Dubai Forums Dubai Expat Forums Dubai Expat Help Forum

I know this topic has come up before, but I wouldn't mind your 2 fils on my theory. We are coming from Canada, so essentially anything we are shipping has to be stuff we don't need for 2 months. I figured if we don't need it for 2 months, we probably don't need it at all! Not the case when it comes to family pictures and other assorted "treasures" (dust collectors).

We have sold a bunch of stuff, but some of our furnishings are new. It is kind of bugging me that we bought it this year, sell it for 1/3 of the price now, only to buy the same stuff again there. We are not paying for the shipping so why not bring the spare bedroom set, the office furniture and the like...I figure we will save money in the long run? Yes/No?

Further to that, I plan on bringing my home recording studio equipment (mixing board, tape decks, cabling, microphones, speakers) as well as my CD and DVD collection. This kind of stuff would cost a fortune to buy there, and I have it here brand new bought and paid for. Do you think I would have any issues at customs when the container arrives? Forgive my ignorance, but is there an element that may help themselves to my goods, or is it secure? I have tried to find info on this particular subject, but to no avail.

Another doozy... I have a dirt bike as well that I thought of bringing. I would not get too much for it here, and would rather enjoy it there. If I don't plan on getting a plate for it, would there be an issue?

Thanks a million to anyone who can answer any of this stuff for me! Not long to go now!

If you're not paying for the shipping, then if I were you I would take advantage of that and ship most of your furniture over. It's not that expensive to buy furniture here, but there are a lot of setting-up costs and it all adds up, so if you can keep it down to buying only white goods and a minimum of essential furniture until your stuff arrives then you'll be better off.

You shouldn't have any problems bringing in your recording stuff, and you won't get stuff nicked at customs - but obviously you should make sure you're adequately insured anyway, don't underestimate the ability of the shipping company to break your stuff.

Not so sure about the dirt bike, i.e. whether it counts as importing a vehicle or not (we're talking about some kind of motorbike, right, rather than a bicycle?).

AHHHHHH. Insurance..I forgot about that! Okay I feel better now. Thanks for your input...packing is frustrating and I keep switching from ship it all to sell it all. You're right about the shipping I think. I should bring the extra stuff if I am not paying. I think they calll it "expat camping" if I'm not mistaken? Yes, the dirt bike is a motorcycle. It is a street-legal off road bike (at least in Canada). It is the kind they use in the Dakar rally. Not sure if I should bother, but then again....I could sell it for 2k here then re-buy it for 8-10K there new. Kinda silly. Thanks again for your input, anyone else's is welcome too!

just remember most electrical goods in canda run off 110v, dubai runs on 220v

dbxsoul wrote:just remember most electrical goods in canda run off 110v, dubai runs on 220v

Slight correction USA is 110v 60Hz UAE is 220v 50Hz.

i'm sure that canada runs 110v as well, don't they share a common power grid?

dbxsoul wrote:i'm sure that canada runs 110v as well, don't they share a common power grid?

yes indeed my post should have read USA & Canada

Thanks for that....surprisingly enough I am sure there are folks that don't know about the power difference. (even my company emailed specifically for that). All the electrical goods I will bring are dual or 220V. I wish the move was done already! Less than 3 weeks! Yikes.

another headache to look forward to in the future is moving it all back again, been through that and its a real pain!

No way, dbxsoul, we are selling as much as we can, we decided. I/we don't feel like being in an empty house for months waiting for our stuff to arrive in Dubai. This is a one-way ticket for us! We have the luxury of going to a couple of other countries if need be, but I am sure this job will be fantastic and we will never leave (?) We've shipped it all from Australia before and we have worked all over the world. My rule-of-thumb is "pack what you think are the essentials, leave it for a few days, then cut that in half"! You are right, though, it is a total pain. Why do good opportunities always present themselves so far from home??!? This job better not suck!

no pain no gain

as for the job sucking ... well, try and cover as many bases as possible before you sign on the dotted line

Is the voltage in Dubai the same as the UK? The plugs are the same

yes, both 220v