China to UAE

Shipping from China to UAE

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Nowadays, many importers choose China for importing all the markets’ needs and selling them in their intended market; this seems like an easy plan, find the supplier of the product, select your needed products, and ship them from China to UAE (Dubai).
So why do many still feel wary about it? Because they have trouble finding the best shipping method, which should be easy, reliable, and affordable for themselves.
Most suppliers in China are not familiar with shipping methods, so they offer overpriced services to the client; they also prefer EX-works terms so they won’t have trouble with customs in China. In this situation, a freight forwarder is needed to pick up the cargo and help with the process; this is where we come in.
ERA, as one of the most experienced freight forwarders in China, will help you understand all about the shipping methods and processes.
We will guide you through determining which shipping way is needed for your goal and how it would be the most efficient one for you.
In this article, we’re going to read all about the process of importing goods from China to UAE (Dubai), all the necessary documents, different methods, transit time, cost, etc.

Read more: Door to Door (DDP) shipping

The first step is to determine what kind of goods you want to import and what is the quantity?

Express Shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

 
If you plan on importing product samples and a low quantity of goods from China to UAE (Dubai), Express shipping is usually the best solution. Express companies like FedEx, UPS, DHL, TNT, ARAMEX, etc., offer a relatively more comfortable mode of transportation than air and sea freight, especially for small shipments, Needless to say, ERA freight also offers excellent Express shipping from China to UAE for small shipments.

As you already know most Express shipping companies charge for duty and tax separately upon arrival, but with ERA’s Express shipping, the service is all included, from company to your doorstep, with delivery duty and taxes, to make it even easier and more convenient for the importers.

shipping from China to UAE
Express shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

 

There’s lots of information about Express companies on the internet, but the main questions about them are:
“When are they most cost-effective?”
“What type of goods can be transported via Express.”
“Which Express company should we choose?”

The first thing to consider is Express shipping from China to UAE is a fast method, and also, you won’t have to bother about customs and duty payment.
Secondly, delivery to Dubai is much faster compared to other places in the UAE as usually the distributors are in Dubai. Still, the delivery fee to other areas is almost the same.
Express shipping from China to UAE is suggested for two types of importers:

  • Online sellers who are in a hurry to restock
  • those who plan to get samples and small boxes very fast to test the goods for more oversized orders

Express shipping will be pricey for bulky goods, and there might be extra customs costs added to the shipping fee, so it’s not very popular for those.
Now we want to know what type of goods can be sent from China to UAE by Express?
Besides the DGR goods forbidden in all types of shipping, Express has some additional restrictions. Some of these depend on the express courier you choose, but most of them are shared among all.

  • Stand-alone battery: NONE of the express services are able to send this kind of goods.
  • Built-in Battery: Only can be sent by DHL China, DHL Hong Kong, UPS Hong Kong, and FedEx Hongkong.
  • Liquids: Only by Hong Kong Post and EMS Hong Kong.
  • Furniture: only can be sent when they’re flat-packed; volume and weight must not exceed the limited area.

As we already mentioned, Express services are expensive. As an agent in China, ERA can get special offers and better discounts due to the annual volume and gross weight of shipments we have.
Therefore we can offer better prices to our clients who want to import from China to UAE; Using Aramex and TNT for parcels weighing less than 20kg is recommended. FedEx also offers a low express price to Dubai, but TNT and ARAMEX cover all over UAE.

Air Freight shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

when you have heavier goods and need a short transit time for shipping from China to UAE (Dubai), air freight is the best solution, although you should consider some points when choosing this method.
We also offer Door-to-Door (DDP) Air freight service in which import and export procedures such as local logistics in China, export documents, customs clearing and delivery from the airport, etc., are also included.
Later in this article, we’ll explain all about the customs process in UAE and the needed documents in both countries.
When choosing air freight for shipping from China to UAE, first, you should pay attention to your supplier’s trading terms as some of the freight forwarders only quote you the price from the airport in China to the airport in UAE. The two popular methods which most Chinese suppliers offer are EXW and FOB. let’s see what they’re about.

FOB or EXW?

 

Shipping from China to UAE
Incoterms

If you’re trading on EX-works terms, the local expenses such as pick up and documents and costumes in China need to be paid by you, the supplier is selling the goods at the door of the company and won’t bear any responsibilities from that place on.

but suppose you’re trading on FOB terms. In that case, all of these are handled by your seller; meaning the seller has to deliver the goods to the point agreed by both of you (whether it’s the port directly or your forwarder warehouse) and take care of the costumes and etc. up to the point of being shipped to the destination.
In other words, air freight can be divided into three steps:

  1. The cost from the supplier’s factory to the airport in China.
  2. The cost from the origin airport to Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Sharjah airport.
  3. The cost from the destination airport to your door in UAE.

If you need further information on their information you can check out the video below.

So How to avoid this long and challenging procedure and easily receive the goods?

ERA, with its easy, reliable, and affordable service, can help you with this; with our door-to-door service, we will take care of all three steps and deliver the goods straight to your doorstep from China to UAE (Dubai).
Later we will talk about our door-to-door service.

After the term is determined, what more do we need? now we need to know about the quantity of the goods.

Dimensional Weight vs. Gross Weight

One of the tricky things in shipping with air freight and also express shipping is the difference between Dimensional weight and Real weight and which one will be charged by the airline or Express company.
Let’s start with an example; you want to ship 50kg of cotton, and the dimension of the cartons is 100cm x100cm x100 cm, so for this cargo, we need to check both weights.
Dimensional weight is:
Air freight: 100 x 100 x 100 cm3/6000 = 167kg
or in other words, Total CBM x 167 = dimensional weight
Express: 100 x 100 x 100 cm3/5000 = 200kg
As you see, the dimensional weight is quite bigger than the Gross weight; therefore, the airline will charge based on the space the boxes will take.

 

Shipping from China to UAE
Difference between Gross weight and Volumetric weight

This is one of the points that should always be checked before sending the goods by air so you won’t be surprised by the big change in weight.

Major airports of the UAE.

Here is the list of the most important airports in the UAE:

  • Dubai International Airport (DXB)
  • Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
  • Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)
  • Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT)
  • Fujairah International Airport (FJR)

The UAE Airlines

There are two world-class airlines in the UAE:

       1. Etihad Airways

Based in Abu-Dhabi and founded in 2003. It’s the national airline of the UAE and one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world.

      2. Emirates Airlines

It started in 1985 and is headquartered in Dubai. It has a fleet of 113 aircraft. It’s the eighth-largest airline in the world.

Airfreight transit times in shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

As we’ve mentioned already, air freight transit time from China to UAE (Dubai) is very short; once your freight forwarder booked the flight, you just need 2-3 days to send the goods to the chosen airport, and after that, the flight will be done in a few hours.

Here, we mention flight times from famous airports in China to the international airports of the UAE.

*Please note these times are for general guidance, and for direct flights, your freight might have different transit times due to different situations.

Airport of China Airport of the UAE Transit time (hours)
Guangzhou Dubai 7
Beijing Dubai 8
Beijing Abu Dhabi  8
Shenzhen Dubai 8
Shanghai Dubai 8
Shanghai Abu Dhabi 8
Hong Kong Dubai 8
Hong Kong Abu Dhabi 8

 

Airfreight costs for shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

All the air freight rates come from the Airlines, the rates are not the same all the time, and they are very changeable, so what is the reason for this change?
Here are four factors that influence air freight rates:

  • Economic Conditions

These conditions directly affect supply and demand, and these two are the heart of all pricing changes. This is also true for air freight; when the economy is flourishing, the demand for air freight is higher; therefore, we expect higher prices, and vice versa; as the market demand drops due to economic downturns, so does the rates so the carrier can fill up the space that is currently unused.

  • Regional Factors

These factors have an impact on supply, demand, and operating costs as well. Abnormal circumstances like war, labor strikes, civil unrest, epidemics, pandemics, and terrorism can both lower the demand and make it costlier to operate.
Given the situation of the 2020 pandemic, the demand was low, as were the shipping services available; therefore, all importers faced a big rise in freight rates all around the world.

  • Operating Expenses

The operating expenditures are both quite varied and very changeable. Many factors can be considered in this area, for example, the price of fuel, tariffs, landing fees, parking fees, security measures, etc.

  • Weight and Volume

These two factors have already been explained; the weight and volume of the shipment determine the total fee of any flight. The airlines charge based on their own measurements in their warehouse and mention the amount on the MAWB.

Shipping from China to UAE

If you need a quote for shipping your cargo from China to UAE (Dubai) by air freight, contact the sales team of ERA, they’re available 24/7 at affordable prices.

Door to Door Airfreight shipping cost from China to UAE (Dubai)

*Please note the prices are just for reference and for an accurate price you need to contact our sales team.

Air DDP Shipping cost from China to UAE +22kg +100kg +300kg +500kg
Normal Goods (No brand/battery/magnet/liquid/powder etc.) 43 43 42 42
Electronic goods with inset battery 51 51 50 50
Brand Goods (without battery) 45 45 44 44
Brand goods (battery) 53 53 52 52
Cosmetic goods (normal) 56 56 55 55
Cosmetic goods (brand) 57 57 56 56
Electronic cigarette (no oil)  72 72 71 71
CCTV/Slab/Mechanical quartz watch 62 62 61 61

Sea freight shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

Sea freight is the most suitable way for goods with significant gross weight and big volume. This way is the most economical, but the transit time is much longer than the airways.
Shipping by sea might be a bit more complicated than in previous ways, but we’re going to read about all the important notes and make it easy and straightforward to understand.

Sea Shipping from China to UAE

FCL (Full container load) or LCL (Less than container load)

Based on the number of your goods, the freight forwarder will help you to choose between LCL and FCL,
If your goods are less than 25cbm, then you can send them by LCL; this means that your container is shared with other importers and, after it’s filled, will be shipped together.

On the other hand, if your goods are more than 25cbm or large enough for a full container, FCL is the better option for you; the whole container is booked for your cargo, and after booking, it’s ready to be shipped out, so also the transit time will decrease because there’s no need to wait until the container is full.

 

Shipping from China to UAE FCL and LCL
FCL vs. LCL

 

Now that you’re familiar with FCL and LCL, it’s time to know about different types of containers.

Different kinds of containers for sea freight

Container Type

 

Internal Dimensions
(L x W x H)

Door Opening
(W x H)

Cubic Capacity

Cargo weight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20ft

20ft General

 

5.89 x 2.35 x 2.36m

 

2.33 x 2.26m

33m³

21,700kgs

20ft High Cube

 

5.89 x 2.35 x 2.69m

 

2.33 x 2.59m

 

37m³

 

21,700kgs

20ft Flat Rack
with sides

5.89 x 2.35 x 2.23m

 

Side Opening
W – 2.59m

30m³

26500kgs

20ft Flat Rack
without sides

6.00 x 2.35 x 0.23m

 

___________

33m³ 
Max Height 2.36m

23500kgs

20ft Open Top

 

5.89 x 2.35 x 2.36m

 

2.33 x 2.29m

 

32m³

 

21700kgs

20ft Reefer

 

5.44 x 2.26 x 2.24m

 

2.26 x 2.20m

 

27m³

 

21700kgs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40ft

40ft General

 

12.05 x 2.35 x 2.36m

 

2.33 x 2.26m

 

66m³

 

26500kgs

40ft High Cube

 

12.05 x 2.35 x 2.69m

 

2.33 x 2.59m

 

76m³

 

26500kgs

40ft Flat Rack
with Sides

12.05 x 2.35 x 2.23m

 

Side Opening
W – 11.66m

63m³

 

3600kgs

40ft Flat Rack
without sides

12.20 x 2.35 x 0.65m

 

___________

67m³
Max Height 2.36m

3900kgs

40ft Open Top

 

12.05 x 2.35 x 2.36m

 

2.33 x 2.29m

 

66m³

 

26500kgs

40ft Reefer

 

11.55 x 2.26 x 2.24m

 

2.26 x 2.20m

 

58m³

 

25000kgsE

Even though all these container types work in Seafreight shipping from China to UAE, these four ones are the most popular container types in Sea Freight, which can carry the most types of goods with them; here are the names and approximate capacities of these containers.

*Please note these are approximate, and based on the package style, it may vary.

20ft 20ft 40ft 40ft
 20GP  20HD  40GP  40HQ
25cbm-28cbm  35cbm-38cbm  55cbm-58cbm  65cbm-68cbm

Based on the total quantity of your shipment, you can choose which container best suits your needs.
CBM (cubic meter) is a measurement of one meter wide by one meter long by one meter high; CBM is used to calculate the chargeable weight.

Major ports of the UAE

The UAE has made major investments in its infrastructure; It has resulted in having modern ports as one of the most active gateways for business, commerce, and also for tourism.

Here is the list of Major ports in the UAE:

  • Jebel Ali, Dubai
    Considered the largest seaport in the Middle East. this seaport offers connections to more than 150 ports around the world/ world’s ninth-busiest port
    , Port Code: AEJEA
  • Mina Rashid, Dubai
    The port primarily deals with non-containerized cargo/ It was Dubai’s first commercial port; in 2018, cargo operations moved to Jebel Ali Port/ It currently serves as a seafront coastal destination, tourist cruise destination, and residential area, Port code: AEMRP
  • Mina Khalid, Sharjah
  • Khor Fakkan, Sharjah
  • Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi
    The main gateway for bulk and general cargo /is Abu Dhabi’s main port and one of the biggest commercial ports in the UAE. This port is equipped to handle ten ocean-going vessels at once, along with general and bulk cargo.

Dubai represents 77% of port activity in the UAE; Jebel Ali port is the most important and the biggest port in the Middle East.

Mina Khalid port is transiting 7% of the country’s total trade; the import flow of Sharjah in 2017 was 2,100 million kgs.

Mina Zayed Port in the emirate of Abu Dhabi hosts 14% of the total trades of the UAE, and 24,500 million kgs of imports have been done through this port.

Other ports also play a role in the country’s trade, but the role is less significant.

UAE Sea Ports for Shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)
Major ports of UAE

Sea freight transit times from China to UAE (Dubai)

Sea freight transit time depends on the port of origin and also the destination port; here, we’re going to list an approximate time for the most major ports of China to the three major ports of the UAE.

*Please note these times are just for a general idea, and they’re not guaranteed to be precise

China Port

UAE Port

Transit time (Days)

Nanjing

Jebel Ali

25

Nanjing

Abu Dhabi

29

Nanjing

Sharjah

29

Nansha

Jebel Ali

13

Nansha

Abu Dhabi

15

Nansha

Sharjah

16

Shenzhen

Jebel Ali

18

Shenzhen

Abu Dhabi

19

Shenzhen

Sharjah

23

Foshan

Jebel Ali

18

Foshan

Abu Dhabi

23

Foshan

Sharjah

18

Zhuhai

Jebel Ali

20

Zhuhai

Abu Dhabi

24

Zhuhai

Sharjah

24

Shanghai

Jebel Ali

19

Shanghai

Abu Dhabi

23

Shanghai

Sharjah

23

Guangzhou

Jebel Ali

19

Changsha

Abu Dhabi

39

Changsha

Jebel Ali

35

Dalian

Jebel Ali

34

Dalian

Abu Dhabi

34

Dalian

Sharjah

29

Fuzhou

Jebel Ali

28

Fuzhou

Abu Dhabi

29

Fuzhou

Sharjah

27

Qingdao

Jebel Ali

24

Qingdao

Abu Dhabi

29

Qingdao

Sharjah

28

Xiamen

Jebel Ali

25

Xiamen

Abu Dhabi

21

Xiamen

Sharjah

25

Qinzhou

Jebel Ali

25

Qinzhou

Sharjah

27

Wuhu

Abu Dhabi

30

Wuhu

Jebel Ali

27

Jiujiang

Abu Dhabi

32

Jiujiang

Sharjah

32

Tianjin

Abu Dhabi

26

Tianjin

Jebel Ali

31

Tianjin

Sharjah

30

Shantou

Jebel Ali

31

Shantou

Sharjah

26

Ningbo

Abu Dhabi

19

Ningbo

Jebel Ali

18

Ningbo

Sharjah

21

Hongkong

Abu Dhabi

20

Hongkong

Jebel Ali

14

Hongkong

Sharjah

19

 

Sea freight costs for shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

Sea freight procedure is a lot like Airfreight, as we’ve mentioned already, the trading term (FOB or EXW, which cover most of the trades happening), customs duty both in China and UAE, and the delivery of the goods to your address needs to be considered.
As a reminder, if you’re trading under EXW, you only pay for the goods, and the rest of the procedure needs to be handled by you, or in other words, your chosen forwarder.
Trading under FOB term, your supplier sends the goods to the chosen port and handles the customs, duty, etc., and your forwarder arranges the vessel to ship the goods to the selected port in UAE.
Like air freight, sea freight is also quoted by shipping lines, and various situation affects the rates given by the line.

here some factors affecting sea freight rates are mentioned:

  • Origin port and destination port

The port of origin in China and the port you choose to receive your shipment directly affect the cost as different routes have different rates.

  • Fuel costs

As the fuel costs increase, the shipping line needs to spend more money on the fuel, raising the shipping rates to cover the extra spending money.

  • Season

The kind of cargo you’re moving and the season you choose for shipping are some of the essential factors. The main peak seasons, the holiday retail peak season from mid-August to Mid-October and before Chinese New Year in January, have a very high demand for shipping before the holidays; therefore, it affects the sea freight rates as well.

  • Service charges and fees

Terminal fees are charges at the ports of departure and arrival in sea freight, and various other fees are charged by shipping lines and port authorities that will affect the total rate given to the importer.

  • Currency

The U.S dollar is mainly used for sea freight rates; therefore, the exchange rate in the market during that time period directly affects the importer’s total cost.

  • Container capacity

Each container needs to be mostly filled before it departs from the port.
Sometimes, a small part is empty; therefore, shippers offer an excellent price to fill the container and ship it, so if your goods are not enough to fill a container (LCL), you are sharing the price with other people, and this will make it less expensive.

Door-to-Door Sea freight shipping costs from China to UAE (Dubai)

*Please note the prices are just for reference and for an accurate price you need to contact our sales team.
 
Sea DDP Shipping cost from China to UAE Per CBM
Normal goods (No brand/battery/magnet/liquid/powder/etc.) 900
Electronic goods with inset battery 1100
General goods with battery 1100
Brand goods 1100
Pos machine (no brand)/miners 1100
Pure battery 1550
Powder, chemical (Not DGR)/Perfume 1650
cosmetic goods/food(snacks, not fresh food) 1300
Personal goods(cannot have any liquid, smoke or cosmetic goods) 1800

If you need sea freight rates for your cargo in China to UAE (Dubai), LCL, or FCL, contact our sales team to help you have the best sea freight rates, we provide easy and reliable service and affordable prices.

Door-to-Door (DDP) shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

For both Airfreight service and Sea freight from China to UAE. we also offer Door-to-Door service; in this method, we arrange with the supplier and get the goods directly from the Seller and handle the process up to the customer’s doorstep in the destination country.

Our Door-to-Door (DDP) Service provides inland transportation, customs process in both origin and destination and also freight and makes it hassle-free for Importers, especially the ones that do not want to get involved with customs and its process.

Door to Door shipping from china to UAE

How does Door-to-Door service work?

In the DDP method, usually, the freight forwarders consolidate goods from many customers and send them all together, which in this case is from China to UAE (Dubai), the goods are gathered in the forwarder’s warehouse and then sent to the port and also customs process, and as of this usually, the goods are consolidated need to have the same nature, they can be normal, DGR, battery included, etc.

The goods are sent and released from customs under the forwarder’s name; therefore, shipment tracking, especially with the Sea method, can be a bit troublesome, and forwarders offer their own tracking number updated by their agent.

Shipping from China to UAE
Door-to-Door (DDP) Shipping process
  • First, select either air or sea shipping service. What is your preferred shipping method? After that, our team will collect all the essential information from you and provide the final price of the door-to-door delivery service from China to the UAE.
  • Contact the Chinese seller to arrange the collection from the Chinese seller’s factory or warehouse. Then send your luggage to the airport or port for loading.
  • Upon the arrival of the cargo in UAE, our team in Sharjah, Dubai, will begin customs clearance, which will take approximately 3-5 business days.
  • After customs clearance, the package will be shipped to the address you need in UAE, whether it’s Dubai, Abu Dhabi or etc.

There are many warehouses in major cities in China, such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and even Yiwu, providing the best service, such as storing and distributing goods before shipping to UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi).


Check out our video to know all about Door to Door (DDP) Shipping from China 😉

 

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Door-to-Door (DDP) method?

DDP has more advantages than disadvantages, as we mentioned before, trouble-free shipping without the worry of inland transportation and customs headaches is very convenient for Importers who like to import from China to UAE (Dubai), but like all methods, it also has its own disadvantages for Importers.

As we mentioned, forwarders consolidate goods from many customers; therefore, this method can have a longer transit time in both Air and Sea methods, but because of its popularity, the difference is not much, and it’s worth the wait.

Door to Door shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

Many believe because all the steps are covered in this method, then it should be much more expensive, but the truth is, even though it might sound expensive when you compare it with other methods, it can even be cheaper. you might ask why? here is the answer.

Again the point is in the consolidation of the goods; in this way, the total weight and volume are much bigger than each customer’s original weight, and as you know, the bigger and heavier the goods, the less the price, so each customer pays less for each kg/CBM of their goods, and when you add inland transportation and customs cost, I can assure you that sometimes the final price is even better than normal Airfreight or LCL Sea freight.
To sum it up, we will list the disadvantages and advantages to make the decision easier for you.

Advantages of Door to Door shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

  • Affordable Cost

These shipping services don’t mean they cost a lot. You don’t have to pay for every step of the fulfillment process. Because of the nature of this process, all goods are gathered and consolidated and then shipped at once; therefore, the cost per kg reduces, and it makes it cost-effective for importers. 

  • Operational Efficiency Is Guaranteed (Trouble-free)

Reduced operational overhead is also a benefit. A company’s success is highly dependent on its operational efficiency.

There is no need to waste energy and resources on the fulfillment process as the courier company handles the logistics. Instead, you can spend your time on marketing strategy, core business development, product development, and more.

  • Easier to Manage the Process (Reliable Service)

The best part is that, in this case, you just need to get in touch with the forwarder company and get the details and let them guide you throughout the process without needing to go into the headaches of the process.

Shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

Disadvantages of Door to Door shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

  • DDP doesn’t provide an accurate tracking system

It’s not easy to track a shipment in this type of service because, unlike regular freights, the shipping company handles the entire shipping process for you, and your goods are consolidated with others. This can be said for both Airfreight and Sea freight but mainly applies to Airfreight because tracking a shipment in other shipping services, even in regular freight, isn’t possible until it reaches the destination port. However, customer service teams at companies are often extremely helpful in this regard and will gladly provide you with information at any time you need it.

  • DDP is not available for all the countries

This type of service is only available in about 40 to 45 countries, whereas freight services are available in all countries with airports, seaports, roads, and railways. This is caused by the different customs rules and regulations in different countries.

Door-to-Door (DDP) shipping is our specialty in ERA; we offer easy, reliable, and affordable shipping services to importers that need shipping from China to UAE (Dubai). contact us now for your free quote.

Customs Clearance process in shipping from China to UAE

When importing from a foreign country, the main thing that concerns the importers are handling the customs clearance in both the origin and destination country.
The customs process has many steps and paperwork to go through. The good news is that your forwarder Easy DDP can help you with customs clearance throughout the process.
For those of you who want to do it yourself, let’s look at the needed documents to get a better idea.

The economic conditions of the United Arab Emirates, according to the “Lloyds Bank Trade” website:

Economic Indicators

The United Arab Emirates’ economy rebounded well from the COVID-19 crisis, growing 7.9% in 2022 and an estimated 3.4% in 2023, fueled by robust domestic activity. Forecasts for 2024 indicate a non-hydrocarbon GDP growth surpassing 4%, driven by the tourism, construction, and real estate sectors. Anticipated for 2024 is a 7% year-on-year increase in tourism receipts, reaching USD 43.7 billion (around 9% of the GDP). This surge is poised to further contribute to a rise in private consumption. Conversely, government consumption, accounting for approximately 12% of the GDP, will primarily focus on business reforms and incentives, rather than implementing stimulus programs to boost consumption. For the year as a whole, the IMF forecasts growth at 4%, followed by 4.2% in 2025.

 

China to UAE (Dubai)

Necessary Documents for UAE customs clearance

  • The Certificate of Origin (CO)

    The CO is one of the most critical documents in customs clearance and international trade. It certifies that the products in a particular shipment are entirely produced, obtained, and manufactured in a specific country.
    It is an important form because it determines whether goods are eligible for import or subject to duties.

  • The Delivery Order

    It’s a document that can be issued by a freight forwarder, consignee, shipper, or carrier to deliver the goods to another party.
    As the name suggests, it works as an order given by an owner to the person who has possession of goods that directs them to deliver them to the person named in the order.
    It should be differentiated from the Bill of Landing; it is not a negotiable document and does not act as evidence that shows goods delivery.
  • The Bill of Lading (BL) or Airway Bill (AWB)

    When importing goods, the Bill of Landing and Airway Bill is as essential as the CO; the CO says where the goods were produced, and the BL is a legal document between the shipper and the carrier, giving details of the cargo such as type, quantity, and the destination they’re being carried to.

Bill of Landing is for sea freight, whereas AWB is attached for air freight. The difference between these two is that, unlike BL, the AWB is non-negotiable, meaning it doesn’t specify which flight the goods will be sent to or when they will reach their destination.

 

China to UAE (Dubai)

  • The Original Invoice

    This document, which is the first copy of an invoice, needs to be checked to see if the goods are concordant with your declaration.
  • Manifest

    A cargo or customs manifest is like a list that describes all the loads that are being transferred by the vessel; this way they can identify all the shipments onboard and check if they’re still on board or have disappeared before they arrive at the destination port.
    The manifest is like the cargo passport, origin, legality to transit, and owner competency.
    It’s like the Bill of Lading because they’re describing similar information and are not always separated.

     

     

  • Packing List

    The packing list has the total volume and weight of the cargo and the number of boxes there; also, the goods’ HS code is there.
    If the goods are hazardous or part of chemical products, the MSDS document and the international code must also be there.

    China to UAE (Dubai)
    Packing List Sample

     

The UAE Customs

The customs have existed in UAE for more than a hundred years. It has gone through several phases; in 2017, the UAE topped the world in the Efficiency of Customs Procedures Index. This index ranking is based on the efficiency of resource management and many other factors.

 

The customs authorities in the UAE are as follows:

  ⦁ Federal Customs Authority
  ⦁ General Administration of Customs, Abu Dhabi
  ⦁ Department of Seaports and Customs, Sharjah
  ⦁ Department of Ports and Customs, Ajman
  ⦁ Dubai Customs
  ⦁ Customs Department, Ras Al Khaimah
  ⦁ Port of Fujairah
  ⦁ Fujairah Customs

The offices’ locations are in the UAE airports, seaports, and entry/exit points on the land borders. You can find the list of them on the Federal Customs Authority website.

 

Customs process in UAE (Dubai)

The process of the customs clearance of goods can be explained in 3 main steps.

⦁ The broker (freight forwarder, importer, or another agent) must complete the electronic import or customs declaration; the other documents needed must be provided with the customs declaration to the customs office.

⦁ The office will calculate the duties and taxes that need to be applied to the goods based on the Common Customs Tariff. A tariff exemption will be declared on the goods if they’re decided to be under the GCC Common customs law, Economic agreement, or other FTA that bonds the GCC to another party.
If they decide there’s a risk involved or imported under a specific purpose, customs can begin an inspection or examination.
The import declaration will be digitally printed at the corresponding customs office.

⦁ Finally, the release order is issued, and the products will be manumitted.

Banned Items to import from China to UAE (Dubai)

The UAE is stringent when it comes to importing banned items and the illegal import of restricted items into the UAE; here is a list of some prohibited items which can help you not get into trouble when importing from the UAE (Dubai).

Prohibited items for shipping from China to UAE (Dubai)

⦁ Controlled/recreational drugs and narcotic substances
⦁ Counterfeit currency
⦁ Pirated content
⦁ Publications and artwork that contradict or challenge Islamic teachings and values
⦁ Gambling tools and machines
⦁ Items used in black magic, witchcraft, or sorcery
⦁ Exotic, protected, and endangered animals as well as vicious dog breeds

ERA as your freight forwarder

Now that we have gone into all the steps and procedures of importing goods from China to UAE (Dubai), we’re glad to inform you that we can help you throughout all these procedures, making importing as easy as drinking water, reliable, and affordable for your budget. Our excellent services, both air (Express and freight) and sea, offer the best prices for shipping your cargo from China.

To top it all, ERA offers DOOR TO DOOR service from China to UAE (Dubai) by both air and sea!
With this service, importing has never been easier; we take care of all the importing process steps for you and deliver the goods directly to the doorstep of your desired place.
You can contact our sales team to get the best prices for all the services and get informed about special offers.

FAQs

  • How long does shipping from China to UAE (Dubai) take?

Air freight shipping service from China airports to UAE airports can be 7-8 hours and Sea freight varies from 18-32 days, depending on POL and POD; and for Door to Door (DDP) shipping from China to UAE, Sea DDP is about 30-35 days and Air DDP is 8-12 days.

  • Can I import from China to UAE?

The most troublesome part of Import from a foreign country is dealing with shipping and customs regulations in both countries, with our Door to Door (DDP) shipping from China to UAE (Dubai) we take care of all the steps from the seller factory to your doorstep, so you don’t need to worry about any of the processes, also we can ship almost all types of goods from China to UAE (Dubai) with our Door to Door (DDP) service, so the short answer is yes you can Import almost anything you need from China.

  • How much does shipping from China to UAE cost?

Shipping cost is affected by many factors, the service you need, the method (whether it is air or sea), the type of goods, quantity, etc. We have explained about approximate shipping cost in this article but for an accurate price based on your shipment info and PI and PL, contact our sales team on Whatsapp or Wechat, they’re available 24/7. +8615819953116

  • What service is better for Door to Door (DDP) shipping from China to UAE (Dubai), Air or Sea?

The answer to this question completely depends on your needs and your shipment information, If your goods are big and bulky it’s better to send them by Sea DDP since airfreight will be expensive, if you’re in a hurry to get your small orders to stock up, then Air freight is the best option for you since Sea DDP takes longer to arrive. We suggest you consult with our sales team and get advice, depending on your shipment.

  • What is the cheapest shipping way to ship from china to UAE?

The cheapest way depends on your product and shipment information, based on your goods nature, total weight and volume, and your urgency, the best method can vary from express shipping suitable for goods below 11kg, or SEA freight suitable for bulky goods.

Although generally Sea freight is considered the cheapest method among other ways, if your goods are higher than 100kg and you’re not in hurry to receive your goods, it’s better to send them by sea DDP shipping from China to UAE.

 

 
 
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