Like many growing economies, Dubai is subject to the constant movement of people—and their possessions—from around the globe. This has given rise to the growth of an increasingly sophisticated industry: self-storage units.
With so much movement and transience—one study reported that 60% of expatriates don’t see Dubai as a permanent home—the demand for temporary and long-term storage is high. Correspondingly, there are many storage options to choose from, so it’s a good idea to look at all of the options available, not only in terms of what the market has to offer but also in terms of what your specific individual storage requirements are.
What do you need to store, and why?
There are many things to consider here, starting with local (and international) regulations regarding what you may and may not store in such a facility. Foodstuffs and perishables, for example, are not allowed, as well as any explosives, munitions, firearms and so on, or animals. The list of forbidden items is quite long. If in doubt, ask the professionals at Storall LLC who are up to date with the latest local legislation. You also need to consider the size of the storage facility you might need (anything from 30-800 sq. ft./1m2-37m2 is available), how long you need it for (weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual rentals may be negotiated), and of course cost—which may range from AED300-AED5000/month, depending on the size of the facility and how long you might need it for. Of course, you may find a range of options outside of these numbers if you look. Storall LLC will provide an online size estimator for you to calculate how much space you need, and a personal advisor to give you a more accurate estimate of size and cost.
Location and access:
You probably want to make sure that your goods in storage are accessible when you want them—a set of camping gear for that weekend in the desert, for example, or a spare bed for the unexpected guest. You don’t want to have to travel from Jebel Ali to Sharjah just to collect a stored file for the office. For these reasons, Storall LLC will ensure that your storage facility is accessible 24/7, and 365 days a year.
Safety and security:
This is non-negotiable. No point in putting stuff into storage if it’s likely to go up in smoke or be plundered by neighboring storage unitholders. So, your facility must show evidence of compliance with health and safety regulations laid down by the Dubai Police and the Dubai Civil Defense authority. Dubai is subject to periodic dust storms, and the summer 400+ heat and humidity can spell the ruin of all your possessions. Make sure your facility is climate controlled, and that your goods are adequately covered by insurance which may be included in the storage contract. Another consideration is privacy. Are you the only key-holder to your storage unit, or can the proprietor (and his staff) start to nose around your valued possessions at any time? Storall LLC guarantees the security and privacy of your goods at all times.
Customer service:
Discuss with Storall LLC how much assistance—and advice—they can give you on packing/unpacking and delivery of your goods for storage. Do they provide packaging materials—boxes/containers, bubble-wrap, shrink-wrapping and tape, etc.—and at what price? Most importantly, do you get a good feeling about this company and its employees to value and care for your personal possessions and sensitive documents during moving and storage?
Self-storage or professional movers?
There’s an old saying that “if you pay peanuts you get monkeys”. The same is true of storage facilities—you get what you pay for. If you’re prepared to do most of the work yourself in terms of packing and carting your stuff into a storage unit, you may save money. On the other hand, it often pays—depending on the value of what you’re putting in storage—to get professionals like Storall LLC to do it for you. This has an added advantage of receiving an itemized inventory of what you have put into storage, which also makes it easier to value the goods for insurance purposes—and to know where to find your possessions later.
Given the mobility of large sections of the Dubai population, most expats will find themselves in a situation of needing to put some—or all—of their possessions into storage at some point in their lives. It pays to take care when choosing who you are going to trust with your precious assets. The thoughtful choice of a professional facility such as Storall LLC will ensure that they will care for your precious possessions as if it were their own.
