The boxes are everywhere. The AC is making a noise you can’t place. Someone says “you’ll want to do the water tank” and you nod as if you know which tank. And you know exactly nobody to ask.
Everyone who has moved to Dubai has stood in that hallway. Here’s the order of play for your first month, so nothing important gets missed and nothing urgent gets forgotten.
The quick answers
- Do first: AC check, a deep clean and pest control, ideally before you unpack.
- Villa? Add the water tank. Ask your landlord or the previous owner when it was last cleaned.
- Budget: a move-in deep clean typically runs about AED 400-800 for an apartment and AED 800-1,700 for a villa. A split AC service is about AED 150-250 per unit.
- Who to call: ask the neighbours. They’ve already found the people you’re about to search for.
Your first 30 days, week by week
| When | Do this |
|---|---|
| Before you unpack | Deep clean while the home is empty. Get the AC checked and filters cleaned. Book pest control. |
| Week 1 | Check every tap, drain, socket and door lock. Note anything broken and photograph it (useful for your landlord too). Set up internet. |
| Week 2 | Handyman visit: TV mounts, shelves, curtain rods, furniture assembly. Villa: find out when the water tank was last cleaned and book it if you’re unsure. |
| Week 3 | Find the essentials nearby: a reliable cleaner, a laundry, a groceries delivery. Say hello to your neighbours. |
| Week 4 | Do a walk-through with a list. Fix the small things now before they become big ones. |
Villa or apartment: what’s different?
- Villa: you’re responsible for more. Water tank, garden and irrigation, the pool, more AC units and more pest exposure. See our villa maintenance checklist for the yearly plan.
- Apartment: fewer systems, but check the AC type (many buildings use a central chiller, so servicing differs from split units), and ask building management what’s included.
What the first month typically costs (indicative, 2026)
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Move-in deep clean | About AED 400-800 (studio to 3-bed apartment), AED 800-1,700 (2 to 5-bed villa); furnished homes and add-ons extra |
| AC service (split unit) | About AED 150-250 per unit |
| General pest control | About AED 350-450 for a 3-5 bedroom villa |
| TV mounting (handyman) | About AED 100-200, bracket extra |
| Water tank cleaning (villa) | About AED 500-1,500, depending on tank size |
Typical advertised prices, excluding VAT. Parts, repairs and extras found on the day are quoted separately, and your quote may vary by provider and home size.
The part nobody tells you: ask your neighbours
The fastest way to settle in isn’t a checklist. It’s the person two doors down who found a great AC technician last summer and would happily tell you. But you haven’t met them yet, and you don’t want to be the new person spamming the community chat.
That’s the gap Hauz Link fills. Neighbours share the providers they’d use again, so on day one you can see who people near you recommend for each job, and message them directly to agree the details and price yourself.
Message to copy into your community group
Prefer to ask directly? Specific questions get better answers:
Hi all, we’ve just moved into [community] and are looking for recommendations for [job]. If you’ve used someone recently, could you share their name and number, roughly what it cost, and whether you’d use them again? Thank you, and nice to meet you all!
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first when moving into a new home in Dubai?
A deep clean, an AC check and pest control, ideally before you unpack. Then check taps, drains, sockets and locks, and photograph anything broken.
How much does a move-in cleaning cost in Dubai?
Typically about AED 400-800 for an apartment (studio to three bedrooms) and AED 800-1,700 for a villa, with furnished homes and add-ons extra. Ask for the scope in writing and compare two or three quotes.
Do I need to clean the water tank when I move into a villa?
It’s worth asking when it was last cleaned. If nobody knows, many people book a cleaning in the first month.
How do I find a reliable cleaner or handyman when I’m new?
Ask neighbours who’ve used someone recently for the same kind of home, and get the price in writing before work starts.
Is Hauz Link free?
Yes. It’s free for residents to search, share recommendations and message providers.
Next time you’d ask the group, ask Hauz Link first
Just moved in? Search Hauz Link for providers your new neighbours recommend, or tell our AI assistant on WhatsApp what you need. You can browse without signing up.
- Web: www.hauzlink.com
- App: App Store | Google Play
- WhatsApp: +971 50 869 4202
Found a cleaner, technician or handyman you’d recommend to a friend? Add them in under a minute, and be the person the next newcomer is glad to find.
Hauz Link: Word of mouth. Made effortless.