Shipping Furniture to Dubai or Buying New? A Room-by-Room Guide
Quick answer: Ship furniture that is well made, hard to replace or meaningful to you: solid wood, antiques, good sofas and armchairs with hardwood frames, art and rugs. Sell flat-pack, chipboard furniture and old mattresses before you go. Buy or have made in Dubai anything that has to fit UAE sizes or the climate, such as beds and mattresses, outdoor furniture and fitted wardrobes. A tired but well-built sofa is usually worth shipping and reupholstering in Dubai.
Three questions to ask about every piece
Is it well made? Solid wood and hardwood frames travel well and last. Chipboard and flat-pack furniture often doesn't survive being taken apart and rebuilt twice.
Would it cost more to replace than to ship? International movers price by volume, so compare the space a piece takes up in the container with what it would cost to replace. Bulky, low-value pieces rarely make sense.
Will it suit a Dubai home? Check sizes against your new floor plan, and think about strong sunlight, year-round air conditioning and fine dust. Our guide to furniture in the Dubai climate covers this in detail.
Room by room: what to ship and what to leave
Living room: sofas and armchairs
A good sofa is worth shipping if the frame is solid hardwood and the springs are sound, even if the fabric is worn or wrong for your new home. Reupholstering a 3-seater in Dubai typically costs AED 3,500 to AED 7,000 and an armchair AED 1,200 to AED 2,500, which is often far less than a new sofa of the same quality. A cheap sofa is the opposite: reupholstery would cost more than it is worth, so leave it behind. For large sofas, check the lift, doorways and stairs in your new building before you ship (see will your furniture fit a Dubai home).
Dining room
Solid wood dining tables usually ship well, especially if the legs come off. Solid dining chairs are worth bringing too, and their seats can be re-covered in Dubai for around AED 400 to AED 800 per chair. Dining rooms in Dubai villas are often larger than in a typical UK or European home, so some people sell their old table and choose a bigger one here, such as the 260 cm Pietra Dining Table with a sintered stone top and solid teak legs, which works indoors and outdoors. Our dining table guide explains sizes and seating.
Bedroom
Check bed sizes before shipping anything. UAE beds and mattresses are sold in metric sizes that don't always match UK or US beds, so a frame from home may not fit a mattress bought here (see UK vs UAE bed sizes). Mattresses are rarely worth shipping. Large freestanding wardrobes are often unnecessary, because many Dubai homes have built-in storage or space for fitted wardrobes. Solid wood chests of drawers and bedside tables are worth bringing.
Outdoor furniture
Garden furniture made for northern Europe or North America may not be built for the strength of the UAE sun. Teak, aluminium and good-quality synthetic rattan cope best. If your teak set has gone grey, it can be sanded and resealed in Dubai rather than replaced. Our outdoor furniture guide covers materials in detail.
Antiques, heirlooms and art
Always worth shipping if they matter to you. Ask your mover to crate fragile or valuable pieces. Old solid wood can react to dry, air-conditioned rooms, so give it time to settle and keep it away from AC vents and direct sun.
What about lamps and electricals?
The UAE uses 220–240 V power and the same three-pin plugs as the UK. Lamps and appliances from the US or Canada are built for 110–120 V, so check the label before you pack them. Many lamps can be rewired locally by an electrician.
A quick ship-or-leave checklist
Ship: solid wood furniture, antiques, quality sofas and armchairs, dining chairs with solid frames, rugs, art and mirrors.
Ship and refurbish: well-made sofas and chairs with tired or unsuitable fabric, solid wood with marks, teak that has gone grey.
Sell or leave: flat-pack and chipboard furniture, mattresses, outdoor furniture not made for strong sun, anything that won't fit your new floor plan.
Buy or have made in Dubai: beds in UAE sizes, sofas sized to your new living room, fitted wardrobes, outdoor furniture, and larger dining tables for villa dining rooms.
If you need pieces made, custom furniture from our Al Quoz workshop typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, so it's worth ordering before your shipment arrives. Our custom furniture cost guide lists real prices, and the complete moving to Dubai furniture guide gives you a full timeline.
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
Is it worth shipping furniture to Dubai?
It is usually worth shipping furniture that is well made, valuable or meaningful, such as solid wood pieces, antiques and quality sofas. Flat-pack furniture, mattresses and bulky low-value items are usually better sold before you move and replaced in Dubai.
Should I ship my sofa to Dubai?
Yes, if it has a solid hardwood frame and sound springs, even if the fabric is worn. Reupholstering a 3-seater sofa in Dubai typically costs AED 3,500 to AED 7,000 and takes 2 to 3 weeks at Adams Furniture. A cheap sofa is not worth shipping or reupholstering.
Should I ship my mattress to Dubai?
Usually not. Mattresses are bulky to ship, and UAE beds are sold in metric sizes such as 160 x 200 cm and 180 x 200 cm that don't always match UK or US sizes. Buy your mattress in Dubai to match your bed frame.
What furniture should I buy in Dubai rather than ship?
Beds and mattresses in UAE sizes, outdoor furniture built for strong sun, fitted wardrobes, and sofas or dining tables sized for your new rooms are usually best bought or made in Dubai.
How long does custom furniture take in Dubai?
At Adams Furniture, made-to-order furniture typically takes 4 to 6 weeks from our Al Quoz workshop, and fitted wardrobes take 3 to 4 weeks from design approval to installation.
Can furniture damaged during shipping be repaired in Dubai?
Often, yes. Adams Furniture reupholsters sofas and chairs, makes loose covers and restores teak furniture. Send photos of the damage on WhatsApp and we will advise whether a repair is worthwhile.
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