Moving to Dubai in a week!

We've been in the US for the summer, and going back to Dubai in a week. Bringing back new area rugs with me, folded up in suitcases! And of course almost everything from the list below!

Ikea, Home Center and Home R Us have a decent selection of dinnerwear, not expensive either. Carrefour stocks Corelle cheaply too

Ikea, Home Center and Home R Us have a decent selection of dinnerwear, not expensive either.

Hey Everyone :) This post has been very useful! I am moving to Dubai at the start of September and have had many of the same questions - your answers have been really insightful. Moving over from Northern Ireland, my head is spinning with all sorts of questions but by the sounds of things, I may pack as much as I can get shipped over! Our voltage in NI is the same as the GB so, fingers crossed our electrical applicances should work ;) Out of curiosity, does anyone have any handy hints on getting work in Dubai - we are relocating because of my partner's job but, i really hope to get some PA/secretarial work. Any hints would be welcome - the job section on this site has been great! Warm wishes Olwyn :) Hi Olwyn, Welcome to the sandpit, best of luck getting a job, if you have a degree get it attested before coming over. There are jobs out there, just be prepared to apply for loads and hopefully something willl turn up. Be aware that you will be up against a huge employee base from certain countries who are willing and able to take much lower salaries than "western" expats, not right but a fact of life here. Just one point I picked up on you said "partner" instead of husband, if that means that you aren't married please be careful and do lots of research it's technically illegal here and he wont be able to sponsor you it one of the problems you might face. If you are married, please ignore me!

You can buy step down transformers for North American appliances but they only handle up to certain wattages. Most items it's not worth bringing with you. If there are items you can't live without (food/toiletries) I'd suggest you make a list of them and ask here if they are available and ball park prices - then you can decide what to bring or leave. You can buy vanilla beans in Carrefour and make your own vanilla with vodka if you like.

2girlygirlz - omg your list is the exact same as mine, lol :D

Good luck with your move! When we moved to Dubai from the U.S. we did not have a container however we shipped about 18 boxes via fedex. I shipped mainly children's toys, books, dvd's, towels: beach & bath, bedding, kitchen gadgets, silverware, pots & pans (nothing breakable) & holiday decor. The only electrical item I brought along was my Chi flat iron and it has a converter box on it so it worked. I also loaded up on B&BW soap but soon after we arrived their is now a Bath & Body Works at most malls : ) Here is a list of some of the things I bring back every time I go to the U.S.: Qtips (nothing compares) Female products Cascade dishwasher tabs (they selll them here but they are suuuper pricey) Real Vanilla cupcake sprinkles reynolds foil cupcake liners food coloring popcorn seasoning (sour cream & onion, cheddar etc.) Hormel pepperoni & costco pre-cooked bacon String Cheese candy- (jolly ranchers, starbursts, orbit gum, altoids, wintergreen tic tacs) pudding (pistachio, butterscotch) they have some flavors here but very limited chicken/steak seasoning packets McCormick (chipolte etc..) Hidden Valley Ranch Packets Italian dressing packets plastic utensils (they are horrible here) Goldfish crackers - smores, vanilla cupcake (you can occasionally find cheddar/pizza here) Smores supplies for desert camping (have not spotted kraft marshmallows here as they contain pork gelatin- same goes for Easter peeps) cheezits peanut butter, butterscotch, white chocolate chips for cookies Wilton chocolate melts Kleenex tissues (small packs) caramels for melting (Caramel Apples) vitamin c packs (add to water) benedryl robitussen theraflu/nyquil neosporin butterfly bandages motrin airborne aveeno oatmeal bath burts bees chapstick If you do any scrapbooking, arts/crafts bring your supplies b/c it is verrrry pricey here and we do not have anything like Hobby Lobby, Michaels etc..more like Dollar tree items @ Bloomingdale prices : 0 Costco pinenuts Costco maple syrup Quinoa edited by 2girlygirlz on 12/08/2011 edited by 2girlygirlz on 12/08/2011 I do and my BMI allows it : ) ETA: No really...I am not sure if that was a jab? I have children and their are recipes I use and some of the items are not available here (nor substitutes) sooo... I bring it along : ) <em>edited by 2girlygirlz on 12/08/2011</em>

Hey Everyone :) This post has been very useful! I am moving to Dubai at the start of September and have had many of the same questions - your answers have been really insightful. Moving over from Northern Ireland, my head is spinning with all sorts of questions but by the sounds of things, I may pack as much as I can get shipped over! Our voltage in NI is the same as the GB so, fingers crossed our electrical applicances should work ;) Out of curiosity, does anyone have any handy hints on getting work in Dubai - we are relocating because of my partner's job but, i really hope to get some PA/secretarial work. Any hints would be welcome - the job section on this site has been great! Warm wishes Olwyn :) edited by Olwyn on 12/08/2011 <em>edited by Olwyn on 12/08/2011</em>

Good luck with your move! When we moved to Dubai from the U.S. we did not have a container however we shipped about 18 boxes via fedex. I shipped mainly children's toys, books, dvd's, towels: beach & bath, bedding, kitchen gadgets, silverware, pots & pans (nothing breakable) & holiday decor. The only electrical item I brought along was my Chi flat iron and it has a converter box on it so it worked. I also loaded up on B&BW soap but soon after we arrived their is now a Bath & Body Works at most malls : ) Here is a list of some of the things I bring back every time I go to the U.S.: Qtips (nothing compares) Female products Cascade dishwasher tabs (they selll them here but they are suuuper pricey) Real Vanilla cupcake sprinkles reynolds foil cupcake liners food coloring popcorn seasoning (sour cream & onion, cheddar etc.) Hormel pepperoni & costco pre-cooked bacon String Cheese candy- (jolly ranchers, starbursts, orbit gum, altoids, wintergreen tic tacs) pudding (pistachio, butterscotch) they have some flavors here but very limited chicken/steak seasoning packets McCormick (chipolte etc..) Hidden Valley Ranch Packets Italian dressing packets plastic utensils (they are horrible here) Goldfish crackers - smores, vanilla cupcake (you can occasionally find cheddar/pizza here) Smores supplies for desert camping (have not spotted kraft marshmallows here as they contain pork gelatin- same goes for Easter peeps) cheezits peanut butter, butterscotch, white chocolate chips for cookies Wilton chocolate melts Kleenex tissues (small packs) caramels for melting (Caramel Apples) vitamin c packs (add to water) benedryl robitussen theraflu/nyquil neosporin butterfly bandages motrin airborne aveeno oatmeal bath burts bees chapstick If you do any scrapbooking, arts/crafts bring your supplies b/c it is verrrry pricey here and we do not have anything like Hobby Lobby, Michaels etc..more like Dollar tree items @ Bloomingdale prices : 0 Costco pinenuts Costco maple syrup Quinoa edited by 2girlygirlz on 12/08/2011 edited by 2girlygirlz on 12/08/2011 So obviously you really like healthy food! lol :\:

Good luck with your move! When we moved to Dubai from the U.S. we did not have a container however we shipped about 18 boxes via fedex. I shipped mainly children's toys, books, dvd's, towels: beach & bath, bedding, kitchen gadgets, silverware, pots & pans (nothing breakable) & holiday decor. The only electrical item I brought along was my Chi flat iron and it has a converter box on it so it worked. I also loaded up on B&BW soap but soon after we arrived their is now a Bath & Body Works at most malls : ) Here is a list of some of the things I bring back every time I go to the U.S.: Qtips (nothing compares) Female products Cascade dishwasher tabs (they selll them here but they are suuuper pricey) Real Vanilla cupcake sprinkles reynolds foil cupcake liners food coloring popcorn seasoning (sour cream & onion, cheddar etc.) Hormel pepperoni & costco pre-cooked bacon String Cheese candy- (jolly ranchers, starbursts, orbit gum, altoids, wintergreen tic tacs) pudding (pistachio, butterscotch) they have some flavors here but very limited chicken/steak seasoning packets McCormick (chipolte etc..) Hidden Valley Ranch Packets Italian dressing packets plastic utensils (they are horrible here) Goldfish crackers - smores, vanilla cupcake (you can occasionally find cheddar/pizza here) Smores supplies for desert camping (have not spotted kraft marshmallows here as they contain pork gelatin- same goes for Easter peeps) cheezits peanut butter, butterscotch, white chocolate chips for cookies Wilton chocolate melts Kleenex tissues (small packs) caramels for melting (Caramel Apples) vitamin c packs (add to water) benedryl robitussen theraflu/nyquil neosporin butterfly bandages motrin airborne aveeno oatmeal bath burts bees chapstick If you do any scrapbooking, arts/crafts bring your supplies b/c it is verrrry pricey here and we do not have anything like Hobby Lobby, Michaels etc..more like Dollar tree items @ Bloomingdale prices : 0 Costco pinenuts Costco maple syrup Quinoa edited by 2girlygirlz on 12/08/2011 <em>edited by 2girlygirlz on 12/08/2011</em>

Bring all your dinnerwares and bedsheets and linen from US. Its so much cheaper there. If you are shipping by container, the weight won't matter. I think most of the things in US will definitely be way cheaper than Dubai. I would suggest you to bring as much as you can from home... except for electrical items.

Hello, As you are coming from the US, your electrical things will NOT work here (different voltage) The voltage used here is the same as in the UK (which is why other poster said they had no problems) . The only thing i was able to bring from NA was my hair straightener! (as it is adaptable to both voltages). Other then that, i would bring as MUCH stuff as you can with you; you can buy it here but it cost a lot more!!! Yes there is ikea though (if you want the cheap stuff) Gosh i miss walmart...... <em>edited by tdale on 12/08/2011</em>

Firstly, nothing is really 'cheap' here. You can get 'cheaper quality' things from lots of outlets. Crockery would be fine to buy here but I'd bring your own bedding with you as the cheap quality is VERY cheap quality and I wouldn't want to sleep in it! We brought all our electrical things with us (from the UK) and it has all been fine, nothing has blown in 3 years. Personally I would bring as much of your own things with you as possible. It is expensive moving and to be buying all new things once you're here will soon add up. Also, remember it's VERY hot right now so make sure you have lots of cotton and linen clothing. Good luck with your move!