Everything you need to ship to the UAE in one place. We collect from your door anywhere in the UK, prepare your customs paperwork around your residence visa, and deliver to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and beyond. Air freight in 3–7 working days, or economical sea freight in roughly 2–5 weeks, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers. These sea transit times are approximate — the actual time depends on when your LCL container finishes loading and consolidating, the vessel’s sailing date and route, any transhipment hub before the final destination, and customs clearance, so please allow a week or two either side. Shipping to the UAE since 1998.
After shipping personal effects to the UAE since 1998, we’ve learned that a clean Dubai or Abu Dhabi clearance comes down to two things: your residence visa and how your goods are packed and listed. Used belongings clear duty-free with the right visa — but a single new, sealed item or a vague packing list can trigger tax, and the UAE’s prohibited-item rules are strict. This guide brings together everything that actually matters for a UK–UAE move.
Not sure which service you need? Start here — each links to full details, transit times and what’s included.
A few boxes or bags, shipped door-to-door without airline excess fees. Popular with expats and students.
Furniture, appliances and a whole home’s contents by sea freight, with your customs paperwork handled.
Moving more than a bag or two? See why shipping usually beats Emirates and airline excess-baggage charges.
The fast option — your consignment flies from Heathrow to Dubai (DXB) or Abu Dhabi (AUH).
The economical option for volume — shared (LCL) or full-container (FCL) to Jebel Ali and Khalifa Port.
On a budget? Compare the most economical routes and consolidation options to the UAE.
Sending a few suitcases or boxes ahead? The simple, door-to-door way to get them there.
Tell us what you’re sending and where. We’ll give you a clear quote up front.
We collect from your address anywhere in the UK. No need to get anything to a depot or the airport.
Goods are export-packed and we prepare a detailed packing list and the paperwork for your residence-visa exemption.
Air freight from Heathrow to DXB/AUH, or consolidated sea freight to Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port.
Cleared against your residence visa/Emirates ID and packing list. All shipments are inspected; used goods clear duty-free.
Your goods are delivered to your UAE address, or ready to collect from the arrival depot.
The UAE charges 5% customs duty plus 5% VAT on most imports — but your used personal and household effects usually clear duty-free as part of a relocation, if you meet the conditions.
The UAE has strict rules on what can enter the country. These are cultural and security controls rather than biosecurity — but the penalties are serious, so it’s worth checking carefully.
Most UK–UAE shipments clear without drama. The ones that don’t nearly always come down to the same short list of things:
An illustrative example of a common scenario — your quote is always to your exact shipment.
We ship to all seven emirates. Here are our most popular destinations — each with local delivery detail, arrival ports and transit times:
Air to Dubai (DXB) and sea to Jebel Ali — our busiest UAE lane.
Air to Abu Dhabi (AUH) and sea to Khalifa Port.
Air and road to Sharjah, with onward delivery across the northern emirates.
Air and road to Ras Al Khaimah in the north of the UAE.
Air freight suits a few boxes, urgent items or anything you need within a week — 3–7 working days, priced on weight and size. Sea freight suits volume — a room, a family’s contents or a whole home — at a fraction of the per-kilo cost, over roughly 2–5 weeks door-to-door. Many customers split the two: air for the essentials, sea for the rest.