How to Pack Artwork, Mirrors and Chandeliers for a Dubai Move

Materials You Need

• Glassine paper or acid-free tissue, for direct contact with paintings and photos
• Cardboard or foam corner protectors
• Bubble wrap and packing blankets
• Flat picture or mirror boxes, adjustable telescopic boxes for large pieces
• Low-tack painter’s tape and strong packing tape
• Cotton gloves, zip bags for hooks and screws, and a marker

How to Pack Artwork for Moving: Framed Pieces Under Glass

Canvas and Oil Paintings

Paintings without glass need a different approach, because the paint surface itself is exposed. Never put bubble wrap or plastic film directly on the paint. In heat, plastic can trap moisture and leave a pattern on the surface. Instead:

• Cover the front with a sheet of glassine or acid-free paper, folded over the back like a parcel.
• Add a piece of stiff cardboard over the front so nothing can press into the canvas.
• Then add corner protectors, bubble wrap and a box, as for framed pieces.
• Unframed canvas can be rolled loosely, paint side out, around a wide tube and wrapped. Ask an art handler first if the paint is thick or old, because rolling can crack it.

Mirrors: Small, Large and Full-Length

Small mirrors pack like framed art. Large and full-length mirrors need more care, because their size makes them flex. Protect the corners, wrap them in a packing blanket and then bubble wrap, and slide them into a mirror box or between two sheets of stiff cardboard. Very large or heavy mirrors, especially wall-mounted ones in villas, are safest in a custom wooden crate.

The golden rule: a mirror always travels standing on its long edge, secured against the truck wall, with nothing stacked against its face. A mirror lying flat can crack under its own weight on the first speed bump.

Chandeliers and Statement Lights

Rental homes often come with fitted light fixtures that belong to the landlord. Check your tenancy contract before removing anything, and put the original fitting back before handover. Our guide on move-out checks explains what landlords look at.

Dubai Heat and Humidity: The Extra Risk

Inside a closed vehicle in a Dubai summer, temperatures climb far above room temperature in a short time. Heat and sudden humidity changes can soften varnish, warp thin frames, loosen old glue and fog glass. To keep art safe:

• Load art and mirrors last and unload them first, so they spend the least time in the truck.
• Carry small, valuable pieces in your own air-conditioned car.
• Do not store packed art on a balcony or in a parking garage, even overnight.
• Let pieces adjust to room temperature before unwrapping them.

Our guide to moving in the Dubai summer covers timing and heat protection for the rest of your home.

When to Call a Specialist

Experienced movers handle most home art, mirrors and chandeliers safely. Call a specialist fine-art handler if a piece is very valuable, very old, or needs a climate-controlled crate. Before moving any high-value item, list it with photos and check your cover. Our guide to moving insurance in Dubai explains what is usually covered and what is excluded.

Why Customers Trust Lucky G Movers With Fragile Pieces

Our packing services in Dubai include artwork, mirrors and light fittings, and for larger homes our villa moving team plans crates and extra handling in advance.