Office relocation checklist for Dubai businesses

The cost of an office move is not the mover's invoice, it is the working hours you lose. A team of thirty idle for a day costs more than most relocations. Everything below is organised around protecting those hours.

Eight weeks out

1. 1Confirm the new lease and the handover date in writing.
2. 2Check the notice period on the current lease and serve it.
3. 3Update the trade licence address with the DED or your free zone authority, this can take weeks and gates other admin.
4. 4Book the movers. Out-of-hours slots at month-end go first.

Six weeks out

1. 1Produce a floor plan for the new office with every desk numbered.
2. 2Audit the IT: what moves, what is replaced, what needs reconfiguring.
3. 3Order internet and telephony for the new site. Lead times of four to six weeks are normal in the UAE and this is the single most common cause of a delayed opening.
4. 4Decide what furniture is being replaced rather than moved.

Four weeks out

1. 1Assign every employee a numbered desk on the new plan.
2. 2Brief staff: what they pack themselves, what the movers handle, and when.
3. 3Arrange building access, loading bay booking and NOCs for both sites.
4. 4Confirm the server and network cutover plan with your IT provider.

Two weeks out

1. 1Distribute labels and crates. Every item gets its destination desk number.
2. 2Confirm the moving schedule in writing with the crew supervisor.
3. 3Notify clients and suppliers of the address change and the date.
4. 4Update the address on the website, Google Business Profile, invoices, email signatures and letterhead.

Move weekend

1. 1Staff clear desks on the last working day. Personal items go home with them, not on the truck.
2. 2IT is disconnected, cabling photographed, and workstations packed anti-static.
3. 3Furniture, IT and filing are moved, labelled to seat numbers.
4. 4Everything is reassembled and placed to the floor plan before Monday.
5. 5IT reconnects and tests every workstation before the team returns.

First week in

• Walk the floor and log any damage or missing items immediately.
• Check fire exits, access cards and parking allocations work.
• Confirm the old site is cleared to the condition your lease requires.
• Close utilities at the old address and confirm the final bills.