The UAE’s location between the Far East and Europe makes it a global business hub. It has the world’s largest airport, and Dubai has become a fulcrum for several economic regions. The UAE imports a lot of goods from China. This guide is dedicated to the basics before shipping from China to the UAE.
Uae imports from China totaled $67.22 billion in 2023.With the end of Covid-19 everything has returned to normal and will bring more and more import and export trade. This article will help you understand a lot about shipping from China to the UAE.
What are the methods available for shipping from China to UAE?
There are three main shipping options from China to the UAE. The option you choose mainly depends on the quantity of goods you are shipping and the urgency of the delivery. Here are the main options available:
Ocean freight
Sea freight remains the most popular mode of transportation worldwide. Both China and the UAE have state-of-the-art modern ports, and maritime transport between the two countries is smooth and convenient. In addition, the transport distance between the two countries is also relatively short. For example, the distance between China’s port of Shanghai and the port of ABU Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is about 12.5 kilometers.
The China-UAE sea route
Sea freight is a very cheap way to transport goods and can carry heavy goods that cannot be transported by other means. However, it is also the slowest mode of transportation, so it should only be used if you are not transporting time-sensitive or heavy goods.
While sea freight is mostly used for shipping heavy goods in containers, it is also possible to send more small shipments this way. This is because there are two different types of sea freight:
LCL (Less than container load) shipping
This is a method of shipping by sea in which multiple importers’ goods are shipped in a single container, with each importer only paying for the cost of their goods. This is an affordable option for small shipments that do not require a full container, as you do not have to pay for the entire container when your shipment is not full. LCL rates are prone to change, and you may experience delays at the port due to LCL and the unpacking of other importers’ goods. If you are shipping a smaller shipment from China to the UAE, please contact us to book your shipping space.
FCL (Full container Load) shipping
In this type of shipping, the importer books the entire container for use and charges a flat rate. With FCL shipping, you do not have to share container space with other importers, and will be set at a flat rate regardless of what you are shipping.
FCL shipping is sometimes less expensive than LCL shipping, especially when shipping large shipments. Consult us if you need help choosing the right shipping option.
ABU Dhabi Port, Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, Sharjah, and Cape al-Khaimah are some of the important ports in the UAE.
Major seaports in the UAE and China
Major seaports of China
- Tianjin
- Qingdao
- Shanghai
- Ningbo-Zhoushan
- Shenzhen
- Hong Kong
- Guangzhou
- Qingdao
Major seaports of the UAE
- Jebel Ali, Dubai
- Mina Rashid, Dubai
- Khalifa, ABU Dhabi
- Mina Zayed, ABU Dhabi
- Mina Khalid, Sharjah
- Jebel Ali Port, Dubai
Air Transportation
Air freight involves transporting goods through an air cargo company or airline. Although expensive, it is a safe and fast way to transport goods. Importers shipping from China to the UAE rely on air freight to deliver urgently needed goods or high-value products such as mobile phones and electronics.
Air transport is a perfectly viable mode of transport between China and the UAE, as both countries have well-developed cargo airports that can receive goods. These airports include ABU Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, and Cape Khaimah.
When shipping by air, the volume and gross weight of the cargo will be calculated. You will then be charged by gross or volume weight. Check out our article on billable weight to better understand this.
You should also be aware that not all products can be shipped directly using air freight, especially explosives or lithium batteries. Discuss with us before shipping so that we understand the specific regulations for your type of shipment.
Major airports in UAE and China
Major airports in China
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport
- Shenzhen Baoan Airport
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport
- Chongqing Jiangbei Airport
- Beijing Capital Airport
- Kunming Changshui Airport
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport
- Xi ‘an Xianyang Airport
Major airports in the UAE
- Ayn Airport
- Dubai Airport
- Sharjah Airport
- ABU Dhabi Airport
- Cape Khaimah Airport
- Al Maktoum International Airport
Express freight
Express freight also involves airlines. However, this is done explicitly by air express. DHL, UPS, TNT and FedEx are the largest express delivery companies shipping from China to the UAE.
When using express shipping from China, customs clearance is handled by the express clearance team, making it the fastest and most expensive mode of shipping from China to the UAE. Despite this, many importers import product samples and other micro-goods from China. If you are shipping more than 100kg, it would be better to explore other methods of rapid transport, such as air.
The good news is that we can offer you a cheaper Courier service when shipping from China to the UAE. This is because Dantful Freight has special contracts with each major Courier company. Therefore, we offer discounts to our customers to help save costs.
DDP shipping
This is the most convenient shipping option for new importers from China to the UAE, as Chinese freight forwarders take care of the whole process. All you need to do is receive the goods at your doorstep.
DDP Air Freight
Dantful offers special door-to-door air freight deals to ship your cargo directly to its destination. This is especially beneficial for importers who hold the necessary UAE import licenses or who wish to ship completely stress-free. We will arrange customs clearance and ensure your shipment is delivered within 7-10 days. The flight connection only takes two days, but other procedures, such as aircraft booking, export, import clearance, disassembly, last-mile delivery, etc., will take time.
DDP Marine
Our DDP Sea freight option is one of the cheapest shipping options for you from China to the UAE, as we handle all aspects of shipping for you at an affordable price. After shipping via LCL, we will
Immediately clear your product at the port and ship it directly to your location in the UAE. DDP Sea freight to UAE takes 25-30 working days to get the goods to your doorstep. It only takes around 20-25 days to ship, but other procedures such as container loading and unloading, import and export customs clearance, unpacking, and last-mile distribution take time.
How much does it cost to ship from China to UAE?
International shipping is a busy job. It can be easier to determine shipping costs by knowing certain factors such as the mode of transportation, type of product, shipping season, estimated delivery time, etc. Therefore, asking several well-known freight forwarders for quotes and comparing their prices is a better option.
An important note. If the price is too low (or below the average market price), they most likely have some hidden fees. Therefore, always be careful before asking for a quote. Factors that affect the cost of shipping are:
- Shipping time
- Shipping season
- Prohibited items
- Mode of transportation
- The type of goods you have
- The quantity of your shipment
- The distance between the two ports
Express shipping rates
There is no fixed rate for express shipping as it will vary according to the type of goods, weight, and volume. The rate is usually between $7 and $15 per kilogram of goods. The following is the delivery rate for May 8, 2023, for your reference. Please ask us for a firm quote before shipping
Express shipment per kg door-to-door
Air freight price
Air freight prices are prone to volatility as they are also affected by changes in fuel prices. A remarkable detail of air freight is that it has no fixed size, i.e., no fixed freight charges. The larger the volume of your shipment, the less weight per kilogram you will pay.
The following is the latest offer as of May 5, 2023, for your reference. When your shipment is ready, it is better to contact the freight forwarder for an accurate quote.
Ocean freight rates
Determining sea freight rates is more challenging than air freight rates. The distance between the two ports is the deciding factor for sea freight from China to the UAE. Also, the freight charges for FCL and LCL are different.
The freight rate of LCL fluctuates greatly. The rate is based on one cubic meter, which is equivalent to 500 kg. Shipping costs for 1 CBM range from $25 to $140, depending on the distance between the two ports and the type of cargo. Note that sea freight is not your final import cost; You will also need to consider destination port fees, import clearance, and customs duties.
Here are the port-to-port LCL shipments from China to UAE on May 7, 2023, for your reference. Dantful offers the most competitive LCL rates from China to the UAE.
What is the shipping time from China to UAE?
Generally speaking, modes of transport involving air travel (e.g., express or air) are much faster than sea transport. In addition, your shipment will be subject to customs clearance checks at the port, which can add to delays. In addition to the mode of transport used, your transit time will depend on the carrier used and the distance between the two ports. Here is the estimated shipping time for your reference:
Sea shipping time
Sea transport time depends only on the distance between ports. LCL shipments mostly take longer than FCL shipments due to delays in sorting the importer’s goods.
Air shipping time
The air transport time depends on the airline’s flight time, cargo loading and unloading, and customs clearance. However, your shipment should still arrive within a few days.
Time limit for express shipment
Express freight, such as DHL, UPS, and FedEx, is still the fastest mode of transportation. It takes about 2-5 working days to arrive, including picking up goods from Chinese factories, import customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery.
Finally, we recommend that you add some extra days to ship your goods. We recommend adding 2 to 3 days by air and 7 to 10 days by sea. Delays in customs clearance may affect international shipping times due to potential factors such as port congestion.
Customs clearance for imports from China to the UAE
The UAE has specific import clearance procedures that every importer should take note of when shipping from China to the UAE. This ensures the payment of all necessary duties and duties and prompt release of the goods.
The first step is to obtain your product’s HS code. This determines the taxes you will pay on the item. You then calculate the item’s value by looking up its CIF (cost, insurance, and shipping) value.
Proceed to obtain an import license from the UAE Ministry of Economy. Then, submit a return containing important information about the goods, such as value, HS code, country of origin, and type of goods.
When your goods arrive, submit all required customs clearance documents, such as certificates of origin and bills of lading, and pay customs duties and VAT. The customs duties paid depend on the value of your shipment and its HS code.
Duties and Taxes
Many customers ask questions about UAE duties and taxes. Duties and taxes may be more precise for certain importers. The first confusing point is that tariffs and fees are different for all products. There are different charges for different products.
It is difficult to provide information on tariffs and fees for all products in this article, but we can give you a general idea. You can visit their official website or ask a customs broker or freight forwarder for detailed duties and charges on the goods you are importing.
Importing goods worth less than AED 1,000 means that you do not have to pay any duties or taxes. In addition, gifts worth up to AED 3,000 are also duty-free.
But if you import commercial products for commercial purposes, you must pay a duty of at least 5%. One thing to note is that tariffs and fees apply to the price of the product and the cost of shipping it. Therefore, when calculating duties and taxes, you must add the cost of shipping to the cost of the product.
Tariffs and taxes can range from 5 percent to 100 percent, depending on the type of goods. For example, you will have to pay 50 percent for alcoholic goods.
This page of the Federal Identity Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security Administration provides answers to basic import-related information.
Main Customs Office locations in the UAE
Several customs offices in the UAE can help you import goods from China. Here is a list of UAE customs offices:
- Zayed Port
- Cargo Village
- Dubai Airport
- Mussafah Port
- Abu Dhabi Post
- Abu Dhabi Airport
- Al Maktoum Airport
- Jebel Ali Cargo Village
- Dubai Airport FZ
- Fujairah Airport
- Hamriya Port – Dubai
- Deba Al Fujairah Port
- Airport Cargo
- Port Khalid
- Creek Center – Ajman
- SAIF Zone
- Al Jazeera Port
- Saqr Port
- Khorfakkan Customs
- Ajman Port and Rashid Port
Dantful Freight provides customs clearance support for DDP shipments and assists our customers in the UAE with quick and easy clearance of goods from customs authorities.
Documents required for shipping to the UAE
You can only ship to the UAE if you have the proper documentation. This documentation will need to be obtained from carriers, suppliers, etc.
Necessary documents:
Bill of Lading/air waybill (depends on mode of transportation)
Packing list
Commercial invoice
Certificate of Origin
Letter of credit (this depends on the terms of payment between you and the supplier)
China to UAE door-to-door shipping
Door-to-door shipping is where freight forwarders do everything – from picking up goods in China to shipping them to the UAE. Who can use it? Well, anyone can use door-to-door shipping. It’s a convenient shipping process.
Sometimes, some importers require official permission to import into the UAE. In this case, it is a good option for you. Other licensed shippers may also use door-to-door shipping.
In door-to-door shipping, the freight forwarder performs the following:
- Pick up your shipment from the supplier
- Prepare for inland traffic
- Clear port fees and bills for Chinese ports
- Arrange transportation
- Clear customs from the UAE Customs Department
- Prepare for inland shipping in the UAE
You will receive the goods and unload them from the truck
That is it, and your cargo will be at your disposal without any hassle
You can use any mode of transportation by air or sea for door-to-door shipping.
Door-to-door shipping fees from China to UAE
Many importers consider door-to-door shipping to be expensive. This is only sometimes the case. In some cases, the opposite is true. Let us illustrate this idea with a real-life example.
Let us say you are shipping fabric from China to Dubai, UAE. The cost of shipping 100 kilograms of fabric by air is about $3 to $4 per kilogram. The fee includes customs fees and shipping costs in the UAE.
If you arrange everything separately, that may cost you more. You have to pay different agencies for different services, adding to the cost.
Dantful Freight offers the best DDP shipping service, and you will get the most competitive rates. Our DDP services are well-known around the world. Many importers in the UAE use our door-to-door service to achieve cost-effective and fast delivery.
You can choose our door-to-door service for shipping from:
- Shenzhen to Dubai
- Guangzhou to Dubai
- Yiwu to Dubai
- Shanghai to Dubai
If you need door-to-door service from other regions, you can let us know and we will arrange it for you.
What is the cheapest shipping cost from China to UAE?
In general, you will find that the cheapest way to transport goods per kilogram is by sea. However, the size of the goods you are sending is an important factor to consider.
For example, an importer shipping a shipment weighing 150 kg may find it more cost-effective to use air freight instead of LCL shipping. This is because the total cost of shipping by sea, including handling charges and destination port charges, is higher and more expensive overall than shipping by air.
Generally speaking, we recommend that importers choose air freight for products less than 200kg. We are always ready to provide an air or sea freight quotation so that you can make a more informed decision.
Items prohibited and restricted in the UAE
Each country has its own rules and regulations for importing and exporting business. You won’t be able to import anything you want. This is when prohibited and restricted items come into play.
There are some items you can import into the UAE, but you will need special permission from the approving body. These are called “restricted items”. Some items cannot be imported into the UAE. The UAE government also does not provide any permits for these. These are referred to as “prohibited items.
Here is a list of restricted products in the UAE
- Pets
- Food
- Medicines and drugs
- Domestic animals
- Vehicles
- Agricultural products
- Weapons
- Technical equipment
- Publications
- Cash/money
And here is the list of Banned items in the UAE:
- Narcotics and controlled drugs
- counterfeit currency
- Copyrighted content
- Witchcraft or Black magic items
- Any art or publications that are against Islamic law
- Protected animals
- Certain dog breeds
Gambling tools and machines.If you need more information on the legibility of goods imported from China to the UAE, please consult an expert. You can contact the UAE Customs Department before importing.
If you import prohibited items without proper documentation, you can face serious consequences, including fines and jail time.
How do I track your shipment when shipping from China to the UAE
When shipping from China to the UAE, you must want to track your shipment. If you use express shipping, tracking is very simple. The Courier company will give you a tracking number that you can use to check the status of your shipment from their website.
Some freight forwarders also offer real-time tracking systems. However, we recommend contacting your freight forwarder’s customer service to find out the exact status of your shipment.
Therefore, you should choose a freight forwarder that provides 24/7/365 continuous customer support. In addition, they should offer live chat and phone services to support customers.
How can transportation costs be reduced?
Every business wants to reduce costs to increase revenue. Reducing transportation costs can also do the trick. But it takes work. It is a process, and you have to take care of all aspects of that process. Here is how to reduce the cost of shipping to the UAE:
- Use a professional team to pack your shipment. International shipping costs vary depending on the space you take up. Therefore, use professionals to pack your goods, thereby significantly reducing your shipping costs.
- 3 Purchase insurance from a third party.
- Choose a port with a short distance. This will also reduce transit time.
- Ask multiple freight forwarders for quotes and choose one with a solid background and a cheap price.
- Choose your freight forwarder Dantful.
- Look for freight forwarders that offer additional benefits.
- Try to have a long-term relationship with a freight forwarder. They often offer special discounts to regular customers.
Why is Dantful the best freight forwarder in the UAE?
There are a few things you should consider when looking for a freight forwarder. The first is experience. Dantful Freight has been in the shipping industry for more than a decade and has been operating in the UAE market since we embarked on our journey.
We have a separate team to take care of clients from the UAE. The team is focused on the UAE market. As a result, we can guarantee a smooth and safe shipping experience.
Another important thing is the cost. We have contracts with all the big carriers and Courier companies. As a result, we can offer UAE customers better prices than any other company in China.
The experts will take care of all your shipments. We also have a dedicated customs department in the UAE, which is always updated in accordance with the UAE Customs policy.
Whether it is LCL or door-to-door, Dantful Freight always offers UAE customers the best shipping experience.
