Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to United Arab Emirates
Jebel Ali is the re-export capital of the Middle East — 5% duty, 5% VAT, no import age limit, and free zone storage that defers every tax until your unit's final market is decided. We load for Dubai weekly.
United Arab Emirates at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $1,800+
- Ocean transit
- 31–38 days (East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Jebel Ali (Dubai)
- Import duty + VAT
- 5% + 5% VAT
- Re-export hub
- Free zone: all taxes deferred
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to United Arab Emirates: What You Need to Know
Jebel Ali is the busiest port between Rotterdam and Singapore, and Dubai has built the world's great vehicle re-export bazaar around it. The import math is the friendliest in the region: 5% duty plus 5% VAT, with no age limit on what you can bring in — registration rules vary by emirate, but the import door itself stands wide open. Cars, heavy trucks, buses, and machinery all move through the same gateway, on weekly sailings from the U.S. East Coast.
A huge share of this lane is U.S. auction and salvage stock: Dubai's repair ecosystem rebuilds American units and re-exports them across Africa, the CIS, and the wider Gulf. Classics over 30 years old enter duty-exempt, and free zone entry lets traders hold inventory with every tax deferred until a unit's final buyer is found — clear into the UAE, or re-export with nothing owed locally. We run weekly East Coast consolidations built for exactly this trade.
Key takeaway
Expect 5% duty + 5% VAT on CIF — roughly half of Saudi Arabia's total — with no import age limit. Free zone entry defers all taxes for re-export units, and classics over 30 years clear duty-exempt. Salvage units are welcome; Dubai repairs and re-exports them by the thousands.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to United Arab Emirates
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Jebel Ali | 31–38 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Jebel Ali | 33–40 days | Weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | Jebel Ali | 32–39 days | Weekly |
| Houston, TX | Jebel Ali | 38–45 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to United Arab Emirates from the Port of Savannah
Seaway Export is headquartered at the Port of Savannah, Georgia — one of the fastest-growing container ports in the United States and our primary export gateway. We run regular sailings from Savannah to United Arab Emirates, backed by departures from New York/New Jersey, Houston, and Los Angeles/Long Beach, so we can route your cargo on the lane that reaches United Arab Emirates fastest and at the best price.
Cars, SUVs, pickups & classic vehicles — container or RoRo
Boats, yachts & personal watercraft — cradled or lift-on/lift-off
Heavy equipment & machinery — flat rack, breakbulk or RoRo
What It Costs to Ship to United Arab Emirates
Indicative per-unit rates from U.S. ports. Your exact rate depends on vehicle dimensions, departure region, and current vessel space.
| Service | Typical Rate | What to Know | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container (consolidated) | $1,800 – $2,600 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $3,000 – $4,200 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $4,000 – $5,700 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | $2,200 – $3,200 | Drive-on service, no container | Running vehicles, trucks, machinery |
| Flat rack / breakbulk | Custom quote | For oversized & non-running units | Heavy equipment, boats |
Rates shown are indicative ranges from the U.S. East Coast and are confirmed at booking.
Estimate your landed cost to United Arab Emirates →Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentUnited Arab Emirates Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 5% | 5% | No import age limit |
| Salvage / repairable units | 5% | 5% | Core of Dubai re-export trade |
| Classic cars (30+ yrs) | 0% | 5% | Duty-exempt as classics |
| Free zone entry (re-export) | 0% | 0% | Taxes deferred until cleared |
| Heavy machinery | 5% | 5% | Some categories duty-exempt |
Indicative rates for general guidance — final assessment is made by customs at arrival. Our team confirms the exact landed cost before you book.
Documents You'll Need
- Original vehicle title (Certificate of Title) — lien-free
- Bill of sale or commercial invoice
- Copy of passport or government ID
- U.S. AES export filing (we handle this)
- Import declaration at destination (we coordinate)
- Packing list for personal items, if any
Trading through Dubai?
Land your units in a Jebel Ali free zone and pay nothing until each one sells: clear into the UAE at 5% + 5% only when a local buyer appears, or re-export to Africa, the CIS, or the Gulf with no UAE taxes at all. We arrange free zone handling, storage, and onward bookings.
What We Ship to United Arab Emirates
Every cargo type has its own routing, loading method, and import path. Pick yours to see the exact process.
Cars, SUVs & Classics
Container or RoRo service into United Arab Emirates's main vehicle gateways, with full customs handling.
- Sedans, SUVs & pickups
- Classic & collector cars
- Motorcycles & ATVs
Heavy Equipment
Flat rack, breakbulk, and container loading for construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery bound for United Arab Emirates.
- Excavators & dozers
- Agricultural machinery
- Oversized project cargo
Boats & Yachts
Cradled container loading or lift-on/lift-off service for boats and personal watercraft headed to United Arab Emirates.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to United Arab Emirates
| Feature | Container | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Personal items allowed inside | ||
| Non-running vehicles accepted | ||
| Lowest cost for running cars | ||
| Weather-protected transit | ||
| Multiple vehicles per booking |
Popular U.S. → United Arab Emirates Routes
New York / New Jersey → Jebel Ali
31–38 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Jebel Ali
33–40 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Baltimore, MD → Jebel Ali
32–39 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Houston, TX → Jebel Ali
38–45 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to United Arab Emirates Moves
Quote & booking
Day 0Lock in your rate and vessel space. We confirm pickup windows and the best departure port for your route.
U.S. pickup & delivery to port
Days 1–7Door pickup from any auction, dealer, or residence. Condition photos taken at every handoff.
Export clearance & loading
Days 5–12AES filing, title validation with CBP (72-hour rule), professional loading, blocking, and bracing.
Ocean transit
31–38 days (East Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Jebel Ali (Dubai).
Customs & handover
2–7 daysImport declaration, duty and tax payment, and release. Optional onward trucking to your final destination.
Buying from a U.S. auction? Read our step-by-step playbook before you bid.
Read the auction shipping guideFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about shipping to United Arab Emirates. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
No — the UAE has no import age limit, which is what makes Jebel Ali the region's re-export capital. You can land cars of any year at 5% duty plus 5% VAT. Registration rules vary by emirate, but the import door itself stands wide open. Even salvage and repairable units are welcome — Dubai's repair ecosystem rebuilds them and re-exports across Africa, the CIS, and the Gulf.
Land your units in a Jebel Ali free zone and you pay nothing until each one's final market is decided. If a local buyer appears, clear into the UAE at 5% + 5%; if not, re-export to Africa, the CIS, or the Gulf with no UAE taxes owed at all. It lets traders hold inventory tax-deferred. We arrange free zone handling, storage, and onward bookings.
Absolutely — that's the heart of Dubai's trade. A huge share of this lane is U.S. auction and salvage stock that gets repaired in Dubai and re-exported across Africa, the CIS, and the wider Gulf. As long as the unit stays in the free zone regime, no UAE tax is ever due on a re-export. We run weekly East Coast consolidations built for exactly this flow and book the onward leg.
About 31–38 days from the East Coast. We sail weekly from New York/New Jersey, Savannah, and Baltimore to Jebel Ali, with biweekly service from Houston (38–45 days). Classics over 30 years old enter duty-exempt, and we can consolidate multiple units per container to cut per-unit freight for traders. We coordinate clearance or free zone entry on arrival.
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