Confirm eligibility and arrival paperwork before treating a shipment as ready to leave.
Understand the used-household-goods distinction
Dubai Customs describes a duty exemption for used personal effects and household items of qualifying nationals returning to reside in the country and foreigners arriving for first-time residence. It calls for appropriate residence evidence, shipment in the person’s name, household-scale quantities and a full packing list. New household items are not covered by that exemption. Confirm how the rules apply to your status with Dubai Customs or your authorized clearance representative.
Keep recently bought goods distinct in your inventory. An unopened purchase is not made into a used household item by placing it in a moving carton. Ask how mixed shipments should be described before collection.
Create a readiness checklist with your destination contact
Ask which documents are needed for your exact shipment, who will lodge the declaration and when originals or copies must be supplied. Use the name shown on your official documents consistently. Tell the team if your residence arrangements are still in progress.
Avoid building your plan around a generic checklist found online. The useful question is whether the clearance representative has reviewed your situation and identified anything missing. Keep a record of the contact responsible for each stage: collection, transport, clearance and final delivery.
Choose what is worth shipping
Compare the cost and usefulness of each large item against your actual destination home. Measure furniture, check appliance compatibility using manufacturer information and consider whether items will suit the available space. A furnished temporary apartment may change what you need immediately.
Sort belongings into travel essentials, shipment and items to leave behind. Keep work essentials and important records accessible. If your home will not be ready when the goods arrive, ask about storage before dispatch rather than treating it as a last-minute add-on.
Make delivery access a separate task
Ask the building or community manager about delivery hours, loading access, lift reservations and any approval process. These requirements vary by property. Provide the team with the correct entrance and a reachable local contact. A street address alone may not explain how a truck reaches the unloading point.
Request a quote that distinguishes transport from destination handling, clearance-related services and possible storage. Ask what happens if delivery is delayed by paperwork or access. Get the scope in writing rather than assuming every destination cost is included.
Keep flexibility around the shipping window
International transport involves stages beyond collection and driving time. Ask for the assumptions behind the estimated schedule and when you will receive updates. Keep essential clothing, work items and documents out of the freight so you can manage a gap comfortably.
Discuss the proposed Dubai route with Kratos before making commitments around collection or delivery. The team can review your inventory and moving requirements; current route availability, destination services and customs arrangements need confirmation for the individual move.
BEFORE YOU GO
Your move, one check at a time.
- Confirm your customs eligibility
- Separate new purchases from used belongings
- Identify the clearance contact
- Check the destination property’s access rules
- Confirm all destination costs and services
Official sources & further reading
Customs guidance checked 29 September 2026. Requirements depend on your circumstances and can change. Confirm the current process with the relevant authority before shipping.