directly lowers your moving quote since most Dubai movers price by volume and item count.
2 to 4 Weeks Before: Government and Utility Transfers
This is the stage most generic moving checklists skip past with a single line (“update your utilities”), but in Dubai it involves several distinct government and provider processes, each with its own documents and fees.
Register your new Ejari.
Ejari is the mandatory registration of your tenancy contract with Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Agency, and you’ll need your Ejari number before you can do almost anything else on this list — DEWA connection, school transfer, and some visa-related address updates all ask for it. Your landlord or agent typically handles registration, but confirm it’s done and get the certificate number yourself rather than assuming it happened.
Transfer or set up your DEWA account.
DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) requires your new Ejari number, your current DEWA contract account number, your move-out and move-in dates, and for owners, the title deed. Submit this through DEWA’s app or website, not in person, since it’s fully digital.
The fees break down like this: a disconnection fee of AED 112.5 for a small meter (or AED 300 for a large one) at your old address, plus a AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee. Connecting your new address costs the same AED 112.5 or AED 300, plus AED 10 registration, AED 10 knowledge fee, and AED 10 innovation fee.
On top of that, DEWA holds a security deposit — AED 2,000 for an apartment, AED 4,000 for a villa — which transfers from your old account to your new one, so you only pay the difference if you’re upgrading to a villa from an apartment.
Once submitted, your new premises typically gets power and water within 15 working hours of payment, and your old address disconnects within 24 working hours of your selected date. You’ll receive a final bill and clearance certificate by email once the old account closes.
Transfer your internet and TV connection.
If you’re with e& (Etisalat), open the e& UAE app, go to Manage on your eLife plan, and select Home Move. You’ll need your new address and your building’s Makani number — the 10-digit code that pinpoints your exact building. The transfer fee is AED 150 plus 5% VAT, charged on your next billing cycle rather than upfront, and it usually takes 1 to 3 working days depending on technician availability. On moving day, unplug your router and TV box to take with you, but leave the white ONT box attached to the wall — it belongs to the building, not you.
Start a school transfer if you have children.
If your move puts your child in a different school zone or you’re changing schools regardless of distance, you’ll need a KHDA Transfer Certificate. Most schools handle this through their parent portal: the school submits an application to KHDA’s smart services platform, KHDA issues an attested certificate with a QR code for verification, and you’re notified by email once it’s ready for collection. The fee is AED 120 plus 5% VAT, and it typically processes within one working day — but all outstanding school fees must be settled first, so this can stall if there’s an unpaid balance you didn’t know about. You’ll also want an Academic History Certificate (sometimes called a “to whom it may concern” letter), which you can request through the DubaiNow app.
1 to 2 Weeks Before: Packing and Final Arrangements
Book your movers and confirm the date in writing.
Get written confirmation of your date, time window, and what’s included — not just a verbal WhatsApp agreement. Ask whether packing materials are included or billed separately, since this is one of the most common places a final invoice comes in higher than the quote.
Start packing room by room.
Label every box with its destination room and a general contents description, not just “misc.” This alone saves significant time on the unpacking side, especially in a villa with multiple floors where movers need to know where each box goes without asking.
Set aside an essentials box.
Pack a separate box or bag with anything you’ll need in the first 24 hours at the new place: toiletries, a change of clothes, phone chargers, basic kitchen items, and any medication. This box travels with you, not in the moving truck.
Photograph valuable or fragile items before the move.
If anything gets damaged in transit, having a timestamped photo makes a damage claim against your mover’s insurance far easier to process than trying to describe the item’s condition from memory afterward.
Arrange pest control and cleaning at your new place.
If you’re moving into a new build or a place that’s been vacant, book fumigation about a week before move-in, and arrange a deep clean either the day before or the morning of your move, before furniture arrives.
Moving Day
Confirm your building permit is active.
Double-check with your building or community management that your moving permit is confirmed for the date and time window you booked, especially for a villa community where a missed slot might mean waiting another day for the next available gate access window.
Do a final walkthrough of your old place.
Check every cupboard, the balcony, and any storage areas before the truck leaves — these are the spots people forget items in most often, and also the spots landlords check most closely for damage during a deposit inspection.
Keep your Ejari, DEWA confirmation, and school transfer documents with you, not packed in a box.
You’ll likely need at least one of these in the first few days at your new address, and digging through unlabeled boxes to find them is exactly the kind of avoidable stress this checklist is meant to prevent.
Supervise the unload and note the room for every box.
A few minutes directing where furniture goes as it comes off the truck saves hours of rearranging later.
After the Move
Update your address on essential accounts.
Bank, insurance, Emirates ID address (if applicable), and any subscription deliveries.
Confirm your DEWA and internet are both active and billing correctly.
Log in within the first few days to check your new account reflects the right meter readings and connection date.
Follow up on your old address’s security deposit.
DEWA’s deposit transfer and your landlord’s rental deposit are two separate things — chase both. The DEWA deposit transfers automatically as part of the account switch, but your landlord’s tenancy deposit typically requires a move-out inspection before it’s returned, so book that inspection as soon as you’ve handed back the keys.
Register your new Ejari for future reference.
Keep the certificate somewhere accessible — you’ll need it again for the next DEWA transfer, any visa paperwork tied to your address, or your next school transfer if you move again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a full move take in Dubai, start to finish?
For most apartment moves, budget 4 to 6 weeks from giving notice to being fully settled, accounting for the notice period, permit lead times, and utility transfer processing. A villa move with a school transfer involved often needs closer to 6 to 8 weeks.
Can I transfer DEWA without an Ejari number?
No. DEWA requires a valid Ejari number for the new premises as part of the connection application, which is why registering Ejari early in the process matters — it’s a prerequisite for almost everything else on this list.
What happens if I miss my building’s moving permit window?
Most buildings will reschedule you to the next available slot, but during peak moving season (June to August, when most leases turn over) that can mean a delay of several days. Submitting your permit application as early as possible avoids this entirely.
Do I need to be present for the DEWA connection?
No — DEWA’s move-to process is fully digital through their app or website, and connection happens automatically within 15 working hours of payment without anyone needing to be on-site.
Is the DEWA security deposit refundable?
Yes, but it transfers rather than refunds when you move within Dubai — it moves from your old account to your new one. It’s only refunded as cash if you’re closing your DEWA account entirely, such as when leaving the UAE.