New home guide
Moving into your first flat in Dubai: the essentials and what they cost
New lease, empty flat, and a long list. Here is what most people need in the first week, what can wait, and our guides to the big decisions: cooling a rented studio and keeping sand off tiled floors.
Prices update live
The first week: what you really need
Most unfurnished flats in Dubai come with a kitchen, and many with built-in cooling, but little else. Check your tenancy contract and walk through the flat before you buy anything: what is already there decides what you need.
- Day one: a fridge if the kitchen has none, a kettle, and Wi-Fi. Internet installation can take several days, so book it early.
- Week one: a washing machine, a microwave or an air fryer, and an iron.
- Before summer: check that the cooling is enough for every room. In a studio, one extra portable AC often fixes the hottest corner.
- When you have settled in: a TV and a robot vacuum. Sand comes in through every door and balcony.
Essentials by category
Every category a new flat usually needs, with the lowest price today.
Our guides for your new home
Step-by-step guides for the decisions that cost the most to get wrong.
Stores we compare
We compare prices across these stores every day, so you can buy each item where it is cheapest.
Setting up a new flat in Dubai: questions people ask
What does an unfurnished flat in Dubai usually include?
Usually a fitted kitchen and often built-in or central cooling, but no furniture or freestanding appliances. Check the tenancy contract: some flats include a fridge, a cooker or a washing machine.
What should I buy first?
A fridge if there is none, a kettle and an internet connection on day one; a washing machine and a way to cook in the first week. Everything else can wait until you know how you use the flat.
How much do home appliances cost in the UAE?
Prices vary widely by brand and store. Each category on this page shows its lowest price today, and every product page compares all stores.
What should be on a moving-to-Dubai checklist?
Before you move in, connect electricity and water (DEWA in Dubai) and book the internet installation. Then plan a fridge, a kettle and enough cooling for the first days, a washing machine and a way to cook in the first week, and furniture and a TV once you have settled.