Moving to Dubai: The Complete Furniture Guide
Updated: Oct 12
Quick answer: When moving to Dubai, ship the furniture you love that is well made, such as solid wood, antiques and sofas with hardwood frames. Sell flat-pack furniture and old mattresses before you go. Plan to order what you need in Dubai 6 to 8 weeks before you move in. At Adams Furniture, custom furniture typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, fitted wardrobes 3 to 4 weeks, and reupholstering a shipped sofa 2 to 3 weeks, all from our workshop in Al Quoz, Dubai.
The short version: ship, sell, make or refurbish
Ship: solid wood furniture, antiques and heirlooms, quality sofas and armchairs with hardwood frames (even if the fabric is tired), rugs and art.
Sell or leave: flat-pack and chipboard furniture, mattresses, outdoor furniture not made for strong sun, and anything that won't suit your new floor plan.
Buy or have made in Dubai: beds and mattresses in UAE sizes, sofas sized to your new living room, fitted wardrobes, larger dining tables for villa dining rooms, and outdoor furniture built for the climate.
Refurbish on arrival: sofas and chairs that need new fabric, solid wood with transit marks, and teak that has gone grey.
Our room-by-room guide, shipping furniture to Dubai or buying new, goes through every piece.
Your moving to Dubai furniture timeline
Three months before you move
Get a home survey from your international mover and go room by room: keep, sell or refurbish. Measure your larger pieces and photograph them. Send us the photos and we'll tell you whether reupholstery or restoration is worth it before you pay to ship them.
Six to eight weeks before you move in
Once you know your new home, or even just its floor plan, order made-to-order furniture and arrange a site visit for fitted joinery. We recommend ordering 6 to 8 weeks before your move-in date to allow for design, making, delivery and installation.
The week you arrive
Sea freight takes time, so plan to live without your shipment for a while. Start with beds, somewhere to sit and a table to eat at. Our first 30 days checklist breaks it down week by week.
When your shipment arrives
Unpack promptly, check for transit damage, let solid wood settle in the air conditioning, and book reupholstery or restoration for anything that needs it.
Will your furniture fit and survive in Dubai?
Dubai homes are different from those in the UK, US or Europe. Villas often have large, open-plan rooms, apartments have lift and door limits, and UAE bed sizes don't always match beds from home. Read will your UK or US furniture fit a Dubai home and UK vs UAE bed sizes. The climate matters too. Air conditioning dries the air indoors, while summers outside are hot, humid and very bright. See will your furniture survive the Dubai climate.
Bringing old furniture? Reupholstery and restoration in Dubai
Many people ship a sofa or armchair they love and find the fabric looks wrong in Dubai's light, or that it picked up marks on the way. Reupholstering a 3-seater sofa typically costs AED 3,500 to AED 7,000 and an armchair AED 1,200 to AED 2,500, with a 2 to 3 week turnaround and collection and delivery in Dubai included. We also make loose covers and restore teak furniture. Full details are in reupholstering and restoring furniture after moving to Dubai.
Custom furniture and joinery for your new home
We design and make furniture and fitted joinery in our own Al Quoz workshop: fitted wardrobes, walk-in wardrobes, media walls, kitchen and pantry joinery, sofas, beds, dining tables and outdoor teak. Changing the size of one of our designs is usually free or close to it. Real prices are in our custom furniture cost guide, and our custom joinery guide explains the process.
Renting first or buying?
If you're renting, invest in freestanding pieces that move with you and check with your landlord before adding fitted joinery. If you've bought, fitted joinery adds value every day. See furnishing a rented vs owned home in Dubai and our Dubai villa furniture guide.
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
Should I ship my furniture when moving to Dubai?
Ship pieces that are well made, valuable or meaningful, such as solid wood furniture, antiques and quality sofas with hardwood frames. Sell flat-pack furniture and mattresses, and buy or have made in Dubai anything that needs to fit UAE sizes or the climate.
How far in advance should I order furniture before moving to Dubai?
Order made-to-order furniture 6 to 8 weeks before your move-in date. At Adams Furniture, custom furniture typically takes 4 to 6 weeks and fitted wardrobes 3 to 4 weeks.
Can I get my old sofa reupholstered in Dubai?
Yes. Adams Furniture reupholsters sofas, armchairs and dining chairs in its Al Quoz workshop. A 3-seater sofa typically costs AED 3,500 to AED 7,000, with a 2 to 3 week turnaround and collection and delivery in Dubai included.
Are bed sizes in Dubai the same as in the UK or US?
Not always. Beds in the UAE are commonly sold in metric sizes such as 160 x 200 cm and 180 x 200 cm, which don't match UK or US sizes exactly, so check your frame and mattress before you ship.
Does Adams Furniture make fitted wardrobes for new homes in Dubai?
Yes. Adams Furniture designs, makes and installs fitted wardrobes, walk-in wardrobes and other joinery, with a fixed quote after a free site visit and a typical 3 to 4 week lead time.
Where is Adams Furniture based?
Adams Furniture has its own workshop in Al Quoz, Dubai, and makes custom furniture and joinery for homes and businesses across the UAE.
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