Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for UAE (United Arab Emirates).
| Carrier | Economy | Express |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 1–2 days |
| FedEx | — | 1–3 days |
| UPS | 3–5 days | 2–3 days |
| DPD | — | — |
| GLS | — | — |
Business days. Customs clearance time not included — allow 1–5 extra days depending on the goods.
Every shipment to UAE (United Arab Emirates) must include the correct documentation or it will be held at customs.
Required for all shipments. Must include HS code, declared value in AED or EUR (CIF value — cost + insurance + freight), country of origin and full description.
Itemised list of goods matching the commercial invoice — required by UAE customs.
Certificate of Origin from the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce — helps confirm EU origin and may assist with any preferential treatment available.
Required for controlled goods: medicines, food (MOCCAE approval), chemicals, tobacco, alcohol (licensed importers only).
Import duties and taxes apply to all shipments to UAE (United Arab Emirates). Duty-free de minimis threshold: AED 1,000 (~€250) — goods below this threshold may qualify for simplified customs entry. UAE VAT (5%) still applies.. VAT/local tax: 5% UAE VAT (Value Added Tax) — introduced January 2018. One of the world's lowest standard VAT rates..
| Product Category | Typical Duty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Most manufactured goods | 5% | UAE GCC common external tariff: 5% on CIF value for most goods |
| Food (basic staples — exempted) | 0% | Certain basic food items are duty-exempt: wheat, rice, some vegetables |
| Medicines and medical equipment | 0% | Pharmaceutical and medical device imports are generally duty-exempt |
| Alcohol (licensed importers only) | 50% | Commercial alcohol imports for licensed hotels/retailers: 50% customs duty + 5% VAT |
| Tobacco products | 100% | Very high excise duty on tobacco — cigarettes also face 100% excise |
| UAE VAT on all taxable imports | 5% | Applied to all taxable goods after customs duty is paid. B2B importers registered for UAE VAT can reclaim as input tax. |
Duty rates are indicative. Actual rates depend on the HS code classification of your goods. Consult a customs broker for high-value or complex shipments.
The following items have import restrictions or are prohibited in UAE (United Arab Emirates). Check carrier guidelines before shipping.
DHL Express Dubai hub (DWC — Al Maktoum International Airport area) is one of the largest DHL global operations — 1–2 day delivery to Dubai and Abu Dhabi business addresses is extremely reliable.
Declare CIF value accurately on the commercial invoice — UAE customs assesses duty on the CIF value (cost + insurance + freight). Undervaluing is a customs offence and can result in the shipment being held.
UAE addresses: always include the emirate (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, etc.), area/district, building name and PO Box. GPS coordinates or landmarks are helpful for delivery drivers in newer areas.
Dubai Free Zones (Jebel Ali, DIFC, Dubai Airport Free Zone): goods imported into UAE free zones are subject to different rules — typically 0% import duty within the free zone, with duties paid only when goods exit into mainland UAE.
Halal certification: required for food products sold commercially in the UAE. Ensure your food exports have halal certification from an approved Islamic certification body before shipping.
UAE as re-export hub: Dubai is one of the world's top 5 re-export centres. Your UAE customer may be importing your goods for re-distribution across the GCC or wider MENA region — this is a common business model.
UAE applies a 5% import duty on most goods, calculated on the CIF value (cost + insurance + freight). Exceptions: medicines and medical equipment (0%), basic food staples (0%), alcohol for licensed importers (50%), tobacco (100%). UAE VAT at 5% applies to all taxable imports in addition to customs duty. There is no EU-UAE FTA, so EU goods face the standard 5% GCC common external tariff.
DHL Express: 1–2 business days to Dubai. FedEx International Priority: 1–3 days. UPS Worldwide Express: 2–3 days. The UAE is one of the fastest non-EU destinations from Portugal — Dubai has direct daily flight connections from Lisbon, enabling next-day express delivery in some cases.
Commercial wine and alcohol can only be imported into the UAE by holders of a UAE liquor import licence — these are typically hotels, restaurants and licensed alcohol retailers. Personal import of alcohol is prohibited. If your B2B Dubai customer holds a valid liquor import licence, commercial wine exports from Portugal are feasible — always verify the licence and obtain it in writing before shipping.
UAE VAT is 5% on all taxable goods and services — introduced in January 2018. On imports, UAE VAT is paid by the UAE importer to Federal Tax Authority (FTA) via their VAT return. B2B importers registered for UAE VAT reclaim it as input tax. UAE businesses with taxable supplies above AED 375,000/year must register for VAT. Unlike EU's IOSS, there is no UAE equivalent for overseas B2C sellers — customs collects VAT on each import.
Yes — Dubai is one of the world's top logistics hubs, positioned as the gateway to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The GCC customs union allows goods cleared in UAE to be re-distributed across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman without additional customs duties. Dubai's excellent air connectivity (Emirates, flydubai, cargo airlines) and port infrastructure (Jebel Ali Port) make it the natural first entry point for European goods serving the wider MENA region.
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