ShirleyG102

Hello,

We've just moved to Abu Dhabi, and are expecting the delivery of our container very soon.

We are being asked to pay extra to transfer our belongings to a shuttle van as apparently containers aren’t allowed in Abu Dhabi city. Is this the norm / anyone know about this?

reddiva

I have never heard of it
Ask them for written proof of this. If it is a rule then it will be written on a gov website somewhere

hnd

If you paid for a ‘door to door’ service then I’d say that that is not your problem. It is something of which your removal company should have been aware and it’s up to them to fulfil their side of the deal and deliver your goods to your home as agreed in the contract. If necessary take it up with the office you dealt with back home where you have recourse to consumer protection and, if they are members of the industry association (https://bar.co.uk/), you can get in touch with them, too.

I appreciate that you probably don’t want the hassle at the moment but these are just my thoughts.

Brains1983

12m trucks & containers are only allowed into the city with a special permit, and even then it's only allowed if there is no other option. As de-stuffing outside and then moving it in on a smaller truck is an option, then you are being informed correctly.

I'd be inclined to agree with HND and check what you actually signed up for, if it's door to door, I'd push back on the removals company. If it's someone like Allied Pickford, you should be OK if you shout loud enough. If it's a local company, your probably buggered.

ShirleyG102

Thank you so very much for your responses, this is super useful.

We did indeed sign up for a door to door service, and have gone back to the origin office (London office of Crown Worldwide). We are being told that this rule applies to our specific address (WTC) and that’s why we have to pay for it.
Can’t find anything from the government except a twitter post from AD Police saying trucks are not allowed during peak hours, but that’s not specific to WTC, it’s Abu Dhabi city.

Dubaiexile

Check what it says on the Bill Of Lading, if it is DPP or DAP then it is down to the shipper, they are well aware of all different rules in different cities around the world, just insist that they carry out what you paid for!

carcajou

I can't remember ever seeing a container on the streets, but if you have signed up for door-to-door and there are no address exceptions in your contract - I agree with the earlier poster who said that's the company's problem, and would forcefully push back. Ask them to highlight for you specifically in the contract where it says there is an exception.

Brains1983

bills of lading rarely state incoterms, and even then they are useless unless qualified with a place name.

Ie DAP Abu Dhabi could mean delivered anywhere in Abu Dhabi, the removals company yard for example
DAP Abu Dhabi World Trade Centre, is more specific.

That said, I agree if they have said door to door, then there's little room for them to wiggle out.

archie159

Just agreeing with the above! If you paid door-to-door, and told them at the time that your end destination is in Abu Dhabi city, then they cannot charge more. Crown Removals are supposed to be one of the better removals companies, and charge accordingly. They have also been operating in Abu Dhabi for a long time, so do know the rules - unlike some other UK based removals companies, they don't subcontract out the UAE delivery, but do it themselves with their own vans. I would fight quite hard against any additional fee they ask if you have already agreed a door to door rate.

ShirleyG102

After a ton of back and forth, and lots of pushback from them, we have finally managed to get them to cover the costs!

Thank you all so very much — all your advice and tips (and encouragement!) was super useful — @reddiva, @hnd, @Brains1983, @Dubaiexile, @carcajou, @Archie159!
🙏