Draft — subject to legal review
This text is a working draft and may change before final publication. If anything is unclear, please contact us.
What does this policy cover?
This policy applies to every service we offer and every shipment we coordinate.
It covers quotes, bookings, sea, air and land freight, customs clearance coordination, warehousing, re-export and trucking on all our lanes. It applies to our staff and to the agents and partners who act for us.
Which laws and sanctions do we follow?
We comply with the laws of the United Arab Emirates and with the sanctions and controls that apply to each shipment.
| Framework | What it means for your shipment |
|---|---|
| UAE targeted financial sanctions, including the UAE Local Terrorist List and the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions (Cabinet Resolution No. 74 of 2020) | we cannot deal with listed persons or entities, or with entities they own or control |
| UN Security Council sanctions (Consolidated List) | the same applies to parties designated by the UN Security Council |
| UAE controls on dual-use and strategic goods (Federal Decree-Law No. 43 of 2021 on commodities subject to non-proliferation) | controlled items need the required licence before they are exported, re-exported or transited |
| UAE customs law and the rules of the origin, transit and destination countries | prohibited goods cannot move; restricted goods need permits |
| Other sanctions regimes that apply through the parties, carriers, banks or currencies involved (for example US, EU or UK measures) | carriers and banks may refuse a shipment or a payment even where UAE law allows it |
How do we screen parties, goods, routes and vessels?
We check every shipment before booking, and again if something important changes.
| What we check | How we check it |
|---|---|
| Customer, shipper, consignee, notify party and end user | names checked against the UAE Local Terrorist List, the UN Security Council Consolidated List and other lists that apply to the shipment; ownership and control where relevant |
| Goods | description, HS code and technical details checked against prohibited, restricted and dual-use controls; licences and permits confirmed |
| Destination and route | embargoed or sanctioned countries and regions, transshipment points and unusual routings |
| Vessel and carrier | vessel identified by its IMO number; flag, registered owner, operator and manager screened |
| Documents | invoice, packing list, bill of lading and declared route checked for consistency |
Name screening alone is not enough, so we look at the whole picture: who owns the parties, where the goods really go and whether the documents match. Each check is recorded in the case file, a compliance hold stops the case until it is cleared, and a person reviews every possible match.
When will we ask for end-use or ownership information?
We ask when the goods, the parties or the route need a closer look.
For example, when goods could have a military or dual-use application, when the end user is unclear, when the routing is unusual, or when a party’s name resembles a listed name. We may ask for an end-user statement, company registration documents, information on beneficial owners, or copies of licences and permits. If the information is not provided, we cannot proceed.
Which shipments do we refuse?
We decline, at any stage, any shipment that would breach the law or this policy.
- shipments involving a listed or sanctioned person or entity, or an entity owned or controlled by one;
- shipments to, from or through a destination where the trade is prohibited, which currently includes Iran;
- prohibited goods, or restricted and dual-use goods without the required licence (see restricted and prohibited goods);
- shipments with incomplete, inconsistent or false information about the goods, their value, origin or destination, or the parties;
- requests to hide a party, alter documents or disguise the real destination;
- cases where the customer will not provide information we reasonably need for screening.
We may refuse, suspend or cancel a booking at any stage and, where the law requires it, report to the competent UAE authorities. Costs caused by such a stop are handled as set out in the quotation and our trading conditions.
What is the status of Iran-related services?
All Iran-related services are suspended.
On 19 August 2026 the UAE Government decided to halt trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs). In line with that decision, we do not accept requests for shipments to, from or through Iran, or for parties in Iran. The current status of each lane is shown on our lane status page.
What do we expect from customers and partners?
We expect accurate information and the same commitment to compliance.
- describe the goods, their value, origin and end use truthfully, with the correct HS code;
- name the real shipper, consignee and end user, and tell us at once if any of them changes;
- obtain the licences and permits your goods need, and share copies with us;
- do not ask us to re-route, relabel or re-document goods to avoid controls.
Our agents and partners must follow equivalent screening and record-keeping standards.
How do we keep this policy effective?
We review this policy at least every six months and whenever sanctions or the law change.
Staff who handle quotes and bookings must be trained on this policy, screening records are kept for the period the law requires, and a case on compliance hold can be released only by an authorised person.
How can I report a concern?
If you have a compliance concern about a shipment, a party or a message that claims to come from us, email info@niloceanshipping.com with the subject “Compliance”. We handle such reports confidentially. To check whether a message really comes from us, see Verify Nil Ocean.
Questions about this page?
Contact us and we’ll answer in English, Arabic or Persian.