Nil Ocean Shipping coordinates cargo on the corridors we know best: China to the UAE, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; the UAE to Iraq and the wider GCC; and Jebel Ali to Kenya, Tanzania and Djibouti. Each lane page lists the ports, route options, indicative transit times, documents and charges that may apply, and shows whether the lane is operating, restricted or suspended.
4 operating · 4 restricted · 3 suspended. We review each status whenever conditions change.
Open the lane status board01 · 2 lanes
ChinatoIraq
FCL and LCL sea freight from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Qingdao and other Chinese ports to Umm Qasr, or through Jebel Ali or Türkiye, with Iraq's 2026 customs rules (ASYCUDA, Decision 957/2025, e-verification) built into every case.
United Arab EmiratestoIraq
Feeder, RoRo and overland options from Jebel Ali and Dubai to Umm Qasr, Baghdad and Erbil, including JAFZA storage and re-export, with Iraq's 2026 document checks prepared before departure.
02 · 3 lanes
ChinatoUnited Arab Emirates
FCL and LCL sea freight from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Qingdao and other Chinese ports to Dubai, with 2026 routing via Khor Fakkan, Fujairah or Sohar and bonded trucking to Jebel Ali.
United Arab EmiratestoSaudi Arabia
Road freight from Dubai and the rest of the UAE to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, with sea options where carriers accept Gulf bookings, transit documents prepared before loading and an update at every border.
ChinatoSaudi Arabia
FCL and LCL sea freight from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Qingdao and other Chinese ports to Jeddah or Dammam, or via the UAE with overland trucking to Riyadh and the Eastern Province, with SABER and FASAH requirements checked before loading.
03 · 3 lanes
United Arab EmiratestoKenya
FCL and LCL sea freight and re-export from Jebel Ali and JAFZA to Mombasa, with Kenyan documents such as the IDF and KEBS certificate checked before loading, and onward transit on the Northern Corridor where we can cover it.
United Arab EmiratestoTanzania
FCL and LCL sea freight and re-export from Jebel Ali and JAFZA to Dar es Salaam, with the TIN, TBS certificate and TANCIS documents aligned before loading, and onward transit to inland markets where we can cover it.
United Arab EmiratestoDjibouti
FCL and LCL sea freight and re-export from Jebel Ali and JAFZA to the Port of Djibouti, for Djibouti consignees or for transit to Ethiopia by road or rail to inland dry ports such as Modjo, with the bank and transit documents aligned before loading.
04 · 3 lanes
ChinatoIran
Status notice: the China–Iran lane is suspended and no requests are accepted.
United Arab EmiratestoIran
Status notice: the UAE–Iran lane is suspended and no requests are accepted.
IrantoIran
Status notice: inland transport in Iran from Bandar Abbas and Chabahar is suspended and no requests are accepted.
Transit times are indicative ranges based on recent sailings. They change with carrier schedules, transshipment and port congestion; your quote states the expected range for your shipment.
Next step
We may still be able to help. Send the origin, destination and cargo, and a coordinator will confirm the options.
