Demurrage and detention are daily charges for keeping a shipping line's container too long: demurrage inside the port, detention outside it. At Jebel Ali, DP World also charges port storage after 10 free days. Airlift Logistics plans clearance and trucking around these free days, because the charges grow every day.
Demurrage, detention and port storage: who charges what?
| Charge | Charged by | When it runs |
|---|---|---|
| Port storage | The terminal (DP World at Jebel Ali) | Container stays in the terminal after the free days |
| Demurrage | The shipping line | Full container stays in the port past the line's free time |
| Detention | The shipping line | Container is outside the port, not returned empty in time |
Some lines combine demurrage and detention into one free-time allowance, and others split them. Always ask your line or forwarder which applies to your booking.
What does DP World charge at Jebel Ali?
| Import full container | 20 ft (AED per day) | Over 20 ft (AED per day) |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 10 | Free | Free |
| Next 5 days | 82 | 164 |
| After that | 153 | 306 |
Source: DP World Jebel Ali tariff book, November 2023 edition; a November 2025 carrier tariff shows the same figures. Importers bringing at least 30 containers on one bill of lading get 14 free days, and at least 100 containers get 20. Out-of-gauge and some dangerous goods containers follow different scales.
How much free time do shipping lines give?
It depends on the line and the contract. Published Jebel Ali import tariffs show examples of 4 to 5 free days for standard containers and 3 days for reefers and special equipment, with daily rates that rise in steps. Rates of AED 100 to 300 per day for a 20 ft container in the first step appear in 2025 carrier tariffs.
How do importers avoid these charges?
- File the declaration before arrival; Dubai Customs allows pre-arrival clearance.
- Have permits and attested invoices ready before the vessel docks.
- Make sure the consignee on the bill of lading matches the trade licence.
- Book the truck and the delivery slot early, and return empties quickly.
- If goods must wait, move them to a warehouse instead of paying daily storage.
Read our Jebel Ali Port guide, or let us handle the whole move with sea freight in Dubai.
Quick answers
Is demurrage charged inside or outside the port?
Demurrage is inside the port, detention is outside it. Demurrage is charged when a full container stays in the port past the free time. Detention is charged when the container has left the port but is not returned empty in time. Both are shipping line charges, separate from the terminal's storage.
- Some lines combine both allowances.
- Check your booking confirmation.
Who pays demurrage charges in shipping?
Usually the importer, for import containers. The shipping line bills whoever controls the container at that stage, which for imports is normally the consignee or its agent. The Incoterm and the sales contract decide whether the seller shares the cost. Delays caused by missing documents are usually the importer's cost.
- Agree free time in the contract.
- Keep proof of delays you did not cause.
Sources: DP World Jebel Ali tariff book, Nov 2023, Dubai Customs Customer Guide, Dubai Customs Services Guide v9 (2025). How we check our content.
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