The minimum fee for junk removal services in Dubai

A comparison of prices across the Emirate

If you’re decluttering a flat, replacing furniture, clearing out an office or removing a broken fridge, one of the first questions is: what is the fee for junk removal services in my emirate? Now the problem is that, the answer is not a single, neat number. Instead, you’ll find two systems in UAE which are pretty much overlapping. Let’s dig in.

1. Municipal bulky-waste programmes (many emirates offer free or low-cost pick-ups for large, reusable items), and
2. Private junk-removal companies (which set their own “minimums” based on volume, labour, truck size and how much of the load is trash vs reusable).

Below I explain how both systems work, give concrete examples of minimum charges you’ll actually see on the ground, and compare the practical differences between the emirates.

1) The municipal baseline: many emirates offer free bulky-waste pickup

A crucial starting point: major emirates run bulky-waste collections for residents. These services are intended for items that won’t fit in your regular bins like, furniture, mattresses, white goods (fridges, washers), TVs, e-waste and so on. In many cases the municipality (or its contractor) will collect reusable items free of charge. All you need to do is schedule a pickup.

• Dubai Municipality runs a bulky-waste collection that residents can book (including via WhatsApp). These municipal collections are broadly positioned as a free service for residents.
• Sharjah (via Bee’ah / Tandeef) operates the popular “You Call, We Haul” bulky-waste scheme that collects large items for households. Again, a free service for residents in certain cases.
• Abu Dhabi also has official channels (the TAMM portal and Bee’ah links in the emirate) for requesting bulky-waste removal from residential areas. These are municipal/authority services and are the first port of call for many residents.

Bottom line: if the items are not hazardous and are easily moved to a collection point, municipal pick-ups are often your cheapest (sometimes free) option. You can check your emirate’s official portal or the municipality app before calling a private hauler.

2) Why private companies still matter (and what they typically charge)

Municipal collections are great — but they have limits:

• They may require items to be placed at ground level or at curbside (no apartment-to-apartment carry).
• They may not accept construction waste, hazardous items, or large volumes from a commercial clearance.
• Scheduling waits and service areas can vary (some freehold developments, gated communities or paid developments use a developer’s contractor).

That’s why many people hire private junk-removal companies. These businesses set minimum job fees that cover labour and the vehicle. Minimums vary a lot depending on the company, the emirate and the job details, but you’ll typically see:

• Low-end private minimums around AED 100 for very small pick-ups or single small items (some local listings and small haulers advertise “starting from AED 99”).
• Mid-range minimums AED 150–300 for standard one-truck pick-ups with a couple of manpower. Many established local operators list similar starting prices (examples on the market show common entry points AED 150–250).
• Higher minimums AED 300–600 (or more) for bulk trash, commercial clearances, pickups that include a lot of non-recyclable rubbish, or when the provider needs to pay landfill/disposal charges. A past industry survey and reporting cited AED 300–600 as a common charge for some full-service clearances.

So, the absolute minimum you’ll find advertised by private firms can be as low as AED 99–150 for tiny jobs; realistic, fully serviced pickups that include manual carry, stair access or disposal commonly start AED 200–300 and escalate from there.

3) How the different emirates compare on fee for junk removal

Below is a practical, per-emirate comparison focusing on minimum cost to the resident for normal household bulky-items (not construction waste or hazardous materials):

• Dubai –Municipal bulky waste first. Dubai Municipality’s bulky service is the go-to and is widely publicized as a free pickup option for residents (bookable via the Dubai 24/7 app or WhatsApp). If you need private help (stairs, apartment pickup, or immediate same-day service), private haulers advertise starting prices from around AED 99–250, but many full clearances will run AED 300+.
• Abu Dhabi –Authority routes (TAMM/Bee’ah) are available. Abu Dhabi’s municipal channels and Bee’ah’s services make bulky collection accessible; for small, reusable items you’ll often pay nothing to the municipal scheme, while private firms offer similar private rates to Dubai for specialized work. If you need door-to-door heavy lifting or a tight deadline, expect private minimums in the AED 150-300 range.
• Sharjah –Free municipal contractor service. Bee’ah’s “You Call, We Haul” is an established free bulky-waste offer for residents, so Sharjah tends to be cheaper if your items are accepted. Private firms still exist for quick, in-apartment moveouts with starting fees similar to Dubai.
• Ajman / Ras Al Khaimah / Fujairah / Umm Al Quwain –Municipal services exist but local detail varies. These emirates also provide bulky-item collection services (RAK and Ajman list municipal bulky-waste request services), though the exact rules (where items must be left, lead time, and whether free) vary. Private operators in these emirates tend to set minimums comparable to smaller Dubai jobs (often AED 100–250 for a small pickup). If you live outside main cities or in remote zones, expect additional travel or minimum-hour charges.

4) Why the same job costs more in one emirate than another

Several concrete reasons push up a private hauler’s minimum:

• Disposal/landfill fees – municipalities and contractors may charge by weight/type; companies pass that cost to customers. (Waste-disposal fee schedules exist in regulatory documents -disposal is not always free at scale).
• Distance & travel time – outlying emirates or remote districts add fuel/time costs.
• Labour intensity – stairs, high-floor apartment carry, narrow corridors or disassembly increase time and therefore the minimum.
• Type of waste – e-waste, mattresses and reusable furniture are cheaper to pick up (often recycled/donated), while general rubbish or mixed construction debris is more expensive to dispose of.

5) Practical tips to get the best (or cheapest) outcome

1. Check municipal options first. For bulky household items, always try the municipality/Bee’ah/TAMM route – it’s often free.
2. Be honest in your photos. Many private haulers price from a photo; clear photos avoid surprise surcharges.
3. Ask whether the provider recycles/donates. Companies that resell or donate usable furniture often reduce or waive charges for those items.
4. Clarify “minimum” vs per-truck pricing. Some firms quote a low “starting from” price but that applies only to tiny, curbside jobs; full service with labour and stair carry will cost more. Look for a written quote.
5. Compare two or three local providers before you book – for the same job the cheapest option can vary across neighborhoods and days.

6) Short checklist: what to tell a hauler when you ask for a price

• Number of items and short description (e.g., 1x double mattress, 1x 3-seater sofa, 1x fridge)
• Whether items are on ground floor, building entrance, or a 3rd-floor apartment (no lift)
• Whether there’s in-apartment disassembly needed
• Whether the items are recyclable/donatable or general trash
• Your exact location (emirate + neighbourhood)

Final takeaway

• Minimum charge ≠ fixed single rate for the UAE. If the job qualifies for municipal bulky-waste collection (Dubai/Sharjah/Abu Dhabi and many other emirates offer such services) it’s frequently free, or at least the cheapest route.
• If you need private, full-service removal (same-day, in-apartment carry, lots of non-recyclable trash), expect a realistic minimum of AED 150–300 for small jobs, with many full clearances in the AED 300–600+ range depending on volume and disposal needs.