International Removals
Container shipping to the UAE
Shipping Container UK to United Arab Emirates from £380*
Get a cost for shipping containers to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates from the UK – best rates for 20ft & 40ft containers
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Moving to the UAE and need to ship your belongings? Our container shipping service to the UAE combines the best prices with the best customer service for both expats going home and new migrants. For 40 years, our shipping services to Dubai and the Emirates have helped families with all their removal needs, from cars and small shipments of furniture, tea cartons, and personal effects to complete home removals, including the kitchen sink!
Container shipping to the UAE from the UK typically starts at around £1,105 for a shared container (LCL), with prices for a full container service (FCL) increasing to approximately £3,804 for a standard 20ft container and £4,085 for a larger 40ft container. For a standard house move to the UAE, costs depend on the size of your home and the level of service required.
Sea freight times from the UK to the UAE are around 5-7 weeks for a full container load (FCL) or 7-10 weeks for a shared container/groupage service (Sometimes called less than container load – LCL), and approximately 3-10 days air freight. In addition, you will also need to allow added time for customs clearance. Typically, our professional packers require 2-4 days to pack and load a container.
How Much Does Container Shipping to the UAE Cost?
The cost of shipping your container to the UAE depends on several factors, including the city in the UAE you plan to move to and the size of your container. For example, shipping a 40 ft or 20 ft container to inland locations may have a higher cost compared to port cities due to the increased transportation time.
You can view an indication of the pricing below or contact our team for an exact quote
(Costs last updated May 2026)
| Location | 5 Boxes | 10 Boxes | 1 Bed (Groupage) | 3 Bed (20ft Container) | 4 Bed (40ft Container) | 5 Bed (40ft High Cube) |
| Dubai | £235 | £405 | £1,375 | £4,434 | £6,425 | £7,315 |
| Abu Dhabi | £235 | £405 | £1,414 | £4,590 | £6,498 | £7,375 |
Don’t Just Take Our Word For It – Check Out Our Container Shipping To The UAE Reviews
Shipping your container to the UAE is easy with PSS
STEP 1
Home Survey or Quote
Get an online quote in 60 seconds or book a FREE home survey.
STEP 2
Help and Advice
Your dedicated Account Manager can help answer your questions and tailor your shipping requirements.
STEP 3
Quick and easy collection and shipping
Whether you are shipping your house contents boxes or furniture you will have our professional packing service.
STEP 4
Customs clearance & delivery to your new home
On arrival our agents will take care of customs clearance and deliver to your door.
What Does Our Shipping Container to the UAE Service Include?
- Door-to-door container shipping to the UAE
- Both part and full load services are available
- A dedicated Move Manager
- Assistance with any required documentation
- Export-quality packing materials
- Choice between self-pack or a professional packing service
- Advice on customs requirements
- Customs clearance on arrival
- Storage in the UK or the UAE if required
.
Full or Shared Container Shipping to the UAE
PSS offer two different types of container shipping to the UAE, including shared container shipping to the UAE alongside the two different shipping container sizes. We’ve detailed the differences below along with guidance on how to choose the correct container option for you.
For smaller shipments, we provide a shared or part load shipping container service. Your goods will be grouped together with those of other customer shipping to the UAE so the costs can be shared based on how much you send.
This is sometimes referred to as shared groupage or LCL (less than container load).
For shipping larger amounts, such as full household removals, we can provide a container for your sole use. We will arrange for the container to be delivered to your home, where we will pack it, and it will be customs sealed before heading to the port to embark for the UAE.
Our container shipping service to the UAE is designed for household goods, furniture and other personal effects for people moving to the UAE. If you need to ship commercial goods from the UK to the UAE, we recommend contacting a commercial freight forwarder.
How can we help? Call 0800 988 3711
Our friendly team are on hand to answer any questions.
"Why choose PSS International in May 2026?"
- Free home survey
- Family run business for over 40 years!
- We only handle Overseas Removals
- Members of BAR Overseas Group
- BAR Advance Payment Guarantee Scheme
- FIDI Global Alliance (Worldwide Moving Association)
- FAIM Accredited (Removal Quality Assurance Standard)
Container Shipping to the UAE cost calculator
Want to know how it will cost to send your belongings to Dubai and the UAE? Our free online Cost Calculator will help you estimate of the cost.
FAQ Guide for shipping containers from UK to the UAE
Below are answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions about overseas container shipping to the Emirates. There is a lot to consider with international moving which is why we allocate you a Move Manager to guide you through the whole shipping process.
How long does shipping a container to the UAE from the UK take?
Shipping times to the UAE and Dubai can vary depending on the shipping option used and the end destination. Shared (part load) container shipping takes longer than a sole-use container load as different customers shipments need to be consolidated to fill one container.
| Sea Freight Full Container | Sea Freight Shared Container | Air Freight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Shipping Times | 6-8 weeks | 8-12 weeks | 7-14 days |
NB: These are approximate sea freight shipping times to port only. You will need to allow additional time for customs clearance and final delivery to your destination.
How much does container shipping to the UAE and Dubai cost?
| Move Type | Container Size | Cost(GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bed House | Shared Container | £1615 – £2015 |
| 3 Bed House | 20 ft Container | £3355 – £4355 |
| 4 Bed House + Car | 40 ft Container | £5970 – £6970 |
Container shipping costs to the UAE will vary considerably according to a number of factors such as exactly when and where you are from and too. Also the amount of packing required for your shipment.
To get a quick estimate you can use the container shipping cost calculator on this page.
Our shipping quotes are for a full international removal shipping service including packing, door to door delivery and customs clearance. Beware of cheap shipping rates that are only a basic port to port service which will mean additional packing costs and other fees.
Cheap container shipping rates from UK to the UAE
We are also members of MTC (the Movers Traders Club) which provides us with economies of scale and allows us to negotiate the best sea freight rates with leading international shipping companies.
We are confident that we can offer you the cheapest rate to ship your container to the UAE from the UK.
To get an accurate container shipping rate we suggest you book a free home or video survey.
How much is marine insurance or shipment protection?
We highly recommend you take out shipment protection cover or a marine insurance policy for your container.
We provide a very flexible shipment protection cover through Basil Fry & Company the UK’s leading insurance broker for international removals and shipping:
- Our policy is quick and easy to set up, simply complete our Shipment Protection valuation form with the items you would like to cover and their values.
- Removal (we pack) consignments cover costs 3% of the total insurable value you declare.
- Vehicle shipments cover costs 2% of the vehicles declared value.
- Self-Pack (you pack) consignments cover costs 5% of the total insurable value you declare.
- Baggage/Airfreight consignments, which are owner packed, will cost 5% of the total insurable value you declare.
What size or volume shipping containers do you provide?
Shipping containers come in two standard sizes 20ft and 40ft.
Our consultants will be able to advise you on what size meets your requirements.
We also have various shipping options to meet your needs including part load or shared containers.
| Size | 20ft Container | 40ft Container |
| Cubic Capacity (Volume) | 1050 cu ft (29.73 CBM) | 2100 cu ft (59.47 CBM) |
| Internal Length | 19′ 3 (5.87m) | 39’5 (12m) |
| Internal Dimensions | Width 7’8 (2.33m) Height 7’9 (2.35m) | |
| Door Dimensions | Width 7’8 (2.28m) Height 7’5 (2.26m) | |
| Weight | 2225kg | 3950 kg |
| Cargo Weight | 21700 kg | 26500 kg |
*Exact container dimensions and available volume may vary.
Other sizes of containers are available upon request – contact us for more details.
Shared or part load (LCL) shipping containers to the United Arab Emirates
For smaller shipments we provide a shared or part load shipping container service. Your goods will be grouped together with those of other customers shipping to the UAE so the costs can be shared based on how much you send.
This is sometimes referred to as groupage or LCL (Less than Container Load).
This method of shipping is very economical, but you may need to allow for increased shipping time as the contents of the container will need to be consolidated from different customers.
Sole use or full container load (FCL) to the UAE
For shipping larger amounts such as a full household removal to the UAE, we can provide a container for your sole use.
We will arrange for the container to be delivered to your home where we will pack it and it will be customs sealed before heading to the port to embark for the UAE.
This method of shipping has a number of advantages since you can fill your container with all your belongings.
As you have a full container for your sole use, it is also secure, economical and there are no delays in shipping – once it is full it can go directly to the ship for loading.
Which container shipping company do you use for sea freight to the UAE?
PSS International Removals are accredited by BAR and FIDI. We therefore only use accredited container shipping companies such as Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and One to transport your belongings. This ensures the highest level of service.
By using the best international shipping companies for your move to the UAE, you can be assured that your possessions will be taken care of.
Also as members of many accredited organisations, such as The Movers Traders Club, we are able to negotiate very favourable rates and pass these savings onto you.
Customs clearance when importing your container into the UAE
As part of our the UAE shipping service we will take care of everything for you from door to door. This includes exporting your container from the United Kingdom and importing it into the UAE.
Our shipping quote includes basic customs clearance but not taxes, import duties and other customs charges such as any quarantine fees.
If we pack your container for you then we will compile a customs inventory on your behalf and we will also advise you of what other shipping documents are required.
We recommend you carefully read the FIDI Customs Guide for the UAE so that you are aware of the customs process and what you can and can’t ship to the UAE.
In particular, check the list of prohibited and restricted items, and the conditions for duty / tax free entry into the UAE.
Shipping container services for goods or personal effects to the UAE
Our container shipping service to the UAE is designed for household goods, furniture and other personal effects for people moving to the UAE.
If you need to ship commercial goods to the UAE from UK we recommend you contact a commercial freight forwarder.
Container Shipping Ports in the UAE
We ship to all ports and onward destinations in the UAE from the UK, including to all cities in the seven Emirates including:
- Abu Dhabi AUH (including Al Ain)
- Ajman AJM,
- Dubai DXB,
- Fujairah FUJ,
- Ras Al Khaimah RAK,
- Sharjah SHJ,
- Umm Al Quwain UAQ
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