How to Choose an International Mover in Dubai

Key Takeaway:

Choosing the right international mover in Dubai means looking beyond price. Focus on experience, accreditation, insurance, and real customer reviews. Everything you own tells your story—years of hard work, memories, and milestones. Don’t leave it to chance. Choose a company you can trust.

Moving Abroad? Start with the Right Moving Company

Relocating overseas is exciting, but choosing the wrong moving company can turn your experience into a nightmare. With so many options available, how do you pick a reliable mover that ensures a smooth transition? Follow these expert tips to avoid costly mistakes and find the best international mover in Dubai.

Let’s break down what you really need to know.

What Do International Movers in Dubai Actually Do?

International movers in Dubai know the drill and offer a suite of services to make your transition as easy as possible. Here’s what you can expect when you go the professional route:

Services You Can Expect:

Service	What It Covers
Packing	Professional packing and use of protective materials by trained staff to reduce the risk of damage as your belongings travel across the seas and land. A good company will ensure their staff are fully employed, trained and insured to handle your precious belongings.
Transport	Based on your relocation needs, time and budget arranging safe transit of your belongings via land, sea or air. A good company will listen to your relocation needs and then present a number of transportation options.
Storage	Temporary or long-term storage solutions here or in your destination country. A good company will be able to present to you storage prices here in the UAE AND in your destination so that you can decide which options best meet your relocation needs.
Custom clearance	Arrange the export of your belongings out of the UAE and import into your destination country. A good moving company will ensure all paperwork is submitted on time ensuring additional fines or fees are not incurred from shipping lines or port authorities. They will also guide you on custom regulations and whether entry can be achieved duty and tax free.
Support Services	Handyman services to disassemble furniture correctly so it can be reassembled at your destination. Cleaning and painting services so you can hand the property back to the landlord and get your deposit back. Pet relocation services to ensure the furry members of the family are taken care of and arrive safely in their new home.
Insurance	Arranging transit or marine insurance. Coverage for either total loss of everything only or total loss AND damage of individual items.

Understanding the services offered by international movers is a pretty big deal. These companies are like your personal moving wizards, handling all those challenging details that come with crossing borders. Enlisting a professional moving company like Mac Pack can transform the overwhelming, stressful ordeal of packing up your life into a seamless, well-coordinated experience—where every detail is handled with care, precision, and expertise, so you can focus on your next exciting chapter of setting up a life in a new country.

1. Is the company a legitimate moving company?

It is important to verify the moving company. Make sure the company is licensed and insured, and that they are registered with local authorities such as the Dubai Economic Department. Search for the company name to see if they have a valid trade licence.

2. Is the company you are contacting a moving company or an aggregator?

There are many companies in Dubai who work by connecting you with moving companies. You tell them your relocation needs and they will then contact a number of moving companies to offer you a price. This is often a good approach if you are looking for a cheap relocation but be aware you may end up paying more if it is a poor company who does not know what they are doing.

Is the company you are contacting really a moving company who employ packers and movers or do they subcontract your move to another company or take on casual staff as needs require? Costs for running a legitimate and honest company in Dubai mount up however do you really want someone who has never packed before wrapping your most prized possessions? Or trust a stranger in your home with no guarantee or accountability if things go wrong?

Mac Pack Removals are a legitimate company with a DED trade licence and liability insurance. We legally employ our expert packing team and can prove it as we have Mac Pack Removals on the reverse side of each employees Emirates IDs.

We don’t wear other companies shirts and we definitely don’t let anyone where ours! When you choose Mac Pack, you get Mac Pack.

A company’s years in business demonstrate long-term reliability and trustworthiness, ensuring they have the experience to handle any challenges.

A strong focus on international moves signals deep expertise in navigating complex logistics, customs regulations, and global shipping requirements. Ask if
they have experience with moves to your destination country? Can they provide references from past international clients?

Additionally, positive reviews from satisfied customers reflect consistent quality and a proven track record of delivering excellent service. Check out their reviews on Google and Facebook and in community social media and WhatsApp groups. What are people saying about the company?

When selecting a mover, these factors can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and stress-free transition to your new home.

3. Comprehensive Services

Can the company do the job? Put basically, can they wrap, pack, ship and deliver your precious belongings from Dubai to your new destination whether that be the UK, Australia, America or Timbuktu!

When you pay a Dubai based moving company to relocate you to a new country you are not only entrusting them with your treasured belongings but also to pay all the third parties involved in the process – from Jebel Ali port fees, freight, destination port fees and the destination agents fees to deliver and set you up in your new home.

It’s important you know what you are paying for when you receive a quote from a moving company. When comparing quotes from international moving companies it’s really important to compare what has been included and excluded from the quote. It’s important to make sure you are comparing like for like.

Understandably everyone has a relocation budget but be careful not to get tricked into a low quoted price that escalates once you are wrapped and packed up. Common tricks are under estimating your volume, basing your quote on a low freight price and not including all port fees, especially those at the destination port.

Good international moving companies share inclusions and exclusions on their quote for clarity and transparency. When comparing companies it is paramount you compare the inclusions and exclusions.

4. Solid Insurance Coverage

A moving company’s liability insurance is a type of coverage that protects the business from financial losses if it is held responsible for damage, loss, or injury during its operations.

What it typically covers

Damage to Property – If movers accidentally damage your walls, floors, or belongings during the move.
Bodily Injury – If a customer or third party gets injured due to the moving company’s actions (e.g., a mover drops a heavy item on someone’s foot).
Negligence Claims – If the company is found responsible for mishandling your belongings.

Liability insurance does NOT cover for damages, breakages or losses during the transit. This is because standard liability insurance only covers damage resulting from the mover’s fault, not accidental breakage due to the inherent risks of transportation.

To be fully protected, you would need to have transit or marine insurance, which covers loss or damage to belongings during transit—whether by road, sea, or air. Good moving companies are able to arrange this type of insurance ensures that fragile or valuable items are financially protected, even if breakage occurs despite careful packing and handling.

Moving companies are able to offer insurance for both relocation via road (transit insurance) and via sea (marine insurance). Policies can be purchased separately or offered as an add-on by the moving company through third-party insurers for example LIVA formerly known as RSA.

5. Solid Insurance Coverage

Communication is key to a successful international move. Clear, consistent communication is key to ensuring a smooth transition. A moving company that is experienced, knowledgeable, and always reachable can make all the difference. You need a team that understands international logistics, can anticipate challenges before they arise, and is available to answer your questions every step of the way. Whether it’s providing updates on your shipment, clarifying customs paperwork, or reassuring you about delivery timelines, a responsive and informed moving company turns uncertainty into confidence.

At Mac Pack we pride ourselves on our ability to communicate. We are contactable by email, phone and WhatsApp throughout the relocation process.

Watch Out for These Red Flags

Not all movers are created equal. Keep your eyes open for:

• ❌ No-one has ever heard of the moving company – your friends or online communities
• ❌ Suspiciously cheap quotes
• ❌ No accreditation to IAM or FIDI
• ❌ No physical address
• ❌ Unable to answer your questions regarding the process of relocating to your destination country
• ❌ Company sales person has weak links to the operational side of the company – eg. does not know how things will be wrapped or placed in the shipment
• ❌ Unable to explain how freight prices work worldwide
• ❌ Poor review and unresolved complaints
• ❌ Poor communication – they don’t return your calls
• ❌ Website looks generic and use of stock photos
• ❌ It just doesn’t feel right- trust your instinct