We finally decided to gut our kitchen and living room in the Springs. I initially thought we could just shove all the sofas and dining tables into the guest bedroom and throw cheap plastic covers over them. My contractor warned me against it. The sheer amount of dust that gets everywhere during a Dubai villa renovation is unbelievable.

I read a piece in the Khaleej Times recently about how many residents are upgrading their older properties right now instead of moving. It makes sense with current rent prices, but you really have to protect your stuff.

So, we looked at two options: renting a cheap non-AC warehouse in Al Quoz or getting a fully climate-controlled unit. The non-AC option is tempting because it saves a few dirhams. However, the summer heat and humidity will absolutely warp wooden furniture and ruin leather. It is just not worth the risk.

We ended up going with a proper AC unit. If anyone is looking for a reliable place to keep their belongings safe from the dust and heat, I found this site very helpful for comparing local options: https://storagedubai.top/

A few quick tips if you go this route:
* Label every single box on all four sides.
* Take photos of your electronics wiring before packing them up.
* Do not wrap leather in plastic because it needs to breathe.

Save yourself the headache and just get the storage space. It makes the whole contractor process much smoother.