Shipping times and costs from Dallas, United States of America to Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
22 - 28 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £13,034 - £14,404
Shipping costs by sea £6,843 - £7,562

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £10,527 - £11,634

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £15,791 - £17,451

Please note: the prices listed here are meant as an estimate only. The best way to get a comprehensive, tailored quote is to fill out our form and be matched with a supplier.

Shipping Container Costs to United Arab Emirates

Dubai is the sizzling, ultramodern financial hub of the United Arab Emirates, located in the south of the Persian Gulf. Its beautiful coastline and unique architecture have made it extremely popular with expats from all around the world. Home to around 3.1 million people, the city has the tallest building on Earth (the Burj Khalifa), a luxury shopping centre (the Dubai Mall), and some seriously excellent nightlife. Here’s what you need to know about shipping stuff there.

Different shipping options

It’s easy to move your belongings to Dubai. After you’ve decided what you’re bringing, you need to choose between two options: air freight or sea freight.

For people moving in a rush, air freight is best. Most cargo planes can travel to Dubai from anywhere in the world in only two or three days. However, air freight is also very expensive, so it’s best avoided if you’re moving on a budget.

On the other hand, sea freight is significantly cheaper, normally costing about five times less than air freight. While the service is much slower, it’s also much more affordable, so it’s important that you plan your move well in advance.

If you do opt for sea freight, one of our suppliers will ship your belongings in either a 20ft or a 40ft container. For smaller volumes of cargo there is a process called Less Than Container Load (LCL), in which several people share the use of one container. Most of our suppliers offer a door-to-door service, meaning they’ll look after every part of the process from your old home all the way to your new one.

Major shipping routes

There’s a huge shipping port right on Dubai’s doorstep, which makes things very handy. Jebel Ali is a massive container terminal and the busiest port in the Middle East. Once your container reaches Dubai, it will pass through customs at Jebel Ali before going by truck and/or train to your new residence.

Clearing customs in the UAE

Papers please! Customs can seem a bit daunting, but our experienced shipping suppliers will help you through it. Fortunately, the UAE’s customs process is fairly straightforward. You are required to create an inventory (i.e. a detailed list) of all the items you’re bringing into the country, being as thorough and accurate as possible. Customs officials may physically open your shipment and inspect it, so it’s important that everything inside matches up with what’s written in your inventory.

You are allowed to import your personal effects and household goods duty-free into UAE, but these items must a) be used and b) arrive no more than six months after you have obtained your UAE residence visa. See below for an idea of what’s prohibited or restricted by UAE customs, while you can also find out more on their official customs website.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
33 Cubic Meters
5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £10,527 - £11,634

Get a quote for a 20ft container
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  • Boxes
    16 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedrooms
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

40Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
67 Cubic Meters
12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £20,002 - £22,105

Get a quote for a 40ft container
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  • Boxes
    28 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedroom
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x car, 1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

Car shipped by sea freight

Max Dimensions: 5.75m x 2.2m x 2.2m (l x w x h)

Base Price: £3,258 - £3,601

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £12,627 - £16,884

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Unusual Restricted Items

Products from Protected Species
Crude Ivory and Rhinoceros horn.
Non-Islamic Religious Pamphlets
Pamphlets that are meant for missionary activities
Controlled medicines and Narcotics
All medicines on the controlled drugs list. See exemptions.
Money
Amounts in excess of AED 100,000, forged and duplicated currency.
Goods from Israeli origin
Goods from Israeli origin or bearing Israeli trademarks or logos.
Cooked food
Cooked and home-made foods