A successful international relocation requires early planning, accurate documentation, professional packing, reliable transportation, customs compliance, and destination support. At ISS Relocations, we combine these elements to help clients experience a smoother transition to their new home or workplace.
We recommend starting preparations at least 8–12 weeks before your planned moving date. Early planning allows sufficient time for documentation, shipping arrangements, customs requirements, and destination coordination.
Once packed, your shipment is inventoried, loaded, transported, and processed through customs before being delivered to your destination. ISS Relocations coordinates every stage to ensure visibility and smooth movement of your belongings.
ISS Relocations uses export-quality packing materials, customized crating solutions, protective wrapping, and specialized handling procedures to safeguard fragile and valuable items during international transportation.
Requirements vary by country but typically include passports, visas, shipment inventories, customs declarations, and proof of residency. ISS Relocations helps clients prepare the necessary documentation for their destination.
Yes. Furniture, appliances, personal belongings, and household goods can be shipped internationally through sea freight or air freight services, depending on shipment size and urgency.
Relocation timelines depend on the destination, shipping method, customs procedures, and delivery requirements. Air freight is faster, while sea freight is generally preferred for larger household shipments.
A door-to-door relocation service includes packing, transportation, customs support, shipment coordination, destination delivery, and often unpacking assistance at the final destination.
Families choose ISS Relocations for our experience, global network, professional packing standards, customs support, and personalized relocation planning designed to simplify international moves.
Yes. ISS Relocations works with businesses and HR teams to manage employee relocations, household goods transportation, destination support, and mobility-related logistics.
Shipment volume is calculated based on the size and quantity of items being moved. During a pre-move survey, ISS Relocations assesses belongings to estimate shipping requirements accurately.
Common challenges include customs procedures, shipping logistics, documentation requirements, housing arrangements, and adapting to a new environment. Professional relocation planning helps address these challenges effectively.
Begin researching destination requirements, organizing documents, scheduling a pre-move survey, decluttering belongings, and discussing relocation timelines with a professional relocation company.
Start planning 12-16 weeks before your move date for a 50+ desk office; 8-12 weeks for smaller offices. The critical lead times are: internet connectivity provisioning (2-4 weeks), building NOC and elevator slot booking (1-2 weeks), DED or free zone trade licence amendment (3-10 working days), and ISP activation. Compressing any of these workstreams risks either delaying move day or arriving at the new office without working connectivity or regulatory compliance.
Yes. Mainland companies must update the trade licence address with DED (Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism) within 15 working days of moving. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to AED 10,000 and potential licence suspension. Free zone entities must amend their licence through the relevant free zone authority – DMCC, DIFC, JAFZA, TECOM, or equivalent. Each free zone has its own amendment procedure and timeline. The amendment must be completed before employee visas can be updated.
Most Grade A commercial towers in Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, and DIFC restrict office moves to weekdays after 7:00PM or full weekends. DIFC requires Authority approval before any moving crew enters the building. JAFZA requires pre-registered gate passes through its logistics access system – unauthorised vehicles cannot enter the zone. DMCC requires a Member Portal notification minimum 10 working days before the move. A professional office mover manages all permit applications; a facilities team should not be handling this directly.
Yes. After the trade licence is amended with the new address, the company’s establishment card must be updated with MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation), which realigns all employee visas to the new address. Same free zone moves require only an address update (3-5 working days, AED 200-400 per employee). Moving between different free zones requires full visa cancellation and reissuance under the new zone’s sponsorship (10-15 working days, AED 2,000-3,500 per employee). Factor this into your project timeline and budget.
Yes. ISS Relocations has completed office moves in all major Dubai free zones including DIFC, DMCC/JLT, JAFZA, TECOM (Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City), Dubai South, and Dubai Silicon Oasis. ISS manages the specific permit requirements for each zone – DIFC Authority clearance, DMCC Member Portal notifications, JAFZA gate passes, and TECOM NOC applications – as part of every corporate move engagement. Contact ISS at [email protected] or +971 4 238 6670 to discuss your free zone move.
The physical move itself – from the last item packed at the origin office to the last item placed at the new address – typically takes 1-3 days for a 10-50 desk office, and 3-5 days for larger corporate moves. Most Grade A tower moves are executed over a weekend: arriving Friday evening and completing by Sunday night, ready for staff arrival Monday morning. The total project duration from planning start to operational first day is 8-16 weeks depending on office size and regulatory complexity.
The last items to pack and move are always: server room equipment (IT team decommissions last and recommissions first at new office), reception and signage items (confirms the space is fully vacated), and master key / access card handover to building management. Before leaving, photograph all rooms and storage areas, sign the building inspection sign-off form, obtain a written confirmation of vacate date from building management, and submit your DEWA account closure request. Retaining a copy of the ISS inventory manifest is recommended for insurance and audit purposes.
