Shipping from Dubai to EgyptShipping from Dubai to Egypt, by air and sea.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, arranges shipping from Dubai to Egypt for businesses. We fly air cargo from DXB to Cairo International, and ship FCL and LCL sea freight from Jebel Ali to Ain Sokhna, Port Said and Alexandria. We check Egypt's Advance Cargo Information (ACI) registration on Nafeza and other import rules before your cargo leaves Dubai.
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.
Dubai to Egypt at a glance
Egypt requires advance cargo registration before goods are shipped. Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea is the nearest port from the Gulf.
- Flight time
- About 3.5 h DXB to Cairo
- Sea
- Jebel Ali to Sokhna via the Red Sea
- Customs
- Egyptian Customs Authority
- Before shipping
- ACI number (ACID)
Airports and seaports in Egypt we ship to
Ain Sokhna is closest to Cairo for cargo from the Gulf; Port Said and Alexandria serve the Mediterranean side.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | CAI | Cairo International, the main air gateway | |
| Seaport | EGSOK | Red Sea port nearest Cairo for Gulf cargo | |
| Seaport | Port Said East | Container hub at the Suez Canal | |
| Seaport | EGALY | Mediterranean port for the north |
Air, sea to Egypt
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXB to CAI | Same or next day, plus clearance | Parts, pharma, urgent goods | |
| Sea freight FCL | Jebel Ali to Ain Sokhna or Port Said | About 1 to 3 weeks, service dependent | Machinery, materials, stock |
| Sea freight LCL | Jebel Ali consolidation to Egyptian ports | Longer than FCL | Smaller loads |
Airlines flying direct from Dubai to Egypt
- Emirates SkyCargo
- flydubai
- EgyptAir Cargo
The ACI number must be issued before the cargo is loaded in Jebel Ali. Work out the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Customs in Egypt: what the importer needs
Egyptian importers register each shipment on Nafeza under the ACI system before it is shipped, then clear it with the Egyptian Customs Authority.
| Item | In Egypt |
|---|---|
| Customs authority | Egyptian Customs Authority |
| Pre-registration | Advance Cargo Information (ACI) on the Nafeza platform, giving an ACID number |
| Importer registration | Egyptian importers register in the importers register |
| Duty and tax | Duty by the Egyptian tariff, plus 14% VAT |
| Trade agreement | Egypt and the UAE are GAFTA members: qualifying Arab-origin goods can enter duty-free |
Under ACI, the exporter registers on an approved platform and shares documents electronically before shipment.
Approvals to check before booking
Egypt's pre-shipment rules are strict. Missing steps can stop the cargo at the port.
- 01
Each shipment needs an ACID number before loading.
- 02
Some product categories need the manufacturer registered with GOEIC.
- 03
Egyptian Drug Authority
Medicines and medical products need approval.
- 04
Food safety
Food imports need National Food Safety Authority checks.
- 05
A certificate of Arab origin can remove duty.
- 06
Product standards
Regulated products must meet Egyptian standards.
Documents for shipping to Egypt
Send these with your booking. Documents are shared electronically under ACI before the cargo sails.
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Customs value, parties and HS codes |
| Packing list | Pieces, weights and marks for inspection |
| Transport contract and cargo release | |
| Exit clearance from the UAE, filed by us | |
| ACI registration on Nafeza | |
| Supports GAFTA treatment |
Restricted or banned in Egypt
- Cargo shipped without an ACID number
- Goods from unregistered factories (for listed categories)
- Medicines without approval
- Counterfeit goods
- Narcotics
Check whether your product needs GOEIC factory registration before you sell.
What UAE businesses ship to Egypt
Egypt is a major Arab trade partner of the UAE, with Dubai a supply hub for Egyptian businesses.
- 01
Machinery and parts
Equipment and spare parts.
- 02
Electronics
IT and consumer electronics.
- 03
Plastics and chemicals
UAE polymers and chemicals.
Dubai to Egypt shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneACI is Egypt's Advance Cargo Information system. The Egyptian importer registers each shipment on the Nafeza platform before it is loaded, and receives an ACID number. The exporter shares documents electronically through an approved platform. Cargo shipped without an ACID number can be refused at the port.
- Ask the importer for the ACID first.
- The ACID goes on the shipping documents.
Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea is nearest to Cairo. Ships from the Gulf reach it without transiting the Suez Canal, and the drive to Cairo takes about two hours. Port Said and Alexandria serve the Mediterranean side and northern Egypt. We choose based on the buyer's location.
- Air lands at Cairo International.
- Port Said is a transshipment hub.
It is Egypt's registration of foreign manufacturers for listed products. For certain consumer goods, the factory that made them must be registered with the General Organization for Export and Import Control before the goods can be imported. Goods from unregistered factories are refused. Check the list before selling.
- The manufacturer registers, not the trader.
- It applies to listed categories only.
Egypt charges duty by tariff and 14% VAT. Goods of Arab origin may enter duty-free under GAFTA, with a certificate of origin. Goods made elsewhere and re-exported from Dubai pay the normal Egyptian duty. VAT is charged on the value plus duty at clearance.
- The broker confirms the total.
- ACI rules still apply.