Current Freight Rates
| Weight / Volume | Rate (USD / KG) |
|---|---|
| 16-99 | USD 35.23 |
| 100-299 | USD 76.60 |
| 300-499 | USD 118.27 |
| 500+ | USD 118.12 |
How these prices are calculated — chargeable weight
Freight is not billed on the number on your bathroom scale. It is billed on chargeable weight: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight is L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6000. Denser cargo pays on its weight; light bulky cargo pays on the space it occupies. Whichever is higher is the one you pay — never the lower.
- One cubic metre = 167 kg. That is 1,000,000 cm³ ÷ 6000, the same divisor used for the volumetric check, so both sides of this page agree with each other.
- Freight only. These are published freight rates. Duty, tax and customs charges at destination are not a fixed number we can print: they follow your product's HS code, its declared value and the exchange rate applied on the day of entry, so they are confirmed against your actual goods and quoted separately.
- Indicative only — the real price can be higher or lower. Nothing on this page is a quotation or a commitment. What you finally pay depends on what the product is, how it is packed, the chargeable weight, the declared value, the destination duty position and the exchange rate at the time. Send the product details, weight and dimensions and we will price your specific shipment.
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and seven more — see which costs sit with us and which sit with you
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.
| 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.
Service Details
China → UAE HK Brand Cargo Duty Paid
Air freight rates from China to UAE. We publish the actual tier structure rather than a single headline number, because the price per kilo on this lane changes materially with consignment size and the tier you land in decides your landed cost more than the headline rate does.
Cargo on this service moves through DXB/DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi) and SHJ. Clearance happens at the arrival airport, so an inland consignee adds a trucking leg on top of the transit time quoted here. Expect 2–5 days of dwell at destination before release.
This rate is freight only. Import charges for UAE are assessed separately on arrival — VAT 5%; duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones) — and whoever is named as importer of record is liable for them. If you would rather have one all-in number, ask us for the duty-paid version of this lane.
Space on this lane tightens through Sep–Nov, which is peak season for UAE. Rates published outside that window are not a reliable guide to what you will pay inside it, so if your order lands in peak, book earlier rather than budgeting from an off-peak figure.
Current Rate Card
- 16-99 — USD 51.74 per KG
- 100-299 — USD 49.72 per KG
- 300-499 — USD 49.72 per KG
- 500+ — USD 48.71 per KG
Last refreshed 2026-08-06.
The per-kilogram rate above applies to chargeable weight, not to what the scale says. At 166.7 kg per cubic metre, a carton of light goods can be billed at several times its actual weight, so send dimensions with the weight when you ask for a quote into UAE — a rate quoted without them is only ever provisional.
In practice the cargo we move on this lane clusters into a few recognisable shapes — compressors (HS 84), where clearance turns on cE marking to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC with a signed declaration of conformity, ceramic tableware (HS 69 / 70) and metal fabrication (HS 73 / 82 / 83). Each behaves differently against the rate: one fills the payload before it fills the space, the next does the reverse, and the packing brief we send back with the quote is written to the one you are actually shipping.
To see this tariff against a real consignment rather than a rate card, the 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG pages run it at a fixed weight and show the landed total, including the point where stepping up a bracket lowers your cost per kilo. They are the fastest way to check whether consolidating two orders into one is worth the wait.
Air consignments for UAE arrive through DXB/DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi) and SHJ. The airport of arrival is the one the allocation is booked against and it decides where clearance happens, which matters more than it sounds: cargo landing at one gateway is not simply trucked to another without a fresh customs movement, so confirm the arrival point before you commit.
Rate cards are hard to read against a real order, so we also publish worked examples at fixed weights: 10 KG, 21 KG, 50 KG and 100 KG, each showing what that shipment actually costs door to door on this lane. If you are still choosing between transport modes the China to UAE Air Freight Cost comparison is the better starting point, and shipping from China to UAE covers the whole journey rather than just the freight.
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Additional Information
Scope, Exclusions and What to Check Before Booking
Chargeable weight on this service is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, with volumetric calculated as length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6000. For anything light and bulky the volumetric figure is the one that bills, which is why carton dimensions are worth optimizing before you book rather than after the cargo is weighed at the airport.
- General commercial cargo. Battery, magnetic, liquid and powder content must be declared at booking, not on arrival
- Chargeable weight is the greater of actual and volumetric weight (divisor 6000)
- Fuel and security surcharges, remote-area delivery and oversize handling are quoted on top where they apply
- Routing on this lane is via DXB/DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi) and SHJ — inland delivery beyond that point is quoted against the delivery address
- Clearance at destination is handled by Federal Customs Authority (UAE)
- UAE de-minimis: AED 300 — commercial consignments sit above it and are dutiable in full
- Destination conformity: ESMA/ECAS conformity for electronics
On the duty side, the applicable regime is: VAT 5%; duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones). Those are planning references rather than a ruling: the rate that binds is the one assessed against your declared HS code at the moment of entry, and classification is where most landed-cost surprises actually originate. Duty and tax are settled in AED at destination.
Before you book, confirm two things with your consignee: that they are registered to import into UAE, and that whoever is named as importer of record accepts the duty liability. Those are dull questions and they are also the two that most often surface only after the cargo has already sailed.
Where these numbers come from
We publish these figures so you can budget, but the assessment that binds is the one Dubai Customs makes on your declaration. Where a shipment is large enough that a percentage point matters, check their current tariff guidance rather than ours.
Classification drives everything downstream: the same carton can attract very different duty depending on the heading it lands in, and the structure those headings come from is the World Customs Organization Harmonized System. If your product sits near a boundary between two headings, resolve it before shipping rather than at the border.
On the air side, anything with a cell or a battery in it, plus liquids, powders, magnets and aerosols, is governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Those articles are not refused outright, but they need to be declared at booking so the shipment is built correctly — declaring them late is the single most common cause of an air consignment being offloaded.
If this is your first shipment into UAE, the UAE Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
China to UAE — Shipping Reference Data
| Main air gateways | DXB/DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi), SHJ |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | Federal Customs Authority (UAE) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | AED 300 |
| Import tax & duty regime | VAT 5%; duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones) |
| Local currency | AED |
| Typical clearance / dwell time | 2–5 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | ESMA/ECAS conformity for electronics |
Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
Free 3D Loading Tools for This Air Route
This page covers a Air freight service from China to UAE. Use the matching tool below to plan your cargo before requesting a quote.
3D Carton Packing Calculator
Air freight to UAE is billed on chargeable weight, so tight carton packing directly lowers your cost per shipment. Enter your product size and see the optimal carton layout in 3D before you book.
Open Packing Tool →UAE Air Freight Checklist
- Compare volumetric weight (L×W×H÷6000) with actual weight — the higher one is billed.
- Confirm whether the UAE rate includes fuel and security surcharges or lists them separately.
- Book 2-3 days before your target ETD; same-day air bookings usually carry premium rates.
- Keep single cartons under 30 KG for air handling to UAE to avoid overweight surcharges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does HK Brand Cargo Duty Paid from China to UAE take?
Air freight on this route runs about 5–10 business days door-to-door, plus roughly 2–5 days of clearance/dwell once it reaches the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP terms.
What duties and taxes apply when importing into UAE?
Clearance is handled by Federal Customs Authority (UAE). The regime is: VAT 5%; duty 5% CIF (0% in free zones), with a de-minimis position of AED 300. Under DDP these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival.
How is the shipping cost on this route calculated?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000, so one cubic metre counts as about 166.7 kg) and charge whichever is greater, rounded up to the next kilogram, then apply the per-KG rate shown in the table above. A 300 kg consignment measuring out to only 200 kg volumetric is still charged on the 300 kg.
In what currency is this route priced and paid?
Freight is quoted and invoiced in USD; the destination-side currency is AED. Payment is typically due before departure, and DDP means you settle the full landed cost once.
Can you ship special cargo (batteries, branded goods) to UAE?
Yes — battery cargo by air follows IATA PI966/PI967; we run certified battery channels via DXB/DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi), SHJ. Brand-goods and DG paperwork are handled within the DDP service. Surcharges apply.
Which ports or airports does this route use into UAE?
Sea cargo to UAE clears through Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah; air freight clears via DXB/DWC (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi), SHJ. We route through whichever gateway gives the fastest onward delivery to your address and build it into the DDP price.
Historical Price Records
All price updates are recorded here. Use the weekly tabs to browse older entries.
| Date | 16-99 | 100-299 | 300-499 | 500+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-30Latest | USD 35.23 | USD 76.60 | USD 118.27 | USD 118.12 |
| 2026-09-30 | USD 35.23 | USD 76.61 | USD 118.27 | USD 118.13 |
| 2026-09-17 | USD 35.23 | USD 76.60 | USD 118.27 | USD 118.12 |
| 2026-09-15 | USD 35.21 | USD 76.59 | USD 118.25 | USD 118.11 |
| 2026-09-07 | USD 34.93 | USD 76.31 | USD 117.98 | USD 117.84 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 34.93 | USD 76.31 | USD 117.98 | USD 117.84 |
| 2026-08-17 | USD 34.97 | USD 76.35 | USD 118.02 | USD 117.88 |
| 2026-08-06 | USD 34.96 | USD 76.35 | USD 118.02 | USD 117.88 |
| 2026-08-03 | USD 34.97 | USD 76.36 | USD 118.02 | USD 117.88 |
| 2026-07-30 | USD 34.96 | USD 76.35 | USD 118.02 | USD 117.88 |
| 2026-07-20 | USD 34.99 | USD 76.38 | USD 118.04 | USD 117.90 |
| 2026-07-17 | USD 34.92 | USD 76.31 | USD 117.98 | USD 117.84 |
| 2026-07-14 | USD 34.91 | USD 76.29 | USD 117.96 | USD 117.82 |
| 2026-07-07 | USD 34.88 | USD 76.27 | USD 117.94 | USD 117.80 |
| 2026-07-03 | USD 34.90 | USD 76.28 | USD 117.95 | USD 117.81 |
| 2026-07-02 | USD 34.88 | USD 76.27 | USD 117.94 | USD 117.80 |
| 2026-06-30 | USD 34.89 | USD 76.28 | USD 117.94 | USD 117.80 |
| 2026-06-23 | USD 34.88 | USD 76.27 | USD 117.94 | USD 117.80 |
| 2026-06-15 | USD 34.91 | USD 76.30 | USD 117.97 | USD 117.83 |
| 2026-06-08 | USD 34.91 | USD 76.30 | USD 117.96 | USD 117.82 |
| 2026-05-14 | USD 34.87 | USD 76.25 | USD 117.92 | USD 117.78 |
| 2025-12-29 | USD 34.86 | USD 76.25 | USD 117.92 | USD 117.78 |
Price Trend
Shipping UAE cargo by industry
This rate is for the lane. What decides whether the cargo arrives intact is the commodity — how it prices, how it must be packed and loaded, and which compliance step holds it at the border. These guides cover that per industry.
- Home Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Garden Products Furniture & Home Products
- Illuminated Signs Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Metal Products Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Storage Tanks Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Transformers New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Sanitary Ware Building Materials & Construction Products
- Cartons Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Flexible Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Home Decor Furniture & Home Products
- Technical Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Outdoor Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure