Free zone storage
Goods held in a designated free zone sit under duty suspension. Nothing is payable while they stay there, which suits stock awaiting onward sale.
Last reviewed
Sea freight · China → UAE
Sea freight from China to the UAE — Jebel Ali, Khalifa, and Sharjah, with the free-zone or mainland question settled first.
Weekly sailings from Shenzhen, Shekou, and Shanghai to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port, and Sharjah in 18–25 days. The freight is straightforward; the duty bill depends on whether cargo stays in a free zone under suspension or crosses to the mainland. We structure that before quoting the rate.
18–25dport-to-port range
Free zoneor mainland, structured
5%GCC duty on mainland
24hquote turnaround
18–25d
Sea port-to-port range
3
UAE sea gateways
5%
GCC duty + 5% VAT
Free zone
duty suspension available
The decision that sets your duty
Free zone, mainland, or transit — pick before you ship.
The UAE is a re-export hub as much as a consumption market. Getting the structure right is worth more than negotiating the freight rate.
Mainland import
Moving goods into the local market triggers 5% GCC duty and 5% VAT. The importer needs a trade licence and customs code.
Transit and re-export
Cargo passing through to another GCC state, Africa, or the subcontinent, handled under transit procedures rather than import.
Ocean freight from China to the UAE — port-by-port transit.
days
UAE customs & compliance
What the importer needs before the vessel arrives.
UAE clearance is efficient when the paperwork matches and unforgiving when it does not. Invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin must agree exactly — mismatches are the usual cause of delay.
| Requirement | Who handles it | When |
|---|---|---|
| Valid trade licence | Importer — mandatory | Before first import |
| Customs client code | Importer — mandatory | Before first import |
| Customs declaration | Broker — Prodoer coordinates | At import |
| Certificate of origin | Shipper, attestation may be required | With documents |
| GCC duty 5% | Importer, on mainland entry | At entry |
| VAT 5% | Importer, on mainland entry | At entry |
How it works
Structure it, ship it, clear it, deliver it.
01 — Structure
Free zone or mainland
We establish where the goods are going and what that means for duty, VAT, and which entity is on the declaration.
02 — Document
Match the paperwork
Invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin are checked against each other before the vessel sails.
03 — Ship
Book the gateway
Jebel Ali, Khalifa, or Sharjah against the delivery point and the storage plan.
04 — Clear
Entry and delivery
Declaration, duty and VAT if entering the mainland, then delivery to the zone, warehouse, or onward carrier.
FAQ
China to UAE sea freight FAQ
Transit, free zone against mainland, duty and VAT, and re-export routing.
How long does sea freight from China to the UAE take?
18–24 days into Jebel Ali and 19–25 days into Khalifa Port or Sharjah, plus five to eight days for LCL consolidation. The UAE is a short ocean run from China via the Indian Ocean.
What is the difference between free zone and mainland import?
Free zone means duty suspended — nothing is payable while goods stay there, which is why the UAE works as a re-export hub. The moment goods move to the mainland for local sale, 5% GCC duty and 5% VAT become payable. Decide before the cargo arrives, not after.
What duty and VAT will I pay importing into the UAE?
Duty is 5% under the GCC common tariff for most goods. VAT is 5% on mainland import. Both are suspended for free-zone storage. These rates are low, which is exactly why the structural question matters more than the rate.
Do I need a UAE company to import?
To import into the mainland, the importer of record needs a valid UAE trade licence and a customs client code. Free-zone storage and pure transit work differently. Tell us your commercial setup at quote time.
Can you ship onward from Dubai to other markets?
Yes — cargo held in a free zone can be re-exported to other GCC states, East Africa, or the subcontinent without entering the UAE market. That is handled under transit or re-export procedures and changes both the documentation and the duty position.
China → UAE sea freight
Get an all-in China to UAE sea-freight quote in 24 hours.
Send the cargo, origin, UAE destination, and whether goods go to a free zone or the mainland. One agent replies with compared FCL/LCL rates and the duty position for that structure.
Get an all-in China to UAE sea-freight quote in 24 hours.
Send the cargo, origin, UAE destination, and whether goods go to a free zone or the mainland. One agent replies with compared FCL/LCL rates and the duty position for that structure.