To ship furniture to Dubai, you book an international removal company, which lists and packs your things, ships them (usually by sea container, or by air for small loads) and clears them through UAE customs for you. Ask two or three movers for a quote based on the volume you would send. Then compare that quote with buying here: in October 2026, ten core pieces for a one-bedroom flat cost about AED 12,500 to AED 35,000 across the 18 UAE shops we search.
What buying here costs
These are price levels across more than 40,000 products in October 2026, for the ten pieces most people need first. "Lower end" is the price below which a tenth of products sit; "typical" is the median.
| Furnishing a one-bedroom flat | Lower end | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Sofa, bed frame and mattress | AED 4,950 | AED 10,600 |
| Dining table and 4 chairs | AED 3,100 | AED 9,050 |
| Wardrobe, coffee table, TV unit, rug, 2 side tables | AED 4,400 | AED 15,650 |
| Total | AED 12,450 | AED 35,300 |
The full breakdown is in what furnishing a one-bedroom flat costs.
What is worth shipping
- Pieces you can't replace: family pieces, art, good solid wood that you know fits a range of rooms.
- Expensive, well-made pieces: where the cost of a new one here is clearly more than the shipping share.
- Not usually worth it: flat-pack furniture, worn sofas, cheap shelving. IKEA UAE sells much of the same range; its typical furniture price in October 2026 was about AED 650.
Beds and bedding are the trap
UAE bed sizes follow European sizes, so beds from the UK or the US often don't match UAE mattresses and sheets.
| Name | UAE | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen | 160 x 200 cm | Not a standard UK size | 152 x 203 cm |
| King | 180 x 200 cm | 150 x 200 cm | 193 x 203 cm |
If you ship a bed frame, bring its mattress too, or check that a UAE mattress of the right size exists. Our UAE bed size guide has the full table.
Will your furniture fit the new flat?
Dubai apartments are often smaller than homes in Europe or North America, with open-plan living rooms and built-in wardrobes. Measure the new flat (or ask the agent for a floor plan) before you choose what to ship.
Measure lifts, doors and corridors
Whether you ship or buy, the large pieces have to get in. Before anything arrives:
- Measure the service lift inside (width, depth, height and the diagonal) and its door.
- Measure every door and corridor on the way, at the narrowest point.
- Book the service lift and a delivery slot with building management; many towers require it, and some ask for a permit or deposit.
- Ask the shop whether legs, arms or headboards come off, and whether assembly is included.
A typical 3 seater sofa in the shops we search is about 240 cm wide and 95 cm deep. See the sofa size guide for the rest.
Moving out: what to do with old furniture
Dubai Municipality runs a free collection for bulky waste. Furniture in good condition sells or goes free on Dubizzle and in community groups, often within days, because so many people are arriving at the same time.
Buy the bed and mattress first, so you sleep well from the first night, and give yourself two weeks for the sofa and dining table. Shortlist on your phone before you land.
When you're ready, search sofas, beds and wardrobes across the 18 shops we search, with the size your new flat can take.