Updated
Start with Tawtheeq, not the mover
Abu Dhabi registers every tenancy through Tawtheeq, the emirate's tenancy contract system run on the TAMM platform. A tenant applies through TAMM with UAE Pass, the Emirates ID of both parties and the signed contract; a landlord or their agent can also raise it. The fee is small, but the registration itself is what most community and building move-in processes check for before they issue a permit.
If Tawtheeq is not yet registered, deal with that first. A community office or building management will generally not process a move-in request against an unregistered tenancy, whatever documents you bring instead.
Aldar communities: Saadiyat, Yas and Al Raha
Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and Al Raha Beach are managed through Aldar's community management arm, and day-to-day resident services run through the Aldar Connect resident portal rather than a single citywide app. Each community within that footprint (for example Yas Acres, Saadiyat Beach Villas or Al Bandar) has its own portal instance, so the login and forms differ slightly by address.
The portal is where move-in and move-out requests, gate passes for villa and townhouse communities, and any fit-out or modification NOC (needed if you plan to hang heavy items or make changes to the unit) are raised. Aldar's community call centre on 800 ALDAR (25337) can point you to the right portal if you cannot find it.
- Register or confirm Tawtheeq before applying
- Raise the move-in or move-out request through your community's Aldar Connect portal
- Villa communities: a vehicle gate pass for the mover, checked against the registration you provide
- Ask separately about a fit-out NOC if anything beyond furniture is changing
Towers: Al Reem Island and other high-rises
Al Reem Island's towers are not run by one master developer's community office; each tower has its own building management company, and the rules, forms and deposits differ block to block. What is consistent is the shape of the process: a move-in or move-out notice submitted in advance, typically five to seven working days ahead, and a separate service lift booking once that notice is approved.
Passenger lifts are almost universally off-limits for furniture and boxes. The service or freight lift has to be booked directly with the building management office, and a refundable deposit against damage to the lift padding and lobby, commonly in the AED 500 to AED 2,000 range, is standard. Ask your building for its specific move-in pack rather than assuming the neighbouring tower's rules apply.
TAQA: the one thing you usually do not have to apply for
Electricity and water in Abu Dhabi run through TAQA Distribution (formerly ADDC/AADC). Since TAQA's systems were linked to Tawtheeq, a new account is generally opened automatically once your tenancy is registered, and you receive an account number rather than filing a separate move-in application. It is worth confirming the account has appeared in TAQA's online portal a few days before moving in, in case the Tawtheeq details take time to sync.
Moving out is the step people miss: TAQA issues an account closing letter once the previous account on a property is closed, and a new tenant's Tawtheeq-linked account can be delayed if the outgoing tenant or landlord has not closed theirs.
Timing the truck
Heavy vehicles, including moving trucks, are restricted from Abu Dhabi's roads during peak hours: Monday to Thursday from 6:30 to 9:00 in the morning and 15:00 to 19:00 in the evening, with a different Friday window around midday. Specific roads carry their own bans on top of that, including Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Road and Al Raha Beach Road, so a route that worked last year may not this year.
Book your mover for a slot outside these windows, and check current restricted-road notices from Abu Dhabi Mobility (the Integrated Transport Centre) if your route runs along the city's main corridors, since they are updated more often than the citywide hours are.
What we handle, and what only you can
Tawtheeq, the community portal application and the building's move-in notice all have to come from the resident or landlord named on the tenancy. What we do around that: send the company and vehicle details your application needs, book the service lift or gate pass once your permit or notice is approved, protect the lift, lobby and corridors, and schedule the truck outside Abu Dhabi's restricted hours.