Freight to the UAE & Dubai from the UK
The UAE is one of our core Middle East markets. We ship air and sea freight to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah daily from Heathrow, with sea freight services to Jebel Ali -- the world's largest man-made port and the Gulf's primary container hub. Whether you are supplying a construction project, stocking a free zone warehouse or transiting goods onward to Saudi, Oman or Africa, we handle the routing, customs and documentation.
Air Transit
1-2 days
Heathrow to Dubai
Sea Transit
18-22 days
UK to Jebel Ali
Flights
Daily
Multiple carriers from LHR
Free Zones
15+
JAFZA, DAFZA, SAIF & more
Our Services
How We Ship to the UAE
Air Freight
Multiple daily flights from Heathrow to Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC). Emirates SkyCargo, British Airways, Etihad and other carriers give us excellent capacity and schedule options. Air freight to Abu Dhabi via Etihad is equally well served.
- 1-2 day transit Heathrow to Dubai
- Same-day collection, next-day delivery
- Temperature-controlled options
- DXB and DWC airport delivery
Sea Freight
FCL and LCL services from Felixstowe and Southampton to Jebel Ali, the world's largest man-made port handling over 14 million TEUs annually. Direct sailings take 18-22 days. We also ship to Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi) and Port Rashid for specific cargo requirements.
- 18-22 day direct transit to Jebel Ali
- Weekly FCL and LCL departures
- Free zone delivery (JAFZA, DAFZA)
- Reefer containers for perishables
GCC Transit & Re-export
Dubai is the gateway to the Gulf. We route cargo through Jebel Ali for onward delivery to Saudi Arabia (by road via Al Ghuwaifat), Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. For businesses using Dubai as a distribution hub, we manage free zone warehousing, re-export documentation and multi-country delivery.
- Road freight to Saudi, Oman, Qatar
- Free zone storage and distribution
- Re-export documentation handled
- Multi-country GCC delivery
Compliance
Customs & Free Zone Expertise
The UAE operates a straightforward customs regime with a standard 5% import duty. But the real complexity lies in the free zone system. Over 40 free zones across the UAE offer duty suspension, 100% foreign ownership and simplified import procedures -- but each has its own rules, entry requirements and documentation.
We deliver to JAFZA, DAFZA, SAIF Zone, KIZAD, DMCC, Dubai Silicon Oasis and others regularly. We know which zones require prior gate passes, which accept direct delivery and which need broker coordination. For mainland imports, we handle Dubai Customs declarations through our licensed agents.
Certain goods require additional approvals: food products need Dubai Municipality clearance, pharmaceuticals need Ministry of Health registration, and electronics need ECAS (Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme) certification. We manage these processes to keep your cargo moving.
Key Documentation
Commercial Invoice
Detailed product descriptions, HS codes, values
Certificate of Origin
Required for preferential duty rates under GCC agreements
Packing List
Weights, dimensions, piece count per package
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Transport document for customs release
Import Code (Importer)
Your UAE consignee must hold a valid Dubai Customs import code
ECAS Certificate
For electronics, low-voltage equipment, toys
Halal Certificate
Required for all food and beverage imports
Free Zone Entry Permit
Zone-specific documentation for duty-suspended deliveries
What We Ship
Common Cargo Types to the UAE
Construction & Building Materials
Steel, cladding, MEP equipment, tiles and fit-out materials for Dubai and Abu Dhabi construction projects. Project cargo for mega-developments handled end-to-end.
Oil & Gas Equipment
Drill bits, valves, pumps, pipeline fittings and production equipment for Abu Dhabi's energy sector. Hazardous goods certification and project logistics.
Electronics & Technology
Servers, networking equipment, consumer electronics and IT hardware. Dubai is a major re-export hub -- we handle transit shipments onward to Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
Medical devices, hospital equipment, pharmaceuticals and laboratory supplies. Temperature-controlled air freight for sensitive products. Dubai Healthcare City delivery.
Automotive & Spare Parts
Vehicles, auto parts and accessories. Dubai's position as a re-export hub means many shipments transit through Jebel Ali to markets across the GCC, Africa and South Asia.
Exhibition & Event Cargo
Display stands, samples, promotional materials and equipment for Dubai trade shows including GITEX, Arabian Travel Market and Big 5. Temporary import (ATA Carnet) support.
FAQ
UAE Freight FAQs
How long does shipping to Dubai from the UK take?
Air freight from Heathrow to Dubai International (DXB) or Al Maktoum (DWC) takes 1-2 days. Multiple daily flights give you good schedule flexibility. Sea freight from UK ports to Jebel Ali takes 18-22 days for direct sailings. Customs clearance at Jebel Ali is typically fast -- 1-2 days with correct documentation. Free zone deliveries can clear even faster.
What are the customs requirements for shipping to the UAE?
You need a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading or air waybill. The UAE charges 5% customs duty on most goods (some categories are exempt). Your UAE-based consignee needs an import code from Dubai Customs. For free zone deliveries, goods can enter duty-suspended. We handle all UK export documentation and coordinate with your broker in Dubai or use our own agents.
Can you deliver to free zones like JAFZA and DAFZA?
Yes. We deliver regularly to Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA), SAIF Zone in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone, Abu Dhabi's KIZAD and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). Free zones offer duty suspension, so goods can be stored, processed or re-exported without paying UAE import duty. We manage the free zone entry documentation.
Do you handle re-exports from Dubai to other countries?
Yes. Dubai is one of the world's largest re-export hubs. We ship goods from the UK to Jebel Ali, where they are stored or processed before onward distribution to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, East Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. Our Dubai agents manage the re-export documentation and onward logistics.
How do you handle temperature-sensitive freight to Dubai?
We use temperature-controlled containers for sea freight and pharma-grade packaging for air cargo. Summer temperatures in Dubai regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius, so temperature management is critical for pharmaceuticals, food products, cosmetics and certain chemicals. We monitor conditions throughout the supply chain and provide temperature logs on request.
Ready to ship to the UAE?
Get a quote for air or sea freight to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or anywhere in the Emirates. We typically respond within two hours.