Moving Into Your New Dubai Home: A Checklist

Do three things before you move a single box: register the DEWA account, book the move in permit with building management, and inspect the property with the handover checklist in hand. Everything else can wait a week.

Most moving day problems in Dubai are not about furniture. They are about access, permits and utilities that nobody arranged.

What has to be done before moving day?

Why does the move in permit matter so much?

Most buildings will not let a removal team past reception without an approved move in permit, and many restrict the hours and require the service lift to be booked and padded. Some also require a refundable deposit against damage to common areas. Ask for the rules in writing when you collect the keys, because the removal company arriving to a locked service lift is the single most common moving day failure.

Villa communities are easier but often still require security to be notified and have quiet hours.

What should you inspect before unpacking?

Walk the property empty, with the lights on and the water running, and write down everything. Photograph what you find and send it to the landlord or developer the same day, because a defect reported on day one is theirs and a defect reported in month two becomes an argument.

• Air conditioning in every room, including how long it takes to cool.
• Every tap, drain and flush, and under the sinks for leaks.
• Water heater, and the pressure in the shower.
• All sockets, switches and light fittings.
• Windows and balcony doors: seals, locks and any cracking.
• Kitchen appliances, including the oven and the extractor.
• Any staining on ceilings, which usually means a leak from above.

If you have bought new, this is your snagging inspection and it is worth paying a company to do it properly. See snagging and handover in Dubai.

What paperwork should you keep?

Keep the tenancy contract and the Ejari certificate, the DEWA account number, the move in permit, the inventory or handover form signed by both sides, and the photographs from your inspection. If you are renting, that set is what protects your deposit at the end of the tenancy. Our tenant guide explains how deposits are returned, and getting your deposit back covers the end of tenancy in detail.

What do people forget in the first month?

• Updating the address on the tenancy for visa and bank records.
• Registering for the community app or portal where maintenance requests are logged.
• Checking whether contents insurance is required by the building, and getting it either way.
• Testing the smoke detectors and finding the water shut off valve.
• Asking who to call for maintenance, and whether it is included in the rent.

Who fixes what once you are in?

In a rental, the split between landlord and tenant is set by the contract, and the default expectation is that the landlord handles major maintenance while the tenant handles minor consumables. Agree it in writing before a problem appears, and read who pays for what in a Dubai rental.

If you are still choosing the property, browse what is available to rent or to buy, and ask us about the building's move in rules before you sign.