Top 10 countries UAE expats are moving to in 2018
Where do UAE expats move to; their home countries or other expatriate-friendly nations?
While there’s always influx of new expatriates into the UAE, there are a lot of people moving out as well. ServiceMarket, based on their international and local moving services, did some research to understand these moving trends. They also released rough costs of moving to these countries from the UAE.
Based on the analysis of more than a thousand moving requests made by UAE customers in 2017, the study revealed that the top ten destinations are India, UK, USA, Canada, Pakistan, Australia, Lebanon, France, Germany and Saudi Arabia.
Since the workforce in the UAE largely consists of expats from India and other countries that make this list, it is not surprising that many of them move back to their home countries.
Cost of moving to these countries
This cost is based on a scenario where you plan to ship the contents of a 2 bedroom apartment, which roughly occupy 25 cubic meters. The exact cost, of course, will depend on the weight and size of your cargo as well as the type of shipping service you choose.
For example, door-to-door services are more expensive than port-to-port services, but if you choose the former option, your international moving company will take care of all the packing, unpacking and paperwork.
Destination
Approximate shipping cost for a 2-bedroom apartment
1. India
Dh11,000 - Dh12,000
2. United Kingdom
Dh16,000 - Dh17,000
3. United States
Dh21,000 - Dh22,000
4. Canada
Dh20,000 - Dh21,000
5. Pakistan
Dh12,000 - Dh13,000
6. Australia
Dh15,000 - Dh16,000
7. Lebanon
Dh14,000 - Dh15,000
8. France
Dh19,000 - Dh20,000
9. Germany
Dh16,000 - Dh17,000
10. Saudi Arabia
Dh13,000 - Dh14,000
India has been the most popular international destination for expats for the second consecutive year. The UK and USA have held the second and third positions since India overtook them in 2016. Pakistan, which was not in the top 10 list in 2015, has been gaining popularity and is currently in the 5th position. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has dropped from the 5th to the 10th position over the last couple of years.
What to know before shipping your belongings?
- The approximate transit time will range from 4 to 10 weeks, depending on your destination. As a rule of thumb, the greater the distance to your destination, the more time it will take for your belongings to arrive.
- Be sure to insure your belongings so that they remain protected during transit.
- Read the fine print to ensure your moving quote is comprehensive and includes all fees and charges, which may not be mentioned by some movers. These hidden costs can include import taxes, processing fees, and handling fees at the destination port, and additional charges when delivering your items to their final destination.
- Since transportation by land is riskier than shipping by sea, it's recommended that you should choose the latter option. However, shipping by sea is usually more expensive.
- If you're not pressed for time and are willing to share the container with other people, then you can save a significant amount of money by choosing groupage shipping. It's more suitable for smaller moves, but takes longer for shipping, as you'll have to wait until the container is full.
- Make sure all boxes are labelled clearly so that you can find and unpack the most essential items without any hassles.
- You can cut down your moving costs by selling, donating and discarding items that you can easily buy after landing.
- To avoid hassles, damages, losses and hidden costs, only select international moving companies that are FIDI accredited, which means that they go through periodic independent assessments to ensure that they comply with rigorous international quality standards. FIDI accredited international movers have the resources and know-how to handle your belongings with care.
Source: ServiceMarket UAE
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