The essentials at a glance. Figures marked as indicative depend on the carrier, season and cargo, and are confirmed in your quote.
| Our role | Coordination: we prepare and check documents and work with licensed customs brokers who file the declarations |
|---|---|
| UAE | Duty generally 5% of CIF value; import VAT 5%; importer needs a trade licence and customs client code |
| Iraq | ASYCUDA World since 1 Jan 2026; per-item duties under Decision 957/2025; e-verification since 10 Jul 2026 |
| Saudi Arabia | Declarations via FASAH; SABER certificates for regulated products; VAT 15% |
| Kenya and Tanzania | KRA iCMS and TRA TANCIS; KEBS PVoC and TBS conformity for regulated products |
| Duties on your cost sheet | Shown as estimates until customs assesses them; passed through at cost after your approval |
| Delays shown as | External blockers in your case file (for example a customs system outage), with the source |
|---|
| Facts as of | 1 November 2026 |
|---|
As of 1 Nov 2026
These are the same stages you will see in your case file in the customer portal.
We check the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, bill of lading and power of attorney.
You approve the proposed HS codes and the duty and tax estimate.
Conformity certificates, e-verification and permits are completed before arrival.
The licensed broker files the declaration and we post its reference and status.
We coordinate the inspection and record its reason and result.
You approve the assessed duties, they are paid and the release is posted to your case file.
Your quote itemises every charge, so you can see exactly what is covered before you approve it.
It covers everything around the declaration: document preparation and checks, HS classification, duty estimates, broker coordination, inspection follow-up and release.
Because declarations are filed by licensed customs brokers, and we coordinate them on your behalf rather than presenting ourselves as the broker.
This keeps responsibilities clear: the broker is accountable for the filing, the importer of record for the declared facts, and Nil Ocean Shipping for preparing the file, briefing the broker and keeping you informed. Our customs FAQ explains how this works on each lane.
Each destination runs its own system, duty basis and conformity checks, so the document set is planned per country.
| Country | Declaration system | Duty basis (as of 1 Nov 2026) | Watch-outs | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Dubai Customs / Dubai Trade | Generally 5% of CIF value; import VAT 5% | Importer needs a trade licence and customs client code | Dubai Customs |
| Iraq | ASYCUDA World (since 1 Jan 2026) | Per item by HS code under Decision 957/2025 | E-verification of certificates of origin and invoices since 10 Jul 2026; COC for regulated goods | Deloitte summary |
| Saudi Arabia | FASAH | GCC tariff, many lines above 5%; VAT 15% | SABER certificates for regulated products | ZATCA |
| Kenya | KRA iCMS | EAC Common External Tariff; VAT 16% | KEBS PVoC certificate for regulated products | KRA |
| Tanzania | TRA TANCIS via TeSWS | EAC Common External Tariff; VAT 18% (mainland) | TBS verification for regulated products | TRA |
Rates and rules change; we confirm them for every shipment with the licensed broker. See our Iraq customs 2026 guide and country checklists for the UAE, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Duties are estimated from the HS code, the customs value and the origin of each item, and the final amount is set only when customs assesses the declaration.
We show duties and taxes on your cost sheet as estimates and pass them through at cost after your approval. In Iraq, customs may value goods on the commercial invoice or on its official tariff-book value, so the assessment can differ from what was declared; we explain any difference and the options before you pay.
Most delays start with a document that does not match or was not ready, not with the declaration itself.
We start conformity certificates and checks before booking, so most problems are solved while the cargo is still at origin.
We coordinate the inspection with the broker and the terminal, record the reason and the result in your case file, and tell you about any extra cost before it is incurred.
Inspection, scanning or lab-test fees are third-party charges passed through at cost. If customs disputes a classification or value, we brief you on the options and the broker's advice before anything is agreed.
A typical checklist. Your coordinator confirms the exact list for your cargo and destination, and you upload everything in the portal.
Every shipment is screened against applicable sanctions lists and checked for restricted or prohibited goods before booking. Some routes and commodities need extra documents or cannot be accepted.
Compliance & sanctions policyRestricted & prohibited goodsLane status
Answers to the questions customers ask most about Customs clearance coordination.
We coordinate customs clearance: we prepare and check the documents and work with licensed customs brokers at origin and destination, who file the declarations. Every step, from document check to release, appears in your case file.
The general UAE customs duty is 5% of the CIF value, and 5% import VAT applies, but some goods have different rates or exemptions. We give you an estimate by HS code before arrival and pass the assessed amount through at cost.
Since 1 January 2026 declarations run through ASYCUDA World and duties are calculated per item by HS code under Decision 957/2025. Since 10 July 2026 certificates of origin and invoices must be e-verified before a declaration is processed.
The importer is responsible for the declared classification. We propose HS codes based on your product details, the broker reviews them and you approve them before filing; for uncertain items we recommend asking customs for a ruling where available.
We explain the assessment, the broker's view and your options before you pay. In Iraq, customs may use its tariff-book value instead of the invoice value, so we check likely values early.
Yes, once the permit is issued. Permits for food, cosmetics, medicines, radio equipment or chemicals are usually the importer's responsibility; we tell you which are needed before booking.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Iraq now clears imports through ASYCUDA World and charges duty per item by HS code under Decision 957/2025, and since 10 July 2026 certificates of origin and invoices must be e-verified. Here is what changed, why declarations get rejected and how to prepare a shipment.
8 min read1 Nov 2026
Next step
Send your route and cargo details. A named coordinator replies with an itemised quote and the next steps.
Customs clearance coordination means we prepare and check your documents, confirm HS codes and duty estimates with you, and work with licensed customs brokers who file the declarations at origin and destination. Nil Ocean Shipping coordinates clearance in the UAE, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and East Africa, tracks each step from document check to release in your case file, and shows duties as estimates that you approve before payment.
Regulated goods shipped to Iraq need a Certificate of Conformity issued before export by a COSQC-appointed inspection body, and it is checked at the Iraqi border. This guide explains which goods need it, who applies, the steps, typical lead times and how to avoid the delays that hold containers at the port.
7 min read1 Nov 2026
Under DAP the seller delivers to the named place and the buyer pays import clearance, duties and taxes. Under DDP the seller pays all of that as well and carries the risk until delivery. Many “DDP all-in” offers from China are really DAP: duty, VAT or destination charges are billed on arrival. Ask who the importer of record is and which costs are written into the price.
7 min read1 Nov 2026
Incoterms® 2020 are eleven ICC rules that decide where the seller delivers, when risk passes to the buyer and who pays each cost and customs step. For importers in the GCC, Iraq and Africa buying from China, FOB or FCA usually gives the most control over freight, CIF is common but leaves destination costs open, and DAP or DDP shift the work to the seller. Always name the exact place and the version.
9 min read1 Nov 2026
