For cargo starting in China, see our guide to shipping from China to Iraq, which compares direct sailings to Umm Qasr with routing through Jebel Ali.

When is a container feeder the right choice?

A feeder is the right choice for most containerised cargo bound for Basra, Baghdad and southern or central Iraq, because it is the most regular and widely available service on this lane.

• Capacity has grown. PIL has run a Jebel Ali–Umm Qasr feeder since 2024, Gulftainer launched a dedicated UAE–Umm Qasr feeder in July 2026, and Iraqi Line has resumed regional sailings.
• North or South terminal. Umm Qasr has North and South terminals, and carriers increasingly discharge there rather than at Basra. Confirm which terminal your carrier uses, because clearance arrangements and inland trucking differ.
• Hormuz. Jebel Ali and Umm Qasr both lie west of the Strait of Hormuz, so this voyage does not pass through it. Regional war-risk surcharges, insurance conditions and schedule changes in 2026 can still affect cost and timing; check our lane status page.
• Free time is short. Operators have reported free time at Umm Qasr of about 7–10 days, while clearance can take 4–10 days. Early in 2026 a backlog of more than 50,000 containers built up at Umm Qasr during the move to the new customs system; it was later reported cleared, but it shows why a time buffer matters.

When does RoRo make sense?

RoRo makes sense for cargo that can be driven or towed on board: cars, trucks, construction equipment and loaded trailers.

DP World launched a direct RoRo freight service between Jebel Ali and Umm Qasr in 2023, announced as about 36 hours at sea for unaccompanied trailers, compared with about 14 days by land (Iraq Business News). Schedules can change, so confirm the current sailing before you plan around it.

• Advantages: no container stuffing, less handling for heavy machinery, and a trailer can roll off and continue by road.
• Limits: cargo must be self-propelled or on trailers or roll trailers, sailings are less frequent than container feeders, and lashing and securing must meet the operator's rules.
• Vehicles: Iraq applies its own rules to imported vehicles. Check eligibility and documents with your buyer or clearance agent before you buy a vehicle for export.

For out-of-gauge or very heavy items, see our project and breakbulk cargo service.

When is trucking the better option?

Trucking is better when the cargo must go door to door from a UAE warehouse to a site in Iraq without a port stage, or when the load does not justify a feeder booking.

• Route: from the UAE through Saudi Arabia and on to Iraq, depending on which border crossings are open to your type of cargo. Each country on the way has its own transit procedure, guarantees and documents.
• Time: border queues and transit formalities make the time hard to predict. DP World's comparison in 2023 was about 14 days by land; plan with a buffer and confirm before booking.
• Weight and dimensions: axle-weight and dimension rules apply in every country on the route, and they can be lower than what a container could carry at sea.
• Northern Iraq: cargo for the Kurdistan Region often reaches it through Turkey and the Ibrahim Khalil crossing rather than from the south. ASYCUDA pre-declaration has been reported as mandatory there for commercial goods since 1 June 2026.

What documents does Iraq require in 2026?

Iraq now requires a locally registered importer, an ASYCUDA World declaration, electronically verified certificates of origin and invoices, and a Certificate of Conformity for regulated goods.

The e-verification rule is summarised by Deloitte. Since 1 January 2026 duties have been calculated per item by HS code under Decision 957/2025; our guides to Iraq customs in 2026 and the Iraq COC explain both in detail.

What drives the cost of shipping from Dubai to Iraq?

The freight itself is usually a smaller share of the total than Iraqi port, customs and time-related charges.

• Feeder or RoRo freight, plus any war-risk or emergency surcharge and its validity date.
• Terminal handling at Jebel Ali and at Umm Qasr, delivery order and port fees.
• Iraqi duties per item, plus customs and port fees, which traders reported rising sharply in early 2026.
• COC or inspection fees, paid at origin.
• Inland trucking in Iraq, and security arrangements where needed.
• Demurrage, detention and storage if clearance or collection is slow.

We do not publish fixed prices for this lane because these items move often. Ask for an itemised quote: at Nil Ocean every line is marked included, estimated or pass-through, and any new charge needs your approval.

How do you avoid delays and demurrage in Iraq?

Prepare the Iraqi side before the cargo leaves Dubai, because almost every serious delay starts with a document that was not ready.

1. Start the COC early and confirm whether each HS code needs a COC or a Certificate of Inspection.
2. Check that invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and declaration match line by line.
3. Confirm the importer of record and the terminal (North or South) before booking.
4. Get free days in writing and ask whether extended free time is available.
5. Plan collection and trucking in advance, and remember that customs offices close for several days around Eid.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Rules and rates change; confirm the requirements for your shipment with your coordinator or the relevant authority.