Skip to content
            Get a Quote
Middle East ✈️ Air Freight

China to UAE Air Freight Cost

Current published rates, transit times and the weight brackets where the price changes.

USD 75.6/KG Best Rate Now
5 Channels Available
2026-08-14 Last Updated

Air Freight from China to UAE starts at USD 75.6 per kilogram, with door-to-door transit of 5–10 business days. A 100 kg shipment comes to roughly USD 7,556 including duty, clearance by Federal Customs Authority (UAE), and final delivery.

Rate from
USD 75.6/kg
Transit time
5–10 business days
Gateway
DXB / DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi), SHJ (Sharjah)
Customs authority
Federal Customs Authority (UAE)

Rates last updated 2026-08-14. Figures are published channel prices for planning; the final quote depends on chargeable weight, cargo class and HS code.

Current Rates — China to UAE

🟢 Updated 2026-08-14
Service Mode Rate (USD/KG) Details
Best Value HK General Cargo Duty Paid ✈️ Air Freight USD 75.6 View Details →
HK General Cargo Duty Paid ✈️ Air Freight USD 75.8 View Details →
HK Brand Cargo Duty Paid ✈️ Air Freight USD 76.0 View Details →
HK Brand Cargo Duty Paid ✈️ Air Freight USD 76.3 View Details →
HK Battery Cargo Duty Paid ✈️ Air Freight USD 76.8 View Details →
chinaoceanfreight.com

Track your shipment

Enter your tracking number below

Powered by 17TRACK — supports 2,000+ carriers worldwide

Full Weight-Tier Rate Cards

Detailed per-weight pricing for every active route from China to UAE. Each tier reflects the published rate at that exact weight — useful for accurate budgeting at common shipment sizes.

HK General Cargo Duty Paid

✈️ Air Freight → Dubai/Sharjah
⭐ Best Value at requested weight
📅 Updated 2026-08-14 📊 4 weight tiers 💱 USD pricing
Bracket Rate (USD/KG)
16-99 USD 34.17
100-299 USD 75.56
300-499 USD 117.22
500+ USD 117.08
View full route details →

HK General Cargo Duty Paid

✈️ Air Freight → Other Zones
📅 Updated 2026-08-14 📊 4 weight tiers 💱 USD pricing
Bracket Rate (USD/KG)
16-99 USD 34.45
100-299 USD 75.83
300-499 USD 117.50
500+ USD 117.36
View full route details →

HK Brand Cargo Duty Paid

✈️ Air Freight → Dubai/Sharjah
📅 Updated 2026-08-14 📊 4 weight tiers 💱 USD pricing
Bracket Rate (USD/KG)
16-99 USD 34.58
100-299 USD 75.97
300-499 USD 117.64
500+ USD 117.50
View full route details →

HK Brand Cargo Duty Paid

✈️ Air Freight → Other Zones
📅 Updated 2026-08-14 📊 4 weight tiers 💱 USD pricing
Bracket Rate (USD/KG)
16-99 USD 34.86
100-299 USD 76.25
300-499 USD 117.92
500+ USD 117.78
View full route details →

HK Battery Cargo Duty Paid

✈️ Air Freight → Dubai/Sharjah
📅 Updated 2026-08-14 📊 4 weight tiers 💱 USD pricing
Bracket Rate (USD/KG)
16-99 USD 35.42
100-299 USD 76.81
300-499 USD 118.47
500+ USD 118.33
View full route details →
🔄 Calculate for a different weight:

Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What

The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to UAE is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.

  • Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
  • Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
  • Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
Responsibility for each shipment stage under each Incoterms rule
Term 1 Loading on truck 2 Export customs declaration 3 Carriage to port of export 4 Unloading at port of export 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft 6 Main carriage 7 Cargo insurance 8 Unloading at port of import 9 Loading on truck at import 10 Carriage to destination 11 Import customs clearance 12 Import duties & taxes
EXW Ex Works Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FCA Free Carrier Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FAS Free Alongside Ship Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
FOB Free On Board Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Buyer Buyer — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CFR Cost and Freight Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Seller Seller — Cargo insurance Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CPT Carriage Paid To Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Seller Seller — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DAP Delivered At Place Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes
DDP Delivered Duty Paid Seller Seller — Loading on truck Seller Seller — Export customs declaration Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft Seller Seller — Main carriage Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import Seller Seller — Carriage to destination Seller Seller — Import customs clearance Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes

EXW Ex Works

Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.

FCA Free Carrier

Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.

FAS Free Alongside Ship

Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.

FOB Free On Board

Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.

CFR Cost and Freight

Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.

CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight

As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).

CPT Carriage Paid To

Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.

CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid

As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.

DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)

Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.

DAP Delivered At Place

Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.

DDP Delivered Duty Paid

Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.

Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.

Price Trend — UAE Air Freight

Historical freight rates from China to UAE. Data sourced from live carrier price feeds.

China to UAE — Shipping Reference Data

Verified shipping reference data for the China → UAE lane:

Main air gateways DXB / DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi), SHJ (Sharjah)
Destination customs authority Federal Customs Authority (UAE)
De-minimis / duty-free threshold AED 300
Import tax & duty regime VAT 5%; standard customs duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones)
Local currency AED
Typical port/airport dwell time 2–5 days
Peak / busy season Sep–Nov
Conformity & certification ESMA / ECAS conformity for regulated electronics

Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.

Mid-Volume Commercial

Commercial Freight — Mid Volume

At 100 KG, you're in the commercial freight category — large enough for competitive rates but still within the range where air freight often beats sea freight on cost per delivery cycle. This weight is common for electronics, clothing, and general merchandise restocking shipments going to UAE.

  • Air freight channels offer volume discounts from 100 KG
  • Sea freight LCL (shared container) becomes viable above 150 KG
  • Most channels require volumetric weight check (L×W×H÷6000)
  • Rail freight viable for European destinations at this weight

🧰 Free 3D Loading Tools for Air Freight

This page covers Air Freight from China to UAE. Plan your cargo with the matching tool before requesting a quote.

📦

3D Carton Packing Calculator

Optimize cartons before tendering cargo to UAE: build the packing plan in 3D and download it for your supplier or forwarder.

Open Packing Tool →

Which Shipping Method is Best?

🚂

Rail Freight

Transit: 18–28 calendar days
Best at: Europe destinations over 50 KG
Europe only

Transit Times — China to UAE

MethodTransit TimeNotes
Air Freight DDP5–10 business daysFrom China warehouse to UAE door
Sea Freight LCL30–50 calendar daysShared container to UAE port + delivery
Express Courier3–7 business daysDHL/FedEx/UPS door-to-door, high cost for this weight

What Affects the Shipping Cost to UAE?

  • Actual vs. volumetric weight — carriers charge whichever is higher (L×W×H÷6000 for air)
  • Cargo type surcharge — batteries, liquids, and branded goods carry additional fees
  • Peak season surcharges — Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (Oct) add 15–30%
  • Destination area — UAE may have remote area surcharges for certain postal codes
  • Declared value — customs duties are calculated on CIF value

Customs & Documentation for UAE

  • De minimis threshold — shipments below local tax threshold may clear duty-free
  • Required documents: commercial invoice, packing list, and accurate HS codes
  • DDP service includes all import duties — you pay one total price with no surprises
  • Battery and liquid goods require additional certification documents

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship from China to UAE?

Current rates for shipping from China to UAE start at USD 75.56/KG via HK General Cargo Duty Paid. For 100 KG, the estimated total is approximately USD 76, duty included. Final landed cost depends on the VAT 5%; standard customs duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones) applied by Federal Customs Authority (UAE).

What duties and taxes apply when importing into UAE?

Imports into UAE are assessed by Federal Customs Authority (UAE). The applicable regime is: VAT 5%; standard customs duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones). The duty-free / de-minimis position is AED 300. Under our DDP service these charges are pre-paid and included in the per-KG price, so there is nothing to settle on arrival.

Which ports and airports handle China shipments to UAE?

Sea freight to UAE typically routes through Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah, while air freight clears via DXB / DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi), SHJ (Sharjah). We pick the gateway with the best onward delivery time to your final address and price it into the DDP rate.

How long does shipping from China to UAE take?

Door-to-door transit to UAE: air freight 5–10 business days, sea LCL 30–50 days, sea FCL 28–45 days. On arrival, allow roughly 2–5 days of clearance/dwell at the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP.

What is the transit time for Air Freight from China to UAE?

Air Freight from China to UAE runs 5–10 business days, covering supplier pickup, consolidation, transit, clearance by Federal Customs Authority (UAE), and last-mile delivery. Best suited to: time-sensitive goods, high-value items, small shipments.

What certifications are required to import into UAE?

For regulated goods entering UAE, plan for: ESMA / ECAS conformity for regulated electronics. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common cause of clearance holds with Federal Customs Authority (UAE), so confirm requirements for your HS code before the cargo leaves China.

What is DDP shipping to UAE and what does it include?

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to UAE means one all-inclusive price covering freight, the duty/tax due to Federal Customs Authority (UAE), and last-mile delivery to your door. The AED 300 de-minimis position is handled for you, and there are no surprise charges at destination.

Can I track my shipment from China to UAE?

Yes. Air shipments to UAE get an air waybill (AWB) trackable within 24 hours of departure; sea shipments are tracked by bill-of-lading through the carrier portal. We push status at key milestones: departure, arrival at the gateway, clearance by Federal Customs Authority (UAE), and final delivery.

Shipping to UAE by industry

Rates above are lane rates and apply to general cargo. Packing specification, HS classification and the clearance step that matters are all commodity-specific — these guides cover them industry by industry.

All 139 industry guides →

Customs clearance in Uae

Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.

Uae clearance requirements →