Pocketful of Dirhams: the costs and challenges of shipping your belongings in a pandemic

Bana Shomali of ServiceMarket tells Alice Haine how to move overseas during Covid-19

As we approach the hotter summer months and the end of the academic school year, a number of UAE residents will be planning their relocation either to their home country or another destination.

But while shipping is a standard process many of us deal with, things become a little more challenging when you are trying to move during a pandemic.

So what is the best way to move your possessions at this time? How do you get a shipping quote in this era of social distancing? Will there be any restrictions on items being shipped in? Does Covid-19 make shipping more expensive and will it take longer for your items to reach their destination?

Host Alice Haine, the personal finance editor of The National, is joined by Bana Shomali, the founder of ServiceMarket, a UAE marketplace for moving and home services, who guides listeners through all the challenges of relocating during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Listen to last week's episode for tips on how to secure a refund on your travel plans during Covid-19