The math usually comes down to three numbers: the item's replacement cost, the monthly storage fee, and how long you realistically expect to be away. If storage costs more than replacing the item within your expected time abroad, selling is usually the better call.
Furniture is the category where this trade-off matters most. A dining set or sofa that would cost several months of storage fees to keep for a year or two is often cheaper to sell now and replace on return, especially with UAE's active second-hand furniture market.
Sentimental and hard-to-replace items are the clear exceptions. Family pieces, art, and anything with real replacement difficulty are worth storing regardless of the pure cost comparison.
Documents, electronics, and seasonal items are usually worth storing rather than shipping internationally or selling, since they're compact, don't take up much storage volume, and are often expensive or slow to replace abroad.
If you're unsure, a mixed approach works well: ship what you need immediately, store what's sentimental or bulky-but-valuable, and sell the rest. A quick inventory walk-through during your moving survey can help sort items into these three categories before quote day.