Leaving Dubai for the Summer? How to Prepare Your Home Before You Go

Every year from June onwards, a significant portion of Dubai's resident population leaves for the summer. School holidays, unbearable heat, and the gravitational pull of home countries mean that thousands of villas and apartments sit empty for weeks or months at a time.

An empty Dubai home in summer is not a neutral thing. The heat, humidity, and lack of human activity create a specific set of problems that can turn a relaxing holiday into an expensive repair job when you return. Most of them are entirely preventable.

Here's what to do before you leave — and what to arrange to happen while you're gone.

1. Never Turn Your AC Off Completely

This is the single most important thing on this list and the one most residents get wrong.

When an air-conditioned Dubai home is left without any cooling, indoor humidity rises dramatically within days. At outdoor temperatures of 45°C+, the heat and moisture that builds inside an unventilated property creates ideal conditions for mould growth on walls, ceilings, soft furnishings, clothing, and even inside your AC units themselves. Wooden furniture, flooring, and joinery can warp. Electronics are affected. The smell alone when you return can take weeks to clear.

The correct approach is to leave your AC running at a higher setpoint — typically 28-30°C — rather than turning it off entirely. This keeps the indoor environment stable, prevents humidity from spiking, and uses significantly less electricity than you might expect. Your DEWA bill for a home running at 29°C with no occupants is a fraction of what it costs to run comfortably with a family inside.

If you have a smart thermostat, set it to maintain 28°C. If not, set each unit manually before you leave and confirm the settings are saved. See our AC servicing cost guide if any units need attention before you travel.

2. Service Your AC Before You Leave, Not After

An AC unit running continuously in an empty home for two months without a recent service is a breakdown waiting to happen. Dirty coils reduce efficiency and increase the risk of the unit freezing up or failing entirely — which means returning to a humid, mould-affected home that's been without cooling for days or weeks.

Book a service visit before you leave. A standard clean and check costs AED 150–350 per unit and takes an hour. It's the cheapest insurance you can buy before travelling.

3. Turn Off Your Water at the Mains — or Check Your Pipes

A slow leak from a pipe connection, washing machine hose, or under-sink fitting is annoying when you're home. When you're away for two months, it becomes a flood.

If you're leaving for more than three or four weeks, turn off the water supply at the mains stopcock before you go. In most Dubai villas this is near the boundary wall or utility area. In apartments, your building management can advise on the isolation point.

If you need water to remain on for irrigation or pool top-up systems, at minimum check every flexible hose connection under sinks, behind washing machines, and to dishwashers before you leave. These are the most common failure points.

4. Sort Your Pool Before You Leave

An untreated pool in Dubai summer will turn green within a week. Algae growth accelerates dramatically at high water temperatures, and without regular chemical treatment the pool can become a mosquito breeding ground, cause staining to the pool surface, and require expensive shock treatment and cleaning on your return.

You have two options:

• Arrange a maintenance contract while you're away — a professional pool technician visits weekly, maintains chemical balance, and keeps the pool clean. Cost is typically AED 300–600 per visit depending on pool size. This is the right approach for an extended absence.
• Shock treat and cover before leaving — if you're away for only 2-3 weeks, a heavy chemical shock treatment and a good pool cover before departure can hold the water in reasonable condition. Longer than that and you need someone visiting.

See our villa maintenance cost guide for typical pool running costs.

5. Arrange Garden Maintenance

A Dubai garden left without irrigation and maintenance in summer will be dead within two weeks. Plants that took months to establish can be lost in days when temperatures exceed 45°C and no one is watering.

Before you leave:

• Check your irrigation system is working correctly and timers are set appropriately for summer watering frequency — typically early morning and late evening
• Arrange for someone to check the garden weekly — irrigation failures are common and a timer running without water reaching the plants is useless
• Move any potted plants that can be moved to shadier spots or indoors if possible
• Ask your regular gardener or arrange through BidMyJob for a weekly or fortnightly visit

6. Pest Control Before You Leave

An empty home is an ideal environment for pests. No human activity means cockroaches, ants, and rodents can move in, establish themselves, and multiply undisturbed for months. Returning to an infestation after a summer away is both unpleasant and expensive to treat.

A professional pest control treatment before departure creates a chemical barrier that lasts 2–3 months — timed almost exactly to cover a typical summer absence. Cost for a standard villa is AED 400–700. Do this in the week before you leave, not months before.

Also seal any obvious entry points before you go — gaps around pipes under sinks, poorly fitted door seals, and AC drainage pipe exits are common cockroach entry routes.

7. Security — CCTV, Lights, and Trusted Contacts

An obviously empty property for months at a time is a security consideration. You don't need to be paranoid about Dubai's genuinely low crime rates — but basic precautions are sensible:

• CCTV with remote access — if you have a system with a mobile app, check it's working and you can access the footage remotely before you leave. See our CCTV installation guide if you want to add cameras before travelling.
• Timed lights — a lamp or two on a timer creates the impression of occupancy at low cost
• Smart plugs — AED 50–100 each, control any lamp remotely from your phone
• Trusted neighbour or building management — let someone nearby know you're away and leave a contact number. In villas especially, a neighbour who can flag an issue early prevents it becoming a major problem.
• Leave a key with someone you trust — a property management company, a trusted friend, or your building security — so that emergency access is possible if needed

8. Fridge, Appliances, and Electrics

Before leaving:

• Empty and defrost the fridge, then leave the door slightly ajar to prevent mould and odours — or leave it running at a higher temperature setting if it contains anything
• Unplug non-essential appliances at the wall — TVs, entertainment systems, washing machines, and dishwashers left on standby are a minor fire risk over months and draw unnecessary power
• Leave your router and any smart home hub plugged in if you want remote access to cameras or smart devices
• If you have a water heater on a timer, turn it off at the isolation switch — no point heating water for an empty home

9. Consider a Property Caretaker

For longer absences — two months or more — or for larger properties with pools, gardens, and multiple AC units, a regular property check by a professional caretaker or maintenance company is worth considering. A monthly visit to check the AC is running, the pool is maintained, there are no leaks, and the property is secure costs significantly less than arriving home to a problem that's been building for weeks.

You can post a property caretaking job on BidMyJob.ae and receive quotes from maintenance professionals who cover your area. Describe what you need checked and how often, and compare prices from licensed professionals before you travel.

Your Pre-Departure Checklist

1. AC serviced and set to 28-30°C — do not turn off
2. Water turned off at mains, or all flexible hose connections checked
3. Pool maintenance arranged for the duration of absence
4. Irrigation system checked and timers set for summer frequency
5. Pest control treatment done in the week before departure
6. Fridge emptied and left ajar, or set to economy mode
7. Non-essential appliances unplugged at the wall
8. CCTV remote access confirmed working
9. Timed lights set
10. Trusted contact left with a key and your number
11. Property caretaker arranged if away for more than 4 weeks

A couple of hours of preparation before you leave is the difference between a relaxed summer and a stressful return. Do it properly and your home will be exactly as you left it.

Need Help Before You Travel?

Whether you need an AC service, pest control, pool maintenance, or someone to check your property weekly while you're away, BidMyJob connects you with licensed professionals across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Post your job free and receive competitive quotes — no middleman, no call centres, you choose who to hire.

Post your job free on BidMyJob.ae →