In November 2013, Emaar issued a circular announcing that all properties developed by Emaar will now require residents to obtain move in/out permits. The developer said the decision came for the following reasons:

• Smooth access into the community for new residents.
• Current contact information for all residents is kept up to date.
• Information is available on assistance required for any resident with Special needs, in cases of emergency evacuation.
• Site supervision of any move (in or out) takes place, to ensure that any damages that might occur in the common areas are recorded and rectified promptly.

In addition to the points mentioned above, the permit also ensures that all services fees have been paid by the landlord before the tenant moves in or out.

For Emaar:

Download Move in / Move Out Permit for Emaar move in/out application form and the documents required to obtain the permit, or email: communities@emaar.ae.

Once the form is submitted to Emaar, the company would take 5 days to process the request and issue the permit. This is why residents moving in and out are advised to submit the form five days prior to their moving date.

1. Book a moving service

Booking a moving service in advance will give you peace of mind and let you concentrate on other tasks ahead of you. Some services would even pack your things for you!

When: book the service 1 or 2 weeks ahead of time.

How: you will find everything online; make sure you get quotes from different movers.

2. Transfer your connection services

Take some time off to head down to your internet provider's centre and put in a request to transfer your account to your new address, or cancel your current account

Once you've applied for the transfer, the technician will come to connect your line in 2-4 days.

This can also be done online; through your service provider

If you are new to Dubai; then ask our Realtors & they will guide you through process

When: 2-3 days before your moving date.

• You will need your passport copy or Emirates ID copy, and a copy of your Ejari + copy of new tenancy contract
• A small transfer fee will be added to your next bill – the amount of the fee depends on the services you are willing to transfer.
• The technician will come to your new house in 2-4 days.

Disconnecting your DEWA account is very important before moving out. If you do not disconnect the account you will continue to receive bills even after you have vacated the property.

When: 7 days before your move

How:

• Click to get complete details from DEWA
• After 2-3 days of processing, you will receive your final bill.
• After receiving your final bill, pay it in the DEWA office and collect your deposit.

4. Get a moving permit from your building

Some buildings in Dubai require tenants who are moving in and out to have obtained moving permits.

When: Talk to your building supervisor to find out about the move-out procedure at least a week in advance.

How:

5. Restore the house to its original condition

If you want to make sure you get your deposit back, you need to restore the house to the condition it was in when you first moved in. You might need to hire a cleaning service a day before you move out, or even repaint the walls, depending on whether any damage has been made. Make sure you remove all of the furniture and leave nothing behind, otherwise the landlord has the right to charge you for a removal service.

When: Schedule for a cleaning service 1 to 2 days before you hand over the keys.

6. Get your deposit back

After you have handed over the keys and made sure the property has been restored to its original condition, ask your landlord to give you back the deposit. As long as the property is in its original condition, your landlord should not withhold any charges, and the deposit should be paid back in full.