Packing service
Wrapping, cartons, mattress and sofa covers, and flat-packing of furniture where needed.
Personal effects
Household goods shipping from Dubai to the UK
Furniture, boxes and personal effects packed properly in Dubai and delivered into your UK home.
Dubai → UK corridor specialistsSea, air, LCL & FCLCustoms documentation handledNamed coordinator per shipment
Household goods shipping from Dubai to the UK moves furniture and personal effects by sea, as a shared-container (LCL) load or a full container. Returning UK residents can usually import used personal effects free of duty and VAT under Transfer of Residence relief, which must be applied for before the goods arrive.
What is included
Inventory
A numbered inventory of every item, which UK customs will expect to see.
Shared or full container
LCL for a flat or part-home, FCL for a full villa.
ToR guidance
Help preparing the Transfer of Residence application and reference number.
UK clearance
Customs entry against your ToR approval or a standard entry if relief does not apply.
Home delivery
Delivery into the room of choice, with reassembly and debris removal on request.
How a household shipment works
- SurveyWe list what is going — in person for larger homes, by video or photos for smaller loads.
- QuotePriced on volume with the mode, packing level and delivery service stated.
- Apply for ToRIf you qualify, apply early — approval takes time and the reference is needed at clearance.
- Pack and loadWe pack at your Dubai home and load the container.
- Ship and clearSea transit, then UK entry filed against your ToR reference.
- Deliver and unpackDelivered to your UK address and unpacked where requested.
Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief
If you are moving your normal home to the UK, Transfer of Residence relief can allow used personal belongings to enter free of duty and import VAT. Broadly, you must have lived outside the UK for at least 12 consecutive months, have owned and used the goods for at least six months, and keep them for at least 12 months after import.
Apply to HMRC before the goods arrive and give us the ToR reference number. Without it, cargo can be held and charges applied. Rules change — check the current HMRC guidance, and we will flag anything on your inventory that will not qualify.
Typical shipments
- A one-bedroom apartment: roughly 8–12 CBM, usually LCL
- A three-bedroom villa: roughly 25–35 CBM, usually a 20ft or 40ft container
- Boxes and a few items of furniture: 2–5 CBM, LCL
- Students and short-stay residents sending personal boxes home
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay duty on my own furniture?
Usually not, if you qualify for Transfer of Residence relief and apply before the goods arrive. New or unused items may still attract duty and VAT.
Can you pack for me?
Yes. Full packing is the norm for sea shipments — a container journey is far harder on furniture than a local move.
How long will my things be away?
Plan on roughly TO CONFIRM: household door-to-door days door to door for sea freight, including packing, sailing, clearance and delivery.
What cannot go?
Aerosols, paint, fuel, gas cylinders and some foods are prohibited. See prohibited and restricted items.
Ready to move cargo from Dubai to the UK?
Send us your cargo details and we will come back with a clear, itemised Dubai to UK quote.
Request a free quote