Will Your UK or US Furniture Fit a Dubai Home? Sizes, Lifts & Layouts
Quick answer: Most UK, US and European furniture will fit, but check three things before you ship. First, bed and mattress sizes: UAE sizes are metric and don't always match UK or US beds. Second, access: lift sizes, door widths and stairs in your new building. Third, scale: many Dubai villas have large open-plan rooms, while apartments can be compact. Measure every large piece and compare it with your new floor plan. Anything that doesn't fit can be made to measure in Dubai.
Beds and mattresses: the most common mismatch
Beds and mattresses in the UAE are commonly sold in metric sizes such as 160 x 200 cm and 180 x 200 cm. A UK king is 150 cm wide, and a US king is about 193 cm wide, so a frame from home may not suit a mattress bought here. Our UK vs UAE bed sizes guide compares them side by side. If you're shipping a frame you love, bring its mattress or measure the inside of the frame before you buy a new one. If you need a new bed, ours are made to order, so we can build one around the mattress you have.
Getting furniture into the building
Lifts: ask building management for the service lift's internal width, depth, height and door opening. Many buildings also ask you to book the lift for your move.
Doors and corridors: measure door widths and any tight turns. Large sofas often go through on their end, so measure the sofa's diagonal depth too.
Villa stairs: measure any turns on the stairs before you ship large beds, wardrobes or chests.
Modular is easier: sofas made in sections, such as our corner and modular sofas, fit through lifts and doors that a fixed sofa won't.
Scale: villas vs apartments
Many Dubai villas have generous living rooms, double-height spaces and large dining areas, where a standard 3-seater sofa or a six-seat table can look lost. Larger sofas, built-in seating such as the Marylebone Banquette, and long tables such as the 260 cm Pietra Dining Table suit those rooms. Apartments are often open-plan, with living and dining in one space, so compact sofas, round tables and storage that works hard matter more. Our Dubai villa furniture guide has room-by-room advice.
Wardrobes and storage
Many Dubai homes come with built-in wardrobes, and a large freestanding wardrobe from home may not fit beside them or under the ceiling. If your new home needs more storage, fitted wardrobes use the full wall height and typically take 3 to 4 weeks from design approval to installation. Smaller pieces such as chests of drawers and sideboards are easier to place.
Measure before you ship: a checklist
Width, depth and height of every large piece, plus the diagonal depth of sofas.
The internal size and door opening of your building's service lift.
Door widths, corridor turns and staircase turns in the new home.
Ceiling heights, for tall wardrobes, bookcases and four-poster beds.
Where the windows, AC units and power points are, so pieces don't block them.
The inside dimensions of any bed frame you're bringing.
When it doesn't fit: made to measure in Dubai
Changing the dimensions of one of our existing designs is usually free or close to it, and made-to-order pieces typically take 4 to 6 weeks from our Al Quoz workshop. Send us your floor plan and we'll suggest sizes that suit the room.
Moving soon? Talk to us before you ship
Send us photos and rough measurements of your furniture on WhatsApp at 052 981 3180 before your shipment is packed. We'll tell you honestly what's worth bringing, what can be reupholstered or restored once it arrives, and what we can make for your new home in our Al Quoz workshop. You can also call the workshop on +971 4 529 9742.
Frequently asked questions
Are UK beds the same size as UAE beds?
Not always. A UK king bed is 150 x 200 cm, while beds in the UAE are commonly sold as 160 x 200 cm and 180 x 200 cm. A UK frame and a UAE mattress may not match, so measure before you buy.
Will my American king bed fit a mattress bought in Dubai?
A US king is about 193 cm wide, wider than the 180 x 200 cm mattresses commonly sold in the UAE, so a standard UAE mattress may leave a gap. Bring your mattress or have a frame made to suit.
How do I know if my sofa will fit in a Dubai apartment lift?
Ask building management for the service lift's internal width, depth, height and door opening, and compare them with your sofa's dimensions, including its diagonal depth. Modular sofas in sections are the easiest to move.
Should I bring my wardrobes to Dubai?
Often not. Many Dubai homes have built-in wardrobes, and large freestanding wardrobes may not fit beside them. Fitted wardrobes made locally use the full wall height and take about 3 to 4 weeks.
Do Dubai apartments have built-in wardrobes?
Many do, but not all. Check the listing or ask the agent before you ship freestanding wardrobes.
Can furniture be made to measure in Dubai?
Yes. Adams Furniture makes furniture to measure in its Al Quoz workshop. Changing the dimensions of an existing design is usually free or close to it, and pieces typically take 4 to 6 weeks.
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