Freight Shipping From China to UAE （Front Part）
The United Arab Emirates’ location between Europe and the Far East has played a vital role in aiding its development as a global commercial hub, with Dubai being the focal point for much of the region’s economic activity and trade. But, if you’ve shunned the idea of sending freight from the Far East to the Middle East by air or sea due to high costs or customs complications, help is at hand.
We want to make importing from China to the United Arab Emirates as easy and straightforward as possible for your company. For this reason, we’ve gathered crucial information regarding ocean and air shipping from China to the UAE, including costs, transit times, and customs clearance procedures, right here on this page.
What Are Your Options for Shipping From China to UAE?
You have two options to export from China to the UAE: air freight and ocean freight. Either choice has its pros and cons, which we will cover on this page.
Ocean Freight From China to Dubai and the UAE
Less than Container Load (LCL): LCL shipping means that your cargo will be given space in a shared container that carries consignments of other shippers. The advantage is that you only have to pay for the space that your freight occupies, not the whole container. If you’re planning on moving small shipments from China to UAE, then LCL shipping might be the most affordable option.
Full Container Load (FCL): FCL shipping means paying for the rental and transportation of a shipping container from China to the UAE for your exclusive use at a flat rate. This might be cheaper than LCL, especially if you are transporting large, heavy goods.
Air Freight from China to Dubai and the UAE
If your products are required in the UAE urgently, air freight is the best way to move your freight. However, be prepared to foot a larger bill for this fast and flexible service.
How Much Does it Cost to Ship Freight From China to the UAE?
The short answer is it depends. Freight rates depend on the nature of the goods you want to ship. Perishables may require refrigeration. Extra-large goods could call for an oversized container, for example.
They also depend on your chosen shipping method, as air freight is usually more expensive than ocean freight. They depend too on the volume, size, and weight of your consignment, all of which could prohibit shipment by air or affect the size and number of ocean shipping containers required.
As a guide, if your goods weigh under 100 kg, air freight can be just as economical as using an ocean carrier. And, of course, it will be quicker. Consignments over 100 kg that aren’t urgently required in the UAE will usually be more economical to ship by sea from China.
For cargo weighing under 35 kg, please get quotes from parcel carriers or couriers, as Shipa Freight does not provide freight forwarding services for goods in this weight bracket.
How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo From China to UAE?
Your delivery deadlines are likely to influence the mode of shipping you choose to move your freight from China to the UAE. If you’re in a hurry, air freight is faster. But you should still allow at least a couple of days for your goods to arrive and receive import customs clearance.
Such speed comes at a price, so if your deadlines aren’t quite so tight, or if your budget is limited, waiting the 25-36 days for your goods to ship by ocean freight will almost certainly prove to be your most economical option.
How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea From China to UAE?
As the examples below show, ocean shipping between China and the UAE takes between 18 and 38 days:
Guangzhou to Jebel Ali – 24 days LCL, 36 days FCL
Shanghai to Jebel Ali – 30 days FCL, 33 days LCL
Xiamen to Jebel Ali – 27 days FCL, 30 days LCL
Qingdao to Jebel Ali – 30 days
How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air From China to UAE?
Although flights from China to the UAE take a matter of hours, arranging the shipment of goods between the two nations is a more complex matter. But it’s still significantly faster than shipping by ocean freight.
Getting your goods overland to and from your chosen origin and destination airports takes time. So too loading and unloading the cargo. Plus, there will be customs and security checks in China and Dubai. Taking all this into consideration, here are some estimated shipping times:
Shanghai-Pudong to Dubai International – 5 days
Guangzhou to Dubai International – 7 days
Xiamen or Beijing to Dubai International – 8 days
Chengdu to Dubai International – 10 days
Qingdao to Dubai International – 6 days
Shenzhen to Dubai Al Maktoum – 8 days
