Shipping from Dubai to IndiaShipping from Dubai to India, by air and sea.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, arranges shipping from Dubai to India for businesses. We send air cargo from DXB to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi, and FCL or LCL sea freight from Jebel Ali to Nhava Sheva and Mundra. We prepare export documents and check what your Indian importer needs: IEC, Bill of Entry and BIS or FSSAI approvals.
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 India at a glance
India is the largest market for UAE exports. Most business cargo goes by sea from Jebel Ali to the west coast ports, and urgent or high-value goods fly from DXB.
- Flight time
- About 3 h DXB to Mumbai
- Sea transit
- About 4 to 6 days to Nhava Sheva
- Customs
- CBIC, filed on ICEGATE
- Trade deal
- CEPA in force since May 2022
Airports and seaports in India we ship to
Pick the gateway closest to the buyer. Inland container depots (ICDs) let sea cargo clear customs away from the port, for example near Delhi.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | BOM | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International, the busiest air cargo gateway for western India | |
| Airport | DEL | Indira Gandhi International, for northern India | |
| Airport | MAA | For Tamil Nadu and the south-east | |
| Airports | BLR · COK | Electronics into Bengaluru; Kerala cargo into Kochi | |
| Seaport | INNSA | Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai, India's largest container port | |
| Seaport | INMUN | Gujarat, a large private port with links to north India |
Air, sea to India
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXB to BOM, DEL, MAA, BLR or COK | Next day to 2 days, plus clearance | Samples, spare parts, electronics, urgent goods | |
| Sea freight FCL | Jebel Ali to Nhava Sheva or Mundra | About 4 to 6 days port to port | Full containers of trading goods and materials |
| Sea freight LCL | Jebel Ali consolidation to Nhava Sheva | About 1 to 2 weeks with consolidation | Smaller loads, from about 1 CBM |
Airlines flying direct from Dubai to India
- Emirates SkyCargo
- flydubai
- Air India
- Air India Express
- IndiGo
Transit times are typical ranges from published schedules, not promises. Work out the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Customs in India: what the importer needs
Import clearance in India is done by the Indian importer or their customs broker. We make sure your export papers match what they will file.
| Item | In India |
|---|---|
| Customs authority | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) |
| Declaration | Bill of Entry, filed electronically on ICEGATE |
| Importer registration | Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), plus GST registration |
| Duty and tax | Basic Customs Duty, Social Welfare Surcharge on that duty, and IGST at the GST rate for the HSN code (5%, 18% or 40% since 22 September 2025) |
| Trade agreement | UAE-India CEPA, in force since 1 May 2022: lower or zero duty for goods of UAE origin, with a CEPA certificate of origin |
Duty depends on the 8-digit Indian tariff code. Your buyer's broker confirms the final figure.
Approvals to check before booking
Some goods need an Indian approval before they can clear. Ask your buyer to confirm these early, because they cannot be arranged once the cargo has landed.
- 01
Many electronics and IT products need Bureau of Indian Standards registration under the Compulsory Registration Scheme.
- 02
FSSAI clearance
Food imports are checked by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, with label rules.
- 03
CDSCO licence
Medicines, medical devices and cosmetics need registration with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
- 04
WPC approval
Wireless devices such as routers and Bluetooth products need a WPC equipment type approval.
- 05
Legal Metrology labels
Pre-packed retail goods need the importer's name, MRP and net quantity on the label.
- 06
Plant quarantine
Plants, seeds and some wood products need a phytosanitary certificate and Indian quarantine release.
Documents for shipping to India
Send these with your booking. We check that names, values and HS codes match across every document.
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Customs value and duty in India |
| Packing list | Count, weights and marks for inspection |
| Transport contract and cargo release | |
| Claims reduced duty for UAE-origin goods | |
| Exit clearance from the UAE, filed by us | |
| BIS, FSSAI, CDSCO or WPC where they apply |
Restricted or banned in India
- Foreign-made drones (import ban since February 2022)
- Second-hand and refurbished goods without approval
- Used vehicles outside strict import rules
- Hazardous waste without approval
- Wildlife products protected under CITES
India's import policy is set by the DGFT ITC (HS) schedule. Check your HS code before you buy stock for India.
What UAE businesses ship to India
India took about US$33.6 billion of UAE exports in 2024, the largest market for the UAE (Trading Economics, UN Comtrade). Values include gold and oil.
- 01
Industrial goods
Machinery, spare parts and tools re-exported from Dubai stock.
- 02
Electronics
Phones, IT hardware and components, mostly by air.
- 03
Chemicals and plastics
Polymers and industrial chemicals by sea, with SDS where needed.
Dubai to India shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneAir cargo usually lands in India the next day. Flights from DXB to Mumbai take about three hours, and to Delhi or Chennai slightly longer. Sea freight from Jebel Ali to Nhava Sheva takes about four to six days port to port. Customs clearance in India adds time, depending on documents and checks.
- LCL takes longer because of consolidation.
- Missing approvals cause most delays.
Yes, for goods that qualify as UAE origin. The agreement, in force since May 2022, reduces or removes Indian duty on many tariff lines. The shipment needs a CEPA certificate of origin issued in the UAE. Goods made elsewhere and only re-exported through Dubai do not qualify for the lower rate.
- The Indian broker claims the preference.
- IGST is still charged on imports.
The importer needs an Importer Exporter Code and GST registration. The IEC is issued by the DGFT and links to ICEGATE, where the Bill of Entry is filed. Products such as electronics, food or medicines may also need BIS, FSSAI or CDSCO approval. These should be in place before the goods leave Dubai.
- The UAE seller does not need an IEC.
- Ask the buyer for their customs broker contact.
Nhava Sheva suits buyers in Mumbai and western India. Mundra in Gujarat is often used for north India, with rail links to inland container depots near Delhi. Chennai and Kochi suit the south. Choosing the port nearest the buyer usually saves more than any freight difference between ports.
- Ask for clearance at an ICD if the buyer is inland.
- We compare sailings to each port.