Shipping from Dubai to Sri LankaShipping from Dubai to Sri Lanka, by air and sea.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, arranges shipping from Dubai to Sri Lanka for businesses, not personal cargo. We fly air cargo from DXB to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, and ship FCL and LCL sea freight from Jebel Ali to the Port of Colombo. We prepare export papers and check Sri Lanka Customs and SLSI import inspection requirements 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 Sri Lanka at a glance
Almost all business cargo for Sri Lanka clears in Colombo, by air or through the Port of Colombo, a major transshipment hub.
- Flight time
- About 4.5 h DXB to Colombo
- Sea
- Jebel Ali to Colombo
- Customs
- Sri Lanka Customs
- Import checks
- SLSI for regulated goods
Airports and seaports in Sri Lanka we ship to
Colombo handles most containers and air cargo; Hambantota handles some vehicle and bulk traffic.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | CMB | Colombo, the main air cargo gateway | |
| Seaport | LKCMB | South Asia's largest transshipment port | |
| Seaport | LKHBA | Southern port, mainly for vehicles and bulk |
Air, sea to Sri Lanka
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXB to CMB | Same or next day, plus clearance | Parts, garments inputs, urgent goods | |
| Sea freight FCL | Jebel Ali to Colombo | About 1 to 2 weeks, service dependent | Machinery, materials, stock |
| Sea freight LCL | Jebel Ali consolidation to Colombo | Longer than FCL | Smaller loads |
Airlines flying direct from Dubai to Sri Lanka
- Emirates SkyCargo
- flydubai
- SriLankan Cargo
We confirm current sailings and flights for each booking. Work out the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Customs in Sri Lanka: what the importer needs
Sri Lankan importers clear goods with Sri Lanka Customs through a licensed customs house agent.
| Item | In Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Customs authority | Sri Lanka Customs |
| Declaration | Customs declaration (CusDec) on ASYCUDA World |
| Importer registration | Business registration and VAT registration where required |
| Duty and tax | Duty and cesses by tariff code, plus VAT and other levies |
| Trade agreement | No UAE-Sri Lanka trade agreement in force that we can confirm |
Sri Lankan taxes and import controls have changed often in recent years; the agent confirms current rates.
Approvals to check before booking
Regulated goods need checks or licences before release in Colombo.
- 01
Listed products must pass the Sri Lanka Standards Institution import inspection scheme.
- 02
Import licences
Some goods need a licence from the Import and Export Control Department.
- 03
NMRA approval
Medicines and devices need National Medicines Regulatory Authority approval.
- 04
Food and plants
Food and agricultural goods need health and quarantine checks.
- 05
TRC approval
Telecom devices need TRCSL type approval.
- 06
Vehicles
Vehicle imports follow separate, changing rules.
Documents for shipping to Sri Lanka
Send these with your booking. We do not ship personal effects or door-to-door boxes.
| 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 | |
| For regulated goods | |
| Certificate of origin | Supports the origin declared |
Restricted or banned in Sri Lanka
- Goods without import licences where required
- Medicines without approval
- Counterfeit goods
- Weapons without a permit
- Narcotics
Airlift ships business cargo only, not personal boxes.
What UAE businesses ship to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka and the UAE have close links, with many Sri Lankan businesses sourcing from Dubai.
- 01
Machinery and parts
Equipment for factories and garment plants.
- 02
Plastics and chemicals
UAE polymers and chemicals.
- 03
Electronics
IT and telecom equipment.
Dubai to Sri Lanka shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneNo, Airlift Logistics ships business cargo only. We handle commercial shipments for companies, such as stock, machinery, parts and materials, with commercial invoices and a registered importer. Personal effects and door-to-door boxes need a specialist personal cargo company. We can advise on commercial routes and documents.
- The consignee must be a business.
- Commercial invoices are required.
Sea freight usually takes about one to two weeks. Colombo is a major hub with frequent sailings from Jebel Ali, many of them direct. Clearance time depends on documents and any SLSI inspection. Air cargo to Bandaranaike International is faster, usually arriving the same or next day.
- LCL adds consolidation time.
- We confirm current sailings.
It is Sri Lanka's quality check for listed imports. The Sri Lanka Standards Institution inspects products in listed categories against national standards when they arrive. Non-compliant goods can be held or rejected. The importer should confirm whether the product is listed before the goods are shipped.
- It applies to listed products only.
- Test reports can help.
Some goods do, under Sri Lankan import controls. The Import and Export Control Department issues licences for controlled items, and some regulated goods need approvals from bodies such as the NMRA or TRCSL. Rules have changed often, so the importer should check current requirements first.
- Vehicles have separate rules.
- Approvals are held by the importer.