FCL ocean freight
Full-container sea freight from China to the UAE, Iraq and the GCC, with one named coordinator, an itemised quote and every stage in your case file.
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Ports, transport modes and typical transit ranges for this lane, taken directly from our lane record.
| Route | China → United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
| Lane status | Restricted |
| Origin ports | ShanghaiCNSHANingbo-ZhoushanCNNGBShenzhenCNSZXYantianCNYTNGuangzhouCNCANNanshaCNNSA |
| Destination ports | Jebel AliAEJEAKhor FakkanAEKLFKhalifa Port (Abu Dhabi)AEKHLSharjahAESHJSoharOMSOH |
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| Transport modes | Sea — full container (FCL) · Sea — shared container (LCL) · Sea + road (multimodal) |
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| Transit: Sea — full container (FCL) | 20–35 daysTransit 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. |
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| Transit: Sea — shared container (LCL) | 25–42 daysTransit 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. |
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| Port-to-port time on direct services | About 3–4 weeks before 2026; diversions now add days |
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| UAE customs duty | Generally 5% of CIF value; exemptions and higher rates apply |
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| Import VAT | 5%, administered by the Federal Tax Authority |
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| Declarations | Filed electronically by a licensed clearing agent through Dubai Trade |
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| 2026 routing | Discharge at Khor Fakkan, Fujairah or Sohar, then bonded truck to Jebel Ali (Notice 03/2026) |
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| Free zone option | JAFZA storage with duty suspended until import or re-export |
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| Facts as of | 1 November 2026 |
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As of 1 Nov 2026
Most lanes can be served in more than one way. The right choice depends on your deadline, budget and destination documents.
| Option | Transit (indicative) | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea to Khor Fakkan or Fujairah, bonded truck to Jebel Ali | 20–35 days plus anchorage waits | Standard 2026 routing; Jebel Ali stays the final destination on the bill of lading | Anchorage queues, truck availability and a contingency trucking surcharge |
| Sea to Sohar (Oman), truck into the UAE | Similar sea leg, plus border formalities | Extra capacity when UAE east-coast ports are congested | Two customs administrations and queues at crossings such as Hatta |
| Clearance at the east-coast port, direct delivery | Saves the road leg to Jebel Ali | Practical for consignees in Sharjah and the northern emirates | Duty and VAT are paid at the discharge port; not suited to JAFZA or re-export cargo |
| LCL through a consolidator | Add about 1–2 weeks for consolidation and deconsolidation | Pay per cubic metre for small volumes or several suppliers | More handling, destination warehouse charges and less predictable dates |
Sea to Khor Fakkan or Fujairah, bonded truck to Jebel Ali
Sea to Sohar (Oman), truck into the UAE
Clearance at the east-coast port, direct delivery
LCL through a consolidator
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.
Status and facts as of 1 November 2026. Conditions change quickly: check our lane status board before you book.
Most cargo sails from the main container hubs in East, South and North China and is booked to Jebel Ali, the UAE's largest container port.
| Origin region | Main ports (UN/LOCODE) | Typical supplier areas |
|---|---|---|
| East China | Shanghai (CNSHA), Ningbo-Zhoushan (CNNGB) | Shanghai, Zhejiang (including Yiwu), Jiangsu |
| South China | Shenzhen and Yantian (CNSZX, CNYTN), Guangzhou and Nansha (CNCAN, CNNSA), Xiamen (CNXMN) | Guangdong, Fujian |
| North China | Qingdao (CNTAO), Tianjin Xingang (CNTXG) | Shandong, Hebei, Tianjin |
On the UAE side, cargo is booked to Jebel Ali (AEJEA), Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi (AEKHL) or Sharjah (AESHJ). In 2026 it is often discharged first at Khor Fakkan (AEKLF) or Fujairah on the UAE east coast, or at Sohar in Oman (OMSOH).
Since about 1 March 2026 most mainline container ships have not transited the Strait of Hormuz, so Jebel Ali is now reached mainly through ports outside the Strait plus a road leg.
Dubai Customs Notice 03/2026 of 8 March 2026 allows containers discharged at Khor Fakkan or Fujairah to move to Jebel Ali by bonded truck, with Jebel Ali kept as the final destination on the bill of lading (Al Tamimi & Co). Reported median anchorage waits in the first week of August 2026 were about 9 days at Fujairah and about 5 days at Khor Fakkan and Sohar (Nautica Post), and they change week to week. See our Hormuz advisory and the bonded trucking notice.
UAE imports are declared electronically by a licensed clearing agent, and duty is generally 5% of the CIF value plus 5% import VAT.
The rules are set by Dubai Customs and the Federal Tax Authority; see our UAE import checklist.
In 2026, surcharges and the onward truck can move your landed cost as much as the base ocean rate.
These are reported market examples, not our prices. Your quote shows every line separately with a validity date.
Most problems on this lane come from routing changes, late documents and free time, and each has a simple control.
| Risk | How we reduce it |
|---|---|
| Discharge at a different port than planned | We confirm the discharge port and the onward truck in writing before loading |
| Free time starting at the east-coast port | We ask the carrier when demurrage starts and record it on your cost sheet |
| Documents not ready on arrival | Final invoice, packing list and certificate of origin before the vessel arrives |
| New or changed surcharges | Any new charge needs your approval in the portal before it is billed |
| Changed empty return depot | We confirm the depot before the container is collected |
We don't publish fixed prices because rates change every week. These are the charges that commonly appear on this lane; your quote shows which ones apply to your shipment.
The price we quote is the price you pay. If a carrier, port or authority adds a charge later, we show it in your case file and ask for your approval before billing.
Common questions about Shipping from China to the UAE.
Direct sailings from the main Chinese ports to Jebel Ali typically took about three to four weeks port to port before 2026. Diversions via Khor Fakkan, Fujairah or Sohar, anchorage waits and bonded trucking now add days, so we give a range that depends on carrier, port pair and season and confirm it on your booking.
Usually yes on paper: under Dubai Customs Notice 03/2026 the bill of lading can keep Jebel Ali as the final destination while the container is discharged at Khor Fakkan or Fujairah and trucked in bond. We confirm the discharge port, the onward truck and the free-time start before loading.
Either the carrier moves the box under its bill of lading and adds a contingency trucking surcharge, or the trucking is arranged on the cargo owner's side. Your quote states which applies, the amount and its validity, and any later change needs your approval.
UAE customs duty is generally 5% of the CIF value under the GCC Common Customs Tariff, with exemptions and higher rates for some goods, and 5% import VAT applies. Goods stored in JAFZA and re-exported generally do not pay UAE duty.
Compare like-for-like quotes: the break-even is often around 12–18 CBM for a 20ft container, but destination LCL charges vary widely. If you buy from several suppliers, consolidating them into one container can beat several LCL shipments. See our FCL vs LCL guide.
Yes. Goods can enter JAFZA without paying UAE duty, be stored, checked or combined, and leave on a re-export declaration to Iraq, the GCC or East Africa. We coordinate the storage through licensed partner warehouses and plan the onward leg in the same case file.
Full-container sea freight from China to the UAE, Iraq and the GCC, with one named coordinator, an itemised quote and every stage in your case file.
Ship smaller volumes by sea in a shared container from China to Dubai, and consolidate goods from several suppliers in Jebel Ali for the UAE, Iraq, the GCC or East Africa.
Sea freight combined with bonded or cross-border trucking: the main way into Jebel Ali in 2026 via Khor Fakkan, Fujairah or Sohar, and a flexible way to reach inland Iraq and the GCC.
We prepare and check your customs documents, estimate duties by HS code and coordinate licensed customs brokers at origin and destination, with every step visible in your case file.
Short- and medium-term storage, consolidation and re-export handling in Jebel Ali Free Zone or on the Dubai mainland, coordinated through licensed partner warehouses.
Next step
Share the cargo, volume and ready date. Your coordinator will compare the route options and send an itemised quote.
Restricted: extra checks apply
Operating with restrictions. Since about 1 March 2026 most mainline container ships do not transit the Strait of Hormuz, so Dubai-bound cargo is usually discharged at Khor Fakkan, Fujairah or Sohar and moved to Jebel Ali by bonded truck under Dubai Customs Notice 03/2026. Expect longer, less predictable transit and separate surcharges; we confirm the discharge port in writing before you ship.
ChinatoUnited Arab Emirates
Sea freight from China to the UAE usually runs from Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen or Qingdao to Jebel Ali and took about three to four weeks port to port on direct services before 2026. Since about March 2026 most mainline ships avoid the Strait of Hormuz, so Dubai cargo is often discharged at Khor Fakkan, Fujairah or Sohar and trucked in bond to Jebel Ali under Dubai Customs Notice 03/2026, which adds days and surcharges.
From
China
To
United Arab Emirates
Transit time (indicative)
