Help Americans in Abu Dhabi or Dubai

[frankbama]

I am trying to ship my stuff from the States to UAE. I am getting so many different stories I wonder if anyone who has done it could answer some questions.

1. Some companies are saying they will drop off a 40 ' container and I have 2 days to load. Others say it goes by the weight and I can't load it myself because you need an itemized list of everything.

2. The cost of port handling is about $ 150 to $175.
b. The cost of custom's is about $ 200. to $ 250.
Are there any other hidden costs and do those numbers sound about right?

How hard is it to get someone to deliver and unload it at the destination?
The companies I am looking at are:

Camel moving and shipping (No jokes about the name please)
Allison Shipping.
International Movers.

Does anyone know of these, good or bad. Is one port better than the other? I have quotes from 3,600 to 8,000. Any I should look at and how hard or bad is Customs?
Thank you for the info. The wife is starting to stress, She is there and I am here.
Frank Bama

[BladePilot]

American = $ sign. you may just be on a loser buddy. They'll get you everyway they can.
Customs just lurv American containers:\
You will need to itemise everything not to do so will mean lenghty delays, unless things have changed recently and maybe they have that's the way of things here.

[KRUGERFLAP]

MAN,my advice,keep the US adress and leave almost everything there.Buy over here.I don't no why u like to bring everything.
Buy new and u have a less hassle transition.

Just My 2 cents.

Good luck with ur decision!

Rgds

[highnlow]

I would assume you are provided with company accommodation. I would not be surprised if it is furnished. If that is the case, live in it for awhile, and start adding items as you go along.

If it is not furnished, do like Krugerflap says and buy it in Abu Dhabi, new or from expats leaving the country. For what you pay for that container you can get some ok furniture. I suggest you lock up your house in the USA and bring wify over for some interior decorating :)

[grizzled]

I have been through what you're going through -- been here in The Sandbox for a year and a half. I have to agree with the notion put forward earlier that you and your wife should seriously consider how much of your stuff (in the US) is really important for you here. Pare that list down until it's so small you can bring it all with you -- and maybe a few boxes you can ship via air cargo.

Put the rest of your things in storage in the US (those mini-storage places are everywhere and pretty darned cheap.) There are several good reasons for this: First, with all respect, you are much likely to be here shorter than you think, rather than longer than you think. Second, the huge increase in expats leaving in the past few (and future) months means there are great deals every day in the classifieds on everything from furniture to cars to appliances to toys (big and little).

I promise you -- especially when it comes time to move again -- you will find that "less is more."

Grizz

[Miles Gustaph]

It also seems quite committal moving lock-stock and barrel out to the middle-east before you've experienced the culture fully. Have a look at some of the Emirates forums here, there are some people who just don't like the place.... It would be a shame to ship your whole life out to the sandpit just to have to do it again in weeks few...

apart from anything else the red-tape will probably stress you out like nothing else while your starting a new job, getting a visa, sorting a car out, etc....

[Watchdog]

I couldn't agree more with the advice given.
The shipping cost and potential hassle with customs/delivery and risk of damage probably not worth your while.

[typhoonpilot]

I know people who shipped most of their belongings and are happy and I know people who bought everything here and are happy. It really is a personal decision. If you have a car you like put that in the 40 foot container as well.

I wouldn't choose to store stuff in a commercial storage unit unless it is a climate controlled facility. Even then the cost adds up over the years.

Happy moving,


Typhoonpilot

[frankbama]

Well Thanks for the advice. Guess you guys aren't married to an American. She wants her things. I am already here flying and have the car,visa just need the wife and kids. She ain't coming with out it. If anyone has advise on the best way TO DO shipping I would LOVE to know.
Typhoon thanks for the positive post.

[troff]

Actually, I AM married to an American and we did a combination of storing and bringing. We are in company accommodation and took the cash. We took our time and bought the stuff we wanted- even designing some of our stuff and having it built- and are very happy with it.
At the appropriate time we stuffed a 20 foot container and brought it over.
We wondered about some couples who spent a fortune on furnishing their houses in a day with tacky crap that they didn't really like, then had to pay the interest on their credit cards for months.
There is no rush.
Troff

[grizzled]

And I WAS married to one. Which explains why I don't have much stuff left to worry about . . . ;)

[Severely Jetlagged]

I used Allied Pickfords to move lock stock and barrel in a container. I left them to do all the paperwork and everything more or less arrived intact. They delivered, unpacked and then removed the packing materials. They are usually more expensive than the average cost but well worth it in my opinion for the stress free move.

They do have an office in Abu Dhabi.

[Desert Diner]

Try to minimize what you want to bring out here.

The "customs duties" as well as expected shipping damage and loses and the resulting insurance claims hassles could prove to be unbearable.

The insurance claims alone can take months or even years to resolve out here.

But for what you do want to bring out, take a video of it on the other side as well as video as much of the actual packing.

You will be suprised how much gets "lost" in transit and it is up to you to prove that you did not lie on your inventory.

Good luck.

[Togalk]

I brought allot of my belongings from home (western north america) it was not that much hassle, but I would NOT do it again. You don't know how long you are going to be here, so I would go to Ikea buy the bare essentials and be ready for a quick escape. Remember none of you electrical stuff from home will work here anyway.

[sorath5]

For electric items just buy a 120-230v converter when you get there. Really cheap and no problems.

[Artisan]

Does anyone have the experience of bringing a boat to Dubai? I like water skiing and want to bring my 19ft runabout over.