Customs Clearance in UAE
Import entries into UAE are administered by Federal Customs Authority (UAE). Cargo typically sits 2–5 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — UAE
| Customs authority | Federal Customs Authority (UAE) |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | VAT 5%; standard customs duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones) |
| De-minimis | AED 300 |
| Certification | ESMA / ECAS conformity for regulated electronics |
| Typical port dwell | 2–5 days |
| Sea gateways | Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah |
| Air gateways | DXB / DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi), SHJ (Sharjah) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way UAE expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
Consignee trade licence and, in several markets, legalised documents are required before the entry can be lodged.
We do not publish a duty table for UAE because the rate that matters is the one on your heading, not the headline band. Send the commodity and specification and we will come back with the applicable rate and the certification it triggers.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in UAE
Our entries in UAE are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our UAE clearance partner →Freight rates into UAE
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- UAE (Dubai/Sharjah) Import Freight from China — Air Freight Cost — Brand Cargo
- UAE (Dubai/Sharjah) Import Freight from China — Air Freight Cost — Duty Paid
- UAE (Other Zones) Import Freight from China — Air Freight Cost
- China to UAE (Dubai Warehouse) Freight — LCL Shipping Rates, Duty Paid — Battery Cargo
- China to UAE (Dubai Warehouse) Freight — LCL Shipping Rates, Duty Paid — Brand Cargo
- China to UAE (Dubai Warehouse) Freight — LCL Shipping Rates, Duty Paid — General Cargo
- China to UAE (Dubai/Sharjah) Freight — Express Air Cargo, Duty Paid
- China to UAE (Other Zones) Air Freight Rates — Door to Door
Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in UAE?
Import entries are administered by Federal Customs Authority (UAE).
How long does clearance take in UAE?
Cargo typically sits 2–5 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in UAE?
VAT 5%; standard customs duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones) The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in UAE that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in UAE?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.