Shipping from China to UAE

Air reaches Dubai or Abu Dhabi in 3–7 days, billed on chargeable weight. See air freight from China for rates by weight break.

A 65 CBM 40HQ from Shenzhen to Jebel Ali, 25 days door to door:

Rates exclude origin and destination terminal handling and customs clearance; Jebel Ali THC and delivery order fees are billed locally. Above about 15 CBM, a full 20ft is often cheaper than LCL.

Timeline: origin booking and gate-in 3–5 days, ocean 18–22 days on most direct sailings, and UAE clearance and delivery 3–6 days. An Amazon FBA restock to a UAE fulfilment centre plans on 25–35 days door to door.

Pro tip: Chinese New Year and Golden Week surcharges add about US$300–500 per container, so book restock containers before those holidays. For FCL vs LCL, see sea freight from China.

Express reaches the UAE in 2–4 days. Commercial parcels still need a proper invoice, and an invoice of AED 10,000 or more must be attested like a sea shipment.

DDP includes freight, duty, VAT and destination handling in one price, with the agreed importer's details on the declaration. It suits DTC brands and FBA stock; see Amazon FBA shipping from China.

Tell the forwarder the consignee's zone before booking, because the declaration type is set at arrival.

1. Inbound Consolidation in China: cargo is received, counted and checked before loading; 3–5 days with booking and gate-in. 2. Document Pre-Audit: invoice and packing list are checked for description, value, currency, Incoterm and HS code. 3. Export Clearance and Gate-In: the container clears China export and gates in at Yantian or Ningbo before cut-off. 4. Ocean Transit and Pre-Clearance: the UAE declaration is prepared during the 18–22 day sailing. 5. Terminal Release, Duty and VAT: terminal and delivery order fees are paid, duty and VAT settled, and the container released. 6. Final-Mile Delivery and Attestation: cargo is delivered in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, and invoices of AED 10,000 or more are attested within 14 days.

1. Importer registration: valid trade licence and customs client code with the emirate's customs authority.
2. Commercial invoice and attestation: invoices of AED 10,000 or more attested by MoFA within 14 days; AED 500 fine per unattested invoice.
3. Certificate of origin: required for some categories and importer setups.
4. Bill of Lading: telex release or original bills, which must reach the consignee before the delivery order is issued.
5. Duty and VAT: most goods 5% duty on CIF plus 5% VAT.
6. Lithium batteries: DG classification, SDS and UN38.3 documents before the carrier accepts the booking.

Vague product descriptions are one of the most common reasons UAE customs orders a physical inspection.

Sea to Jebel Ali for most stock, air for urgent cargo, express for small parcels, DDP until your client code is ready, and a free zone when the goods will move on to other Gulf markets, as covered on our Middle East page.