Between licence applications, fit-out contractors, and moving logistics, the physical security of a new office or shop can end up handled reactively rather than planned. This checklist brings the main considerations together in one place, specifically for the door, lock, and access side of a move.
Before You Take Possession
- Ask how many keys exist for the main entrance and request that all of them are handed over.
- Ask whether the unit is tied into a building-wide access card or fob system, and who administers it.
- Ask whether any contractors, cleaners, or security patrols currently hold a key or credential.
- Ask whether an alarm code exists and whether it will be reset before you move in.
Our article on what to ask your landlord or previous tenant covers this handover conversation in more detail.
The Main Entrance
- Check whether the front door lock needs replacing or rekeying, particularly if the unit has had previous tenants or if there is any uncertainty about outstanding keys.
- If the unit has a glass shopfront door, confirm the lock type and check it opens and closes smoothly. Our glass door lockout service covers this hardware specifically.
- If the unit has a roller shutter, check the shutter lock separately from the main door. Our roller shutter lockout service covers this mechanism.
Other Doors and Access Points
- Check any rear or side entrance, not just the main door, since these are easy to overlook during a handover.
- Check locks on internal doors such as a stockroom, server or utility room, or a manager's office, if these need to be restricted separately from general staff access.
Alarm and Monitoring Systems
- Confirm whether an alarm system is fitted, whether the code has been reset, and who is responsible for monitoring it going forward.
- If the unit has CCTV or a monitoring service tied to the previous tenant's account, confirm whether this transfers to you or needs to be arranged separately.
Staff Access
- Decide how staff will access the premises: shared keys, individual keys, access cards, or a tiered master key system. Our article on setting up staff access covers this decision.
- Plan this before opening, so new staff are onboarded into an already-established system rather than an improvised one.
- Decide how contractor and cleaner access outside business hours will work, if applicable.
Valuables and Cash Handling
- If your business will keep cash, documents, or valuables on site, consider whether a safe is needed. Our safe box opening service page is relevant if you already have, or are installing, a safe.
Keyless and Card-Based Options
- If you would prefer not to rely on traditional keys at all, our smart lock installation page covers keyless entry for a main door, and our access card lockout service page covers card and fob-based systems already in place.
A Note on Priorities
Not every item on this list carries equal weight for every business. A small office with two staff and no public footfall has a very different risk picture from a busy retail unit handling cash and daily customer traffic. Use this checklist as a prompt to think through each area deliberately, rather than a rigid list every business needs to complete in full before opening.
Documentation to Keep
- A brief written record of what was handed over at move-in: number of keys, any access cards issued, and confirmation that alarm codes were reset.
- Your trade licence and signed tenancy contract, since these may be needed to confirm your authorisation to arrange lock changes or access work on the unit.
Shared Building Facilities
- If your unit sits within a larger building, check separately whether a loading bay, shared storage, or communal parking has its own access system distinct from your unit's own lock.
Ongoing Habits Worth Building In
- Agree internally on a simple process for what happens to a key or access credential when a staff member leaves the business.
- Keep a basic, up to date record of how many keys or credentials are currently in circulation and who holds them.
- Revisit your access setup periodically as the business grows, rather than assuming the original plan will always be the right fit.
Timing
Where possible, arrange any lock changes or access setup before staff, contractors, or the public begin regularly using the space, rather than retrofitting it afterward. This avoids the disruption of redistributing new keys or credentials once everyone has already settled into a routine.
A Short Walkthrough Before Opening
In the final days before opening, it is worth doing a short physical walkthrough of every door, lock, and access point on this checklist rather than relying on memory of what was discussed during handover. Test that each door opens and closes properly, confirm any access cards issued actually work at every relevant point, and check that anyone who is meant to have access on day one, and no one else, currently does.
Keeping This Under Review
A security setup made at move-in is a starting point, not a one-time task. As your business grows, adds staff, or takes on new areas such as additional storage, it is worth revisiting this checklist rather than assuming the original arrangement still fits. The same applies if a staff member with access leaves the business, since that is a natural point to confirm their key or credential has been accounted for.
Getting Started
Our new business lock change service page covers how a lock change and access setup is typically arranged. To discuss your specific premises, call +971 55 222 1098, message us on WhatsApp, email dubailocksmith4u@gmail.com, or use our online booking.
