International Shipping to the UAE

Whether your load requires full or shared container shipping to UAE depends on the quantity or combined dimensions of your items.

Shared Shipping Containers to UAE (Groupage)

For small moves, we load items into a shared shipping container from the UK to UAE alongside the boxes of other PSS customers, this is also known as our groupage service.

Part-load container shipping (sometimes called LCL – Less than Container Load)

Our groupage service is a quick and easy way to send a single box of clothing or personal goods and sports equipment, smaller items of furniture, or household contents from a single room up to a small flat. You only need to pay for the space you use.

Full-Load Container Shipping from the UK to UAE

If you have a larger load to send to UAE, our Full Container Load (FCL) shipping option is advantageous, also known as sole-use container shipping to UAE.

If you are sending a large family home of furniture and personal items, PSS can provide a 20ft or 40ft shipping container intended for your sole use. The cost of container shipping to UAE from the UK depends on the chosen size of the shipping container. Our 20ft and 40ft shipping containers have plenty of space, and it is up to you how you fill that container.

A standard 20ft shipping container is large enough for the contents of the average three bedroom house.

A 40ft shipping container is usually big enough to fit the contents of a 4 bedroom house and car.

The quoted cost includes a full, professional packing service.

Another advantage of having your own sole use shipping container is that it leave immediately on the next available ship bound for UAE. No waiting around for other customers to fill the container.

Many expats are regularly travelling between the UK and the UAE so there are many cost effective shipping options by both air and sea.

PSS’ shipping estimates to UAE from the UK are based upon the best shipping method for sending goods to UAE.

As we have large numbers of customers shipping belongings to UAE every year, we are able to offer very competitive shipping rates.

Typical Shipping Costs from UK to UAE in 2022

You can use the online shipping cost calculators on this page to get an estimate of the shipping costs to the UAE from the UK. We have separate cost calculators for shipping boxes/bags to UAE and for shipping furniture / household removals to UAE.

Although the cheapest way to ship to United Arab Emirates is using part-load container shipping, you should consider that many items are more expensive in UAE. When you add up the cost of replacing all your smaller items it is often cheaper to ship a higher volume of goods.

Some items are also hard to obtain or even unavailable in the UAE.

We calculate part-load shipping rates from the UK to UAE using the combined dimensions of your consignment and the area they take up within the container.

For larger moves using sole-use container shipping, your freight costs to UAE are determined by which size shipping container you use – 20ft or 40ft.

We also include the cost of road or rail freight to your home in UAE.

Cost of air freight shipping to UAE

If you need to send belongings urgently to the UAE, we can provide air freight services.

Air freight is our fastest shipping option and for smaller quantities, it can be surprisingly cost effective. We base air freight quotes on the weight and volume of your goods, so for consignments of more than a couple of boxes, our sea freight shipping options are cheaper.

PSS’s trained Move Managers can provide you with different shipping options so you can decide whether you want the cheapest, most economical or fastest way to ship your goods.

Cheapest shipping quotes to UAE

We always aim to provide you with the cheapest shipping cost to UAE. We are able to offer cheap shipping due to the volume we ship and the number of customers we help move to the Emirates.

If you receive a much cheaper quote, check carefully that they include a full door to door service and if any costs are excluded. Beware that some cheap quotes only include the cost of shipping to the nearest container port which can be a long way from your destination!

Also ensure that they are a fully accredited shipping company with FIDI or BAR Overseas in order to get the best price and service.

Get an accurate price for shipping to UAE

The surest way to receive an accurate shipping quote for household removals and shipping furniture is through a free home survey. Our home surveys are intended to provide customers with a clear-cut and detailed shipping quote from the UK to UAE before they agree to anything.

A surveyor can either visit your home or it can be conducted via our mobile video app.

Shipping times to UAE can vary. Shipping groupage in a shared container takes longer than shipping a full container load as different customers shipments need to be consolidated to fill one container.

NB: These are approximate sea freight shipping times to ports in UAE only. You will need to allow additional time (approx. 10-15 days) for customs clearance and final delivery to your destination.

How Long Does Air Freight Shipping to UAE take from the UK?

For sending excess baggage or boxes to UAE by air freight allow approximately 3 – 10 days.

It is highly advisable to take out marine shipping insurance or shipment protection cover before you ship your personal effects or household goods to UAE. Although it is doubtful to experience problems when shipping items from the UK to UAE, it is still wise to have shipment protection cover when sending goods overseas, especially for items of significant financial value.

PSS International offers very flexible Shipment Protection Plans. You can cover your whole shipment or choose the individual items you wish to cover.

Your PSS Move Manager can explain the different options available and guide you through completing the Shipment Protection Valuation form.

Importation is allowed for people moving to the UAE provided the shipment consists of personal effects and used household goods only.

All used personal effects and household goods are exempted of duty. Brand new items will attract Custom duty at 5% of the invoice value.

To help you, we recommend you download and carefully read our FIDI Customs Guide for the United Arab Emirates.

UAE has very strict rules about what can and cannot be imported. We highly recommend you check this carefully and ensure your shipment fully complies with their regulations.

Prohibited Imports into UAE include:

• Weapons,
• Firearms (real or ornamental)
• Ammunition,
• Fire crackers,
• Swords, daggers, spears, etc.,
• Military uniform or equipment,
• Alcohol, spirits, narcotics of all kinds
• Poppy seeds and flowers, leaves etc.,
• Banned drugs and medicines, medicines in large quantities even obtained under prescription and for the consignee’s own use,
• Radio transmitter or communication equipment,
• Statues and figures of animals with religious undertone,
• Carvings and statues of humans especially in nude,
• Pornographic materials,
• Foodstuff in large quantities,
• Religious books other than dealing with Islamic beliefs, controversial political literature and materials contrary to an Islamic State’s principles.
• Goods of Israeli origin or bearing Israeli flags and emblems.
• Gambling tools, machineries and devices of all kinds.
• E-cigarettes and electronic hookah.
• Laser pointers.

NB: If any of these items are found in the shipment during the inspection by the UAE Customs, the same will be confiscated and, in some cases, explanation will be asked from the consignees and severe punishment can be imposed including fines or imprisonment.

Restricted Imports into UAE include:

• Records, tapes, films, photographs, books, magazines, periodicals, 2 wheel hoverboard etc.
• Live plants, seeds, fresh fruits and flowers are coming under restricted items, if found objectionable, they will destroy the same and never return these to the consignee.

These items will be subject to review and censorship by the UAE Ministry of Information.

These items will be released if nothing abnormal is found.

This procedure will take from 10 to 15 days.

For more information visit the UAE Government website.

When exporting sentimental items or expensive furniture overseas, you need to have full confidence in the international shipping company you choose. There are a few pointers to look for that can help determine the best global shipping companies to UAE.

Accreditations and associations are the best indicators of how trusted a company is within the industry and how safe their services are. PSS’ continued efforts and dedication to shipping to UAE from the UK is echoed in our memberships and achievements:

• FAIM Accredited – the only globally recognised independent quality assurance standard for the international moving industry.
• FIDI Global Alliance Members – providing customers with the same superior standards in UAE as in the UK.
• British Association of Removers Members – the leading British quality standard and ensures customers financial protection with the BAR Advance Payment Guarantee Scheme.
• Movers Trading Club (MTC) – Members of this organisation join together to negotiate the best service and shipping rates with leading international shipping companies. Members are therefore able to offer lower shipping rates to customers.

We offer a full menu of shipping options to UAE, whether you are sending personal items, furniture, extra boxes, pets or vehicles, our UAE movers have a solution ready and waiting for you:

Shipping Personal Effects to UAE from the UK

Shipping personal effects from the UK to UAE is simple with PSS. We send personal items to UAE for countless customers each year, from clothing and shoes, makeup and toiletries, to sports equipment, tech, musical instruments and more, your shipping options are limitless.

Shipping Furniture and Household Goods to UAE

Shipping household goods to UAE is a PSS speciality. Using our freight services and industry expertise, PSS can ship furniture of any weight, dimensions and any quantities from the UK to destinations across UAE.

Our team of experienced international packers will ensure your items are carefully export wrapped and packed for their journey.

The best way to get started for our international furniture removals service is to book a free home or video survey so we can give you an accurate quote.

Shipping Excess Baggage & Unaccompanied Luggage from the UK to UAE

Using PSS to ship boxes, luggage, suitcases and excess baggage to UAE cuts out the extortionate charges issued by airline carriers and makes your journey to UAE more manageable by reducing the amount of luggage you have to carry.

We can supply you with a variety of box sizes or you can use your own bags/suitcases.

Whether you have one box, two suitcases or ten loads of excess baggage, our baggage shipping to UAE is an ideal service!

Shipping Boxes to UAE from UK

If you only have small items to ship to UAE, we recommend our box shipping service . Your boxes will be shipped along with those from other customers in a shared container (Groupage) so you only pay for the space you use.

We can supply a variety of box and carton sizes including packing and wrapping materials such as bubble wrap. We also have custom cartons for items such as bicycles.

Shipping Cars and Vehicles to UAE

PSS provides a range of shipping options to make car shipping to UAE feasible – regardless of your vehicle. Whether you want to send a car to UAE in a container of its own or alongside personal and household items, our UAE vehicle shipping options make it possible.

In addition to shipping cars we can assist with shipping all kinds of other vehicles to UAE including motorcycles, bikes and boats.

Shipping Pets, Dogs and Cats to UAE

Pet shipping to UAE can be daunting for any pet owners and pet relocation is a very specialised service. We, therefore, work with trusted partners for transporting animals from UK to UAE. Whether you want to take your cat or dog to UAE, you can entrust PSS and our partners to relocate them safely.

Shipping Parcels and Small Packages to UAE

For small parcels and packages, it is probably best to use Royal Mail , especially for less than 2kg. For larger or multiple boxes you can save by using a personal shipping service like that from PSS.

Shipping Goods and Freight to UAE

At PSS International we specialise in personal shipping services and household removals for people moving or relocating to UAE.

If you wish to ship commercial or non-personal items to UAE then it is best to contact a freight-forwarder.

Express Air Freight and Fast shipping from UK to UAE

If you need to ship items to UAE quickly then we recommend our priority Express Air Freight Service.

This takes about 7 – 14 days and is ideal if you wish to send some boxes or bags of personal belongings to arrive ahead of your household container.

It is also commonly used by tradesmen wishing to ship tools to UAE so they can begin work immediately on arrival.

PSS provides two packing options, the first being a full professional packing service or. if you prefer, you can self-pack with our “You Pack, We Ship” service.

Professional Packing Service

When you opt for our professional overseas packing service, a specialist team will arrive at your home on the day of your move to pack the required items in sturdy packing materials and moving boxes ready for sending to UAE. For furniture we offer a full export wrapping service so that they are well protected.

We can also provide custom made wooden crates and antique wrapping for delicate items.

Our packing teams create an inventory to ensure our customer is aware of every item that we will ship to UAE.

Self-Pack Service

If you are only sending a small number of items in boxes or suitcases, you can opt to self-pack your belongings in the comfort of your own home. This “You Pack, We Ship” is an increasingly popular option.

We understand the importance of the safe handling and delivery of your goods to UAE, so we still provide all moving boxes, tea cartons and packing materials such as bubble wrap when you self-pack.

Once you are ready, we’ll pick up your boxes and deliver them to your new home in UAE.

We ship 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