Office Relocation Checklist for UAE Companies: Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Office movers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai plan a well-run relocation 8–12 weeks ahead and finish it over a weekend, so your team logs off on Friday or Saturday and starts work on Monday at the new desks. Use this office relocation checklist to plan yours.

8–12 weeks before

• Appoint one move coordinator inside the company and one contact at the moving company.
• Get a site survey and written quote from your movers, covering both the old and new offices.
• Measure the new space and plan the floor layout: which desks, cabinets and meeting rooms go where.
• Check your lease exit terms and reinstatement obligations at the old office.
• Set a budget that includes moving, any new furniture, IT work and reinstatement of the old office.

4–6 weeks before

• Book both buildings: loading bay, service lift and permitted moving hours. Many towers only allow office moves in the evening or at weekends.
• Ask each building management for any permits or insurance certificates they need from the movers.
• Plan IT: servers, network, phones and printers. Decide who disconnects and reconnects them, and book your internet provider’s installation at the new site.
• Decide what furniture moves, what is replaced, and what is disposed of or stored.
• Tell staff the moving date and what they are responsible for packing.

2 weeks before

• Give every employee crates and colour-coded labels matched to the new floor plan.
• Back up all data and list every IT asset by serial number before it is moved.
• Update your address with clients, suppliers, banks, your trade licence authority, and on your Google Business Profile and website.
• Order new signage and business cards if needed.

Moving weekend

• Movers dismantle workstations, pack and label, then reinstall at the new site in the planned layout.
• IT reconnects and tests network, phones and printers.
• The coordinator walks the new office with the movers’ team leader and signs off.

First week after

• Collect crates, fix any snags, and confirm the old office is handed back in the agreed condition.
• Ask staff for feedback on anything missing or damaged, and close it out with your movers.

How to avoid downtime

The biggest cost of an office move is not the movers’ invoice; it is the hours your team can’t work. Three things keep downtime close to zero:

1. Move over the weekend or at night. Crews that work 24/7 can start when your office closes and finish before it opens.
2. Move IT last out and first in. Servers and network equipment should be the last items packed and the first reinstalled, so they can be tested before staff arrive.
3. Label by destination, not by origin. A crate labelled “Floor 3, desk 14” goes straight to the right place; one labelled “Finance” needs someone to sort it.

Who does what on moving day

Clear roles stop small problems becoming delays. A simple split that works for most UAE offices:

• Your move coordinator: owns the floor plan, answers placement questions, and signs off the new office.
• Your IT lead or provider: disconnects, moves and reconnects servers, network and phones, and tests them.
• The movers’ team leader: runs the crew, the loading order and the building schedule, and reports progress to your coordinator.
• Building management at both sites: lift access, loading bays and security passes.
• Each employee: packs their own desk, personal items and files into labelled crates before leaving on the last working day.

Share one contact list with everyone involved, including the building security desks, so no one is waiting on a call back at midnight.

Reinstating the old office

Most UAE commercial leases require the space to be returned in its original condition. That can mean removing partitions, patching walls, repainting and cleaning. Plan this work early, as it often takes longer than the move itself, and agree the final inspection date with the landlord.

What to look for in office movers

• Weekend and night crews, so business isn’t interrupted
• Furniture installation and reconfiguration, not just transport
• IT asset handling with serial-number tracking
• Their own trucks, crews and storage for anything not needed in the new office

Frequently asked questions

How far ahead should we book office movers?

For a small office, 3–4 weeks is usually enough. For larger offices or multi-floor moves, book 8–12 weeks ahead so the survey, building approvals and IT planning are done in time.

Can you store furniture we don’t need yet?

Yes. GI Movers has its own storage in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for office furniture, files and equipment.

Do you move offices between Abu Dhabi and Dubai?

Yes. GI Movers has teams in both cities and regularly moves offices between emirates, usually overnight or over a weekend.

Planning an office move?

GI Movers relocates offices, banks and corporate sites across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with crews working 24/7 for after-hours moves. Call 800 44626 or request a site survey. See our office and commercial movers, furniture installation and furniture reconfiguration services.