Shipping from China to DubaiShipping from China to Dubai, by sea and air.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, handles shipping from China to Dubai for businesses. We book air cargo from Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen to DXB, and FCL or LCL sea freight from Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen to Jebel Ali. We check export papers with your supplier, then clear the goods with Dubai Customs and deliver to your warehouse, free zone or onward destination.
Business cargo only. Airlift Logistics ships commercial goods for importers, exporters, traders and manufacturers, with a commercial invoice and a registered consignee. We do not handle personal boxes, household effects or door-to-door parcels.
China to Dubai at a glance
China is one of the largest suppliers of goods to the UAE. Most business cargo moves by sea in containers, while samples, electronics and urgent orders fly into DXB.
- Flight time
- About 8 to 9 h Shanghai to Dubai
- Sea transit
- About 18 to 30 days port to port
- Export filing
- China Customs (GACC), single window
- UAE duty
- 5% on most goods, on CIF value
Where cargo leaves China for Dubai
Choose the gateway nearest your supplier. Trucking inside China to a farther port often costs more than the freight difference between ports.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | PVG | Main international cargo airport for eastern China | |
| Airport | CAN | Hub for the Pearl River Delta and China Southern | |
| Seaport | CNSHA | Yangshan deep-water terminals, among the busiest container ports in the world | |
| Seaport | CNNGB | Zhejiang; large container and bulk port south of Shanghai | |
| Seaport | CNSZX | Container terminals for Shenzhen and Dongguan factories |
Air or sea from China
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVG, CAN, SZX or PEK to DXB or DWC | 1 to 3 days, plus clearance | Samples, electronics, urgent and high-value goods | |
| Sea freight FCL | Shanghai, Ningbo or Shenzhen to Jebel Ali | About 18 to 30 days port to port | Full containers of trading goods, machinery and materials |
| Sea freight LCL | Chinese port consolidation to Jebel Ali | About 3 to 6 weeks with consolidation | Smaller loads, from about 1 CBM |
Airlines flying direct from China to Dubai
- Emirates SkyCargo
- China Southern
- China Eastern
- Air China
Transit times are typical ranges from published schedules, not promises. Rates change weekly, so we quote each booking. Check the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Export rules in China
Your Chinese supplier is responsible for export formalities. We check that their papers match what Dubai Customs will see.
| Item | In China |
|---|---|
| Customs authority | General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) |
| Export declaration | Filed electronically by the exporter or its customs broker through the China International Trade Single Window |
| Export controls | Dual-use and other controlled items need an export licence from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) |
| Inspection | Some export goods are subject to customs inspection and quarantine before loading |
| Issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) or China Customs |
Controls change. Ask your supplier for the HS code and confirm it is not on a control list before you book.
UAE duty on goods from China
Dubai Customs assesses duty on the HS code and the CIF value. We file the declaration and arrange delivery.
| Item | For goods from China |
|---|---|
| UAE customs duty | 5% on most goods, by HS code, calculated on the CIF value (cost, insurance and freight). A few items are exempt or rated differently. |
| Trade agreement | No UAE trade agreement in force that we can confirm, so no preferential rate applies to goods of Chinese origin |
| 5%, charged on the CIF value plus duty. Registered businesses can usually recover it on their VAT return. | |
| Free zone option | Cargo can be held in a free zone such as JAFZA under duty suspension. Duty and VAT are due when it moves to the mainland. |
Airlift Logistics files the import declaration with Dubai Customs and arranges delivery to the mainland, a free zone or re-export. See customs clearance in Dubai.
Approvals for common goods from China
Many goods from China need a UAE approval before they can clear. Ask your supplier for test reports and certificates before shipment, because they are hard to arrange once the cargo has landed.
- 01
Regulated electrical and electronic products need conformity approval under the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme.
- 02
TDRA type approval
Phones, routers and other wireless devices need type approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.
- 03
Batteries and dangerous goods
Lithium batteries and similar goods need correct UN testing papers and packing for air or sea carriage.
- 04
Emirates Drug Establishment
Medicines and many medical devices need registration with EDE before import.
- 05
Food and cosmetics
Food and personal care products need Dubai Municipality registration and compliant labels.
- 06
Origin marking
Goods and cartons should show the country of origin. Check label rules for your product category.
Documents for shipping from China to Dubai
Ask your supplier to send these with the booking. We check that names, values and HS codes match across every document.
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Customs value and duty in the UAE | |
| Packing list | Count, weights and marks for inspection |
| Bill of lading or air waybill | Transport contract and cargo release |
| Proves where goods were made; some banks and buyers ask for it | |
| Exit clearance from China, filed by the exporter | |
| Product approvals | ECAS, TDRA, EDE or other certificates where they apply |
A mismatch between invoice and packing list is the most common cause of a customs query.
What UAE importers buy from China
China is one of the main sources of UAE imports, and Dubai re-exports much of it across the region. We do not quote trade values here because they change every year.
- 01
Electronics
Phones, IT hardware, LED lighting and components, often by air.
- 02
Machinery and parts
Industrial equipment, tools and spare parts, usually by FCL.
- 03
Building and household goods
Tiles, furniture, fittings and consumer goods in full containers.
China to Dubai shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneShenzhen's Yantian terminals are usually the closest choice. Shanghai and Ningbo suit buyers across eastern China, and Guangzhou Nansha serves the Pearl River Delta. Choose the port nearest your supplier to cut trucking, then compare sailings and cut-off dates to Jebel Ali before you confirm the booking.
- Trucking can cost more than a port difference.
- We compare sailings to Jebel Ali.
Most goods leave China without a licence. Dual-use items and some controlled materials need a licence from the Ministry of Commerce. Customs may also inspect certain export goods. Ask the supplier for the HS code first, then check it against the control lists before you book the cargo.
- Wrong HS codes cause most export delays.
- Send us the code before booking.
Most goods pay 5% duty on the CIF value. We cannot confirm any UAE trade agreement in force with China, so no preferential rate applies. Import VAT of 5% is then charged on the CIF value plus duty. Some goods are exempt or taxed differently, depending on the HS code.
- Duty is based on the 8-digit HS code.
- Free zone storage can delay duty.
Regulated electrical and electronic products generally need MoIAT conformity approval under ECAS. Wireless devices also need TDRA type approval. Ask the Shenzhen supplier for test reports and certificates before shipment, because missing approvals can hold the goods at Jebel Ali or Dubai airport until they are sorted.
- Check approvals before you pay the supplier.
- Your Dubai importer holds the registration.