How to Prepare Your Home (and Your Mind) Before Leaving Dubai This Summer

It’s that time of year again.

The suitcases are out, your fridge is suspiciously empty, and your to-do list is somehow longer than ever. But before the airport dash and the “did-we-pack-the-charger” panic, there’s a quieter part of the prep: making sure your home and your head are ready to hit pause.

Whether you're off to visit family, escape the heat, or finally take that long-awaited holiday, summer travel as an expat in Dubai comes with its own unique set of tasks. Especially if you’ve got kids in tow.

So let’s walk through it — calmly, one thing at a time.

1. Home Prep Checklist: Before You Lock the Door

Dubai heat + weeks away = not the best combo for your apartment. Here’s a simple checklist to make your return a little less overwhelming.

General Home Prep:

• Unplug appliances
• Empty the fridge and pantry, check expiry dates and toss anything risky.
• Use dust sheets to protect furniture from sand and heat exposure.
• Take out the trash (yes, all of them specially the bathroom bin).
• Leave keys with a trusted friend or notify building security.
• Set your AC to a moderate temperature (around 24–26°C) to prevent humidity build-up that can lead to mold or damage.
• Activate DEWA’s Away Mode so you can monitor electricity and water use remotely and receive regular updates while you're gone. Click here to set it up.

Turning off your AC completely might feel like a smart energy-saving move, but in Dubai’s heat, it can cause more harm than good. Away Mode gives you peace of mind and protects your home while you’re away.

If You Have Kids:

• Tidy the toys it makes a difference when you walk in after a long flight.
• Put away messy art supplies or batteries that could leak in the heat.
• Leave a few books or quiet activities near their bed for when they return.
• Label or sort clothes if you know they’ll outgrow things while you’re away.

And if they’re young enough maybe leave a small note or drawing for “welcome back” comfort when the holiday ends.

2. Preparing Your Mind: The Emotional Prep Matters, Too

No one talks about how emotional the lead-up to leaving can be. Especially when you’re doing it all, the packing, the logistics, the managing-everyone’s-feelings part.

Maybe you're excited, maybe you're overwhelmed, maybe you're guilty that you're more relieved than anything.

If you’re traveling with kids, there’s the added layer of making it magical and manageable.

If you're traveling alone, it might feel quiet in a way that’s both freeing and unfamiliar.

Wherever you land emotionally, it’s valid. You’re doing the best you can, and that’s more than enough.

3. One Small Tip: Prep for Your Future Self

Think about how you want to feel when you walk through the door again.

• Fresh sheets on the bed
• A frozen meal in the freezer
• Clean towels in the bathroom
• A tiny welcome-home treat for the kids (or for yourself)

Small things. Big difference.

4. Still Packing? Take a Breather With Us

If you need a moment to breathe, chat, or laugh about the summer chaos our CWAE community is always here.

Our 60-Day Summer Step Challenge is still open for registration, and it’s the perfect way to stay connected (and moving!) no matter where you are in the world.

Whether you’re walking through a European town, chasing toddlers at your in-laws’, or just sneaking in a few laps at the airport — every step counts.

📲 Join the Step Challenge here

👯‍♀️ Community access, motivation, and prizes included.

Do What You Can, Then Let Go

Prepping your home before a summer away doesn’t have to mean ticking every box. It just means doing what you can, so you can step away feeling a little lighter.

And if you’re leaving with a full heart, or a heavy one, or a little of both — you’re not alone.

We hope this guide gives you a moment of calm in the chaos.

And when you return? We’ll be right here.