Moving an office from Sharjah to Dubai is not difficult, but it can get messy fast if you don’t control three things: downtime, access rules, and IT setup. This guide is a simple, practical checklist to help you relocate smoothly—without hidden surprises.
Quick checklist (save this)
- Confirm move date + access rules (loading bay, service lift, building timings) at both locations
- Create a simple inventory list (workstations, chairs, printers, IT items)
- Lock your IT plan (backup, internet, devices, labeling)
- Pack department-wise + label boxes by “Room + Priority”
- Plan after-hours/weekend move to reduce downtime
- Assign one person as Move Coordinator (single decision-maker)
- Share one clear “Move Brief” with the movers (template below)
Simple move timeline (recommended)
|
When |
What to do |
|
10–14 days before |
Confirm building rules, choose movers, inventory + layout plan |
|
7 days before |
IT backup + internet plan, start packing non-essentials |
|
48 hours before |
Label everything, confirm access/lift/parking, pack essentials |
|
Moving day |
Supervise loading, box count, room-wise placement in Dubai |
|
Next business day |
IT setup check, workstation mapping, quick issue fixes |
Step 1: Confirm building rules (Sharjah + Dubai)
Office shifting between emirates often fails because of access issues—not because of packing.
Ask both buildings these questions:
- Is there a loading bay? Where can the truck park?
- Do we need service elevator booking?
- What are the allowed moving hours?
- Any security requirements (IDs, gate pass, prior notice)?
Tip: Put these answers in a single WhatsApp note and share it with your movers + your internal team.
Step 2: Make an office inventory (30 minutes, saves hours)
You don’t need a complex spreadsheet. Just list:
- A) Workstations
- Number of desks
- Chairs
- Filing cabinets
- Meeting table + chairs
- B) IT equipment
- PCs / CPUs / monitors
- Printers / scanners
- Router / firewall / switches
- Server/NAS (if any)
- UPS + extension boards
- C) Sensitive items
- Contracts, accounting files, stamps, checkbooks
- Any valuables or devices (keep with management)
Step 3: IT moving plan (simple, non-technical)
This is how you reduce downtime.
1) Backup first (must-do)
- Backup important folders to cloud or external drive
- If you have accounting/CRM systems: export or backup data (basic backup is enough)
2) Internet plan (don’t assume it will “just work”)
- Confirm your new office has internet availability and installation timeline
- If your business depends on calls: arrange a backup connection (e.g., mobile hotspot/router)
3) Label every IT device (the easiest win)
Put a small sticker on each:
- Dept/Person name + Device type
- Example: “Sales – PC”, “Accounts – Monitor”, “Reception – Printer”
4) Pack cables smartly
- Put each device’s cables in a zip bag and tape it to the device (or same labeled box)
- Keep one “IT Essentials Box” (see below)
Step 4: Packing plan (office-friendly)
Pack by department, not by “random boxes”
- Sales boxes together
- Accounts boxes together
- Admin/HR together
- Pantry supplies separately
- Stationery separately
Label format (use this on every box)
Room/Dept + Priority + Fragile
- Example: “Accounts – Open First – Fragile (printer parts)”
Essentials boxes (keep separate, load last)
IT Essentials Box
- Router, power cables, extension boards, LAN cables
- Screwdriver, cable ties, tape, markers
- Password note (sealed) / admin credentials list
Operations Essentials Box
- Company stamp, keys, access cards
- Receipt book / invoice pad (if used)
- Basic stationery, chargers
Step 5: Weekend / after-hours move plan (low downtime)
If your office can’t stop working, move in phases:
Option A: One-shot move (fastest)
Best when the team can pause operations for a short window.
- Pack everything 1–2 days before
- Move after-hours/weekend
- Setup core departments first (Reception, Accounts, IT)
Option B: Two-phase move (safer for active offices)
Best when you must keep work running.
- Phase 1: Non-essential items (files, pantry, extra furniture)
- Phase 2: Workstations + IT last (after-hours/weekend)
Downtime minimizer tip
Before moving day, decide:
- Who must be operational first (Reception/Sales/Accounts)?
- Which 5–10 staff must be online early?
Step 6: Moving day checklist (Sharjah → Dubai)
Before loading starts
- Confirm truck parking and building access
- Walk-through: identify fragile items, IT items, and “do not move” items
- Assign one person to box counting
During loading
- Keep IT and fragile items grouped
- Take quick photos of:
- Printers
- Monitors
- Any expensive devices
- Count boxes (even “approx”) before truck leaves
At Dubai office (unloading)
- Place boxes department-wise first
- Place desks first, then chairs, then devices
- Unpack “Open First” boxes only (don’t create chaos)
Copy-paste “Move Brief” to send House Movers
You can paste this on WhatsApp:
Office Shift Sharjah → Dubai
- Pickup location: ___ (floor, lift available?)
- Drop-off location: ___ (floor, lift/service elevator booking?)
- Date/time window: ___
- Parking/loading: ___
- Total workstations: ___ desks, ___ chairs
- IT items: ___ PCs, ___ monitors, ___ printers, router/firewall: yes/no
- Special items: meeting table / glass / heavy cabinets / safe
- Packing needed: full / partial / transport-only
- Dismantle/reassembly needed: yes/no
- Contact person on-site: ___ (phone)
10 questions to ask office movers (avoid hidden charges)
- Can you share a written quote with what’s included/excluded?
- Is packing material included or separate?
- Is dismantling/reassembly included (desks, partitions, meeting table)?
- Do you charge extra for stairs/no lift/service lift restrictions?
- Do you charge extra for parking far / long carry?
- Any waiting time charges if security delays happen?
- How do you handle IT equipment (packing + safe transport)?
- Can you move printers/servers/UPS safely (and how)?
- What happens if the move time changes (reschedule policy)?
- If something gets damaged, what’s your process?
