Door-to-door from Dubai to your city in India
Many families who built a life in the UAE eventually move home to India, and a household move is very different from sending a few boxes by cargo. A door-to-door move covers everything: a survey of what you are taking, export-grade packing in Dubai, shipping by sea or air, Indian customs clearance and delivery to your new home.
SmileShift moves households from Dubai door to door to Mumbai, Delhi, Kerala (Kochi), Chennai and Hyderabad. If you are moving to another city, send us the details and we will tell you what is possible.
Sea cargo or air cargo?
Sea freight is the practical choice for furniture and a full home's contents, and it is usually the most economical way to move a large volume. It is slower than air, so plan to live without your main belongings for a while after you land.
Air freight suits a small volume you need quickly: clothes, documents, children's school items and work equipment. Many families send a few cartons by air and the rest by sea. During the survey we help you split the list, and we confirm the estimated timeline for your city with your quote.
India customs: Transfer of Residence
If you are an Indian national moving back after living abroad, India's Baggage Rules, 2016 include Transfer of Residence provisions. These allow a duty-free allowance on used personal and household articles. The allowance depends on how long you have lived abroad, how much time you spent in India during that period, and whether you have used the concession recently.
Some items are not covered by the free allowance and attract duty, including televisions, refrigerators and deep freezers. Your household shipment is treated as unaccompanied baggage and is linked to your own arrival date in India, so time your shipment with your travel plans.
Rules and allowances change, so always check the latest guidance from Indian Customs (CBIC) before you ship. We will tell you which documents we need from you on the Dubai side, usually your passport, visa and an inventory.
Packing for the journey
Your shipment is handled several times between Dubai and your front door, so it is packed for the journey, not just for a drive across town. Furniture is wrapped and padded, fragile items get extra cushioning, and every carton is labelled and listed on an inventory that customs and the delivery team can follow.
Make sure appliances are clean and completely dry before packing, especially fridges and washing machines, so nothing develops damp or odour in transit.
What to ship, store or sell
Go room by room and decide what is worth shipping. Large furniture bought for a Dubai villa may not suit an Indian apartment, and some appliances may attract duty, so compare that with buying locally. Personal items, good-quality furniture and things with sentimental value are usually worth taking.
If you are not ready to ship everything, you can keep some items in storage in Dubai and send them later.
A simple timeline
Six to eight weeks before you leave: book a survey, get your quote and decide on sea, air or both. Three to four weeks before: confirm your packing date and gather your documents. One to two weeks before: pack-up day, then your shipment leaves Dubai. After you arrive in India: customs clearance in your name, then delivery to your home.
Send us your Dubai area, your destination city in India and your preferred move date on WhatsApp at +971 54 766 7436, and we will arrange a survey and a clear, itemised quote.
