Perfect for smaller moves, this service allows you to share space inside a container so that you only pay for what you need. Our safer packing ensures that your belongings are given the best protection in transit to Abu Dhabi.
International Removals UK to Abu Dhabi
1st Move International offers weekly shipping and moving services of personal effects, furniture and household goods from the UK to Abu Dhabi. Use our quote form below to start your journey moving to Abu Dhabi with confidence.
Abu Dhabi has a vibrant and cosmopolitan culture and is full of exciting things to do. With beautiful suburbs such as Khalidya, Al Muroor, Karamah and Khalifa City, it’s no surprise that Brits are deciding to relocate to this warm and affluent place.
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Costs
How Much Do Removals from the UK to Abu Dhabi Cost?
Quick Answer
UK to Abu Dhabi removals usually start from around £695 for a small boxes-and-bags shipment. A typical 1-bed flat may cost around £1,500 to £2,500, while a larger 3-4 bedroom household move can range from £5,500 to £9,500+.
| Move Size | Typical Volume | Shipping Method | Typical Cost Range (GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small move / boxes and bags | 1-3 m³ | Shared container | From £695 - £1,200 |
| Student shipment or part-room move | 3-5 m³ | Shared container | £950 - £1,500 |
| Studio or small 1-bed flat | 5-10 m³ | Shared container | £1,500 - £2,500 |
| 1-2 bed flat | 10-15 m³ | Shared container | £2,200 - £3,500 |
| 2-3 bed house | 15-25 m³ | Shared container | £3,500 - £5,500 |
| 3-4 bed house | 25-35 m³ | Dedicated 20ft container | £5,500 - £7,500 |
| Large 4+ bed house | 35-45 m³ | 20ft / 40ft container | £7,500 - £9,500+ |
* These prices are guide ranges for international removals from the UK to Abu Dhabi. The cost depends mainly on the final move size, insurance value, UK location and final delivery address. Smaller moves up to a 2 or 3 bed house are usually shipped by shared container or groupage service. Larger household removals may require a dedicated 20ft or 40ft container. Air freight is available for urgent personal effects, but it is usually only suitable for a small number of essential items.
For an accurate price based on your own move size, UK collection address and final delivery location in Abu Dhabi, click here to get your tailored removals quote.
What Are My Shipping Options?
Your Shipping Options for Removals to Abu Dhabi
When shipping personal belongings and household goods from the UK to Abu Dhabi, there are typically two options to choose from: shared container or full container. At 1st Move International, both of these services benefit from our faster shipping, safer packing and smarter pricing.
Full Container Shipping to Abu Dhabi, UAE
This service is ideal for larger shipments. If you are shipping the full contents of a 3+ bedroom home, you'll have your own 20ft or 40ft container dedicated to your shipment.
Whether moving just a few boxes or the entire contents of your home, we've got you covered!
Why Choose 1st Move?
Unique Benefits of 1st Move International
Faster Shipping
No waiting to fill our containers. Once packed, your belongings are immediately shipped out on the next available weekly sailing.
Safer Packing
Specialist protective packing and our palletised Shrink-Fast system help reduce the handling of individual items and protect your belongings throughout the move.
Smarter Pricing
With our safer packing and palletisation, enjoy precise and transparent billing thanks to accurate measurements. Say goodbye to rough estimates!
Dedicated Move Manager
Your own dedicated Move Manager handles every detail, from tailored planning to expert logistics, keeping your relocation to Abu Dhabi organised and stress-free.
Early Booking Discount – Save 10%
Confirm your move within 10 days of your quote and save 10%. No deposit, no cancellation fees, and booking takes just 60 seconds.
Customs Clearance
As registered customs brokers we are fully versed in UAE import procedures. We handle the documentation and guide you through every step to avoid delays.
It's About Trust
Trusted. Accredited. Protected.
Your move from the UK to Abu Dhabi is backed by recognised consumer safeguards. 1st Move International is a BAR member, covered by the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee for worldwide moves, and part of a consumer protection scheme approved and audited by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.
Payments Protected
Your advanced payments to us are protected by the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee for worldwide moves.
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Accredited International Mover
Annually audited and inspected to ensure compliance with BAR's professional standards and Code of Practice.
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Approved Consumer Protection
Member of the Approved Code Scheme, following a strict Code of Practice approved and audited by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute
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Our Unique Packing
How We Pack For Your Move to Abu Dhabi, UAE
Watch how 1st Move International carefully packs furniture, boxes and household belongings for removals from the UK to Abu Dhabi. Our protective packing and palletised Shrink-Fast packing system has been audited and approved by our insurers, helping reduce the handling of individual items, keep each move secure, and lower the risk of damage during the journey.
Our unique Shrink-Fast packing method is designed to give your belongings added protection throughout the move. Once professionally packed, your items are secured together, palletised and shrink-wrapped, reducing individual handling in the UK and at destination and helping your shipment remain protected until delivery to your new home in Abu Dhabi.
Documentation
What Documents Are Needed for Customs Clearance in Abu Dhabi?
For personal effects and household goods arriving from the UK to Abu Dhabi, you will need to provide a valid passport copy and UAE residence visa or Emirates ID copy. 1st Move International prepares the detailed packing inventory and issues the Bill of Lading or Air Waybill for your shipment. Used household goods and personal effects are duty-free when imported into the UAE for personal use, subject to customs inspection.
When your household belongings arrive in the UAE, they must be cleared through customs before final delivery can be arranged.
These are the documents you will need for customs clearance.
| Document | Who provides it | Why it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport copy | Customer | Confirms the identity of the person importing the household belongings. |
| UAE residence visa or Emirates ID copy | Customer | Helps confirm your UAE residency details for personal-effects customs clearance. |
| Detailed packing inventory | Prepared by 1st Move International | Lists the furniture, boxes and household items being moved. We prepare this in English as part of your move. |
| Bill of Lading or Air Waybill | Issued by 1st Move International | Confirms the shipment details for belongings arriving by sea or air. |
| Contact and delivery details in Abu Dhabi | Customer | Needed by the destination agent to arrange customs clearance and final delivery. |
Used household goods and personal belongings are normally duty-free when imported into the UAE for personal use. 1st Move International will advise you which documents are required for your Abu Dhabi move, prepare the detailed inventory, issue the appropriate shipping documents and coordinate with our UAE clearance and delivery agents to help your shipment clear customs as smoothly as possible.
For official guidance on personal-effects clearance documents, please see the Dubai Customs Personal Effects Clearance Procedure. For current restricted and prohibited goods information, please refer to the official Abu Dhabi Customs restricted and prohibited goods page before shipping.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UK to Abu Dhabi Removals FAQ
How Much Does International Removals to Abu Dhabi Cost?
- Just boxes and bags: From £695
- Small move: From £950
- 1-bed flat: From £1,500
- 2-bed flat: From £2,200
- 3-bedroom house: From £3,500
- 4-bedroom house: From £5,500
- 5-bedroom house: From £7,500
- Sole use 20ft container: From £5,500
- Sole use 40ft container: From £7,500
These costs are for budget purposes only. The final price of your move to Abu Dhabi will depend on factors such as how much you are shipping, the value of your belongings (for insurance purposes), your collection and final destination in Abu Dhabi. Costs depend on the size of your shipment and the required service, so we recommend that you request a quote to receive a tailored estimate.
How Long Does International Removals to Abu Dhabi Take?
The typical transit time for shipping a container from the UK to Abu Dhabi is around 21 days.
Do you cover all of the UAE?
Yes! We provide a full door-to-door services from the UK to all destinations in the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ajman and many more.
How Are My Belongings Packed?
All shipments are packed using our safer packing procedures. Your shipment is 'palletised' meaning that we carefully arrange all furniture and household goods onto your own individual pallets. These pallets are then further protected with multiple layers of export standard bubble wrap and finally, our signature black shrink-wrap to provide an unbeatable level of protection for your belongings.
This method of packing essentially turns your shipment into one, easy to handle pallet, drastically reducing handling of your individual items and allowing us to ship alongside commercial shipments in consolidated containers on a weekly basis, guaranteed! No waiting around for our containers to be full.
What is the cheapest way to ship personal belongings to Abu Dhabi?
The cheapest way to ship personal effects and household goods to Abu Dhabi is by using our shared container service, also known as "groupage" or "less than container load" (LCL) shipping.
This service is ideal if you are shipping a smaller volume of items, for example just a few boxes or a small flat's worth of furniture,and don't need the entire space of a sole-use container.
- How it works: Your belongings are consolidated with other customers' shipments headed to the same destination. You only pay for the space your items occupy within the container, which significantly reduces the overall cost compared to a full container. The transit times are the same for both shared container and full container services.
Can You Assist with Customs Clearance in Abu Dhabi?
Yes, our experienced team provide full assistance with customs clearance and documentation for your move to Abu Dhabi. Our service includes preparing all the necessary paperwork and ensuring that your shipment complies with all regulations. Please visit out UAE customs guide for more information in customs clearance in Abu Dhabi.
Can I Track My Shipment to Abu Dhabi?
Yes! We provide a tracking service for all our international removals. Once your shipment is on its way to Abu Dhabi, you'll receive a tracking number. This will allow you to monitor the progress of your shipment online using our container tracking tool and stay informed about its estimated arrival time.
Can I Ship My Car to Abu Dhabi?
Yes, you can ship your car to Abu Dhabi using Autoshippers.
Your life, carefully wrapped, beautifully packed, and protected for the journey ahead.
We are extremely proud of our unique packing process. We are the only moving company in the UK that uses this tried and tested method to ship your treasured personal possessions overseas.
Visit our Facebook page to find a snapshot of each shipment captured as the final pallet is wrapped.
