Managed IT and cyber security for regulated firms in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Managed IT and cyber security for regulated firms in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Start planning your IT as soon as you sign the lease. The internet connection to the new building usually takes longest, so order it first. Then agree cabling, the comms room, WiFi, phones and security with your fit-out contractor, and move over a weekend with a tested cut-over plan, so your team starts the next working day at their new desks with everything working.
Treat IT as part of the fit-out, not something to sort out in the last week. As a guide, the order of work is:
In many Dubai buildings the telecom provider is set by the building, either e& (formerly Etisalat) or du, so you may not be able to keep your current provider. Ask the landlord which provider serves the building and order business internet as soon as you can; installation dates depend on the provider and the building.
Order a backup connection too, such as a second line or a 4G/5G router, so the office is not offline if the main line is delayed or fails. Check whether your existing landline numbers can move with you; if they cannot, plan new numbers and a forwarding period, or move to a cloud phone system and test it on the new connection before the move.
Agree with the fit-out contractor where every data point goes: desks, meeting rooms, printers, WiFi access points, CCTV, screens and access control. Cabling should be tested and labelled, with each point matched to a numbered patch panel port.
The comms room or rack needs its own power, a UPS, cooling and a lock. A cupboard with no ventilation is one of the most common causes of equipment failures. Many buildings in Dubai and the free zones have their own fit-out rules on who can run cabling and where, so check them early.
Plan WiFi from the floor plan, with enough access points for meeting rooms and busy areas, and separate networks for staff, guests and devices such as printers and cameras.
A move is a good time to replace an ageing firewall, for example with a FortiGate next-generation firewall set up with VPN, network segmentation and logging. Plan access control and CCTV at the same time, because they share the same cabling and network.
Write a cut-over plan with times, owners and a way back if something fails. Back up servers and key data before anything is switched off, label every device and cable, and move the network and servers first so everything else has something to connect to.
Test internet, WiFi, phones, printers, your business applications and remote access before the weekend ends, then have engineers in the new office first thing the next working day to fix anything at desks.
Decide what to move, what to replace and what to dispose of. Any device that held data, including PCs, servers, copiers and phones, should be wiped to a recognised standard or destroyed, with a certificate as proof, so no client or personal data leaves with old equipment.
Cancel old lines and services at the right time, after the new ones are working, and update your address with your providers, insurers and, if you are regulated, your regulator.
If you are regulated, treat the move as a significant change. Check whether you need to notify your regulator of the new address or of a material change to your systems, update your business continuity and disaster recovery plans, and keep a record of the change, the testing and the sign-off.
That record is exactly the kind of evidence an auditor will later ask for. Our IT audit readiness checklist explains what to keep, and our IT projects team can plan and run the move.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or regulatory advice. Rules change, so check the current text and take advice from your compliance officer or legal adviser before relying on it.
As soon as the lease is signed. The internet connection and cabling usually set the timeline, so the earlier they are ordered and agreed with the fit-out contractor, the smoother the move.
It depends on your provider and whether the new building is served by the same one. Check before you commit to dates; if the numbers cannot move, plan new numbers and a forwarding period, or move to a cloud phone system.
Usually, yes. A weekend cut-over gives time to move, connect and test everything, with engineers on site first thing on the next working day.
Wipe them to a recognised standard such as NIST SP 800-88, or have them destroyed, and keep the certificate. This applies to anything that held client or personal data, including copiers and phones.