Shipping from India to DubaiShipping from India to Dubai, by sea and air.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, handles shipping from India to Dubai for businesses. We book air cargo from Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai to DXB, and FCL or LCL sea freight from Nhava Sheva and Mundra to Jebel Ali. Indian-origin goods can enter the UAE at lower duty under the CEPA with a certificate of origin, and we clear them with Dubai Customs.
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.
India to Dubai at a glance
India is among the UAE's largest trading partners. Most business cargo goes by sea from the west coast ports to Jebel Ali, and urgent goods fly into DXB.
- Flight time
- About 3 h Mumbai to Dubai
- Sea transit
- About 4 to 6 days Nhava Sheva to Jebel Ali
- Export filing
- Shipping Bill on ICEGATE
- UAE duty
- 5% standard; lower under CEPA
Where cargo leaves India for Dubai
Pick the gateway closest to the supplier. Inland container depots (ICDs) let sea cargo clear Indian export 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 and seaport | MAA · INMAA | For Tamil Nadu and the south-east | |
| Seaport | INNSA | Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai, India's largest container port | |
| Seaport | INMUN | Gujarat; a large private port with rail links to north India |
Air or sea from India
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOM, DEL, MAA or BLR to DXB | Next day to 2 days, plus clearance | Samples, spare parts, electronics, urgent goods | |
| Sea freight FCL | Nhava Sheva or Mundra to Jebel Ali | About 4 to 6 days port to port | Full 20 ft and 40 ft containers of trading goods |
| Sea freight LCL | Indian port consolidation to Jebel Ali | About 1 to 2 weeks with consolidation | Smaller loads, from about 1 CBM |
Airlines flying direct from India to Dubai
- Emirates SkyCargo
- flydubai
- Air India
- Air India Express
- IndiGo
Transit times are typical ranges from published schedules, not promises. A 20 ft container rate depends on the port pair, line and week, so we quote each booking. Check the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Export rules in India
Your Indian supplier handles export formalities. These are the points that decide whether cargo leaves on time and whether the CEPA rate applies in Dubai.
| Item | In India |
|---|---|
| Customs authority | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) |
| Export declaration | Shipping Bill, filed electronically on ICEGATE |
| Exporter registration | Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) |
| Export controls | Dual-use items on the SCOMET list need an export authorisation. A few goods carry export duty or restrictions under the DGFT export policy |
| Export charges | No export duty on most goods. Exporters pay origin costs such as terminal handling, documentation, inland haulage and broker fees. GST on exports is zero-rated |
Ask your supplier whether the price is EXW, FOB or CIF, because it decides who pays the Indian origin charges.
UAE duty on goods from India
Dubai Customs assesses duty on the HS code and CIF value. Goods of Indian origin can qualify for a lower rate under the UAE-India CEPA.
| Item | For goods from India |
|---|---|
| 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 | UAE-India CEPA, in force since 1 May 2022: lower duty on many Indian-origin goods, with a CEPA certificate of 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 India
Some goods from India need a UAE approval before they can clear. Ask your supplier to confirm these early, because they cannot be fixed once the cargo has landed.
- 01
Food and rice
Food and rice need Dubai Municipality registration (Montaji), compliant labels and shelf-life dates.
- 02
Halal meat
Buffalo and other meat needs a halal certificate from a body the UAE recognises.
- 03
Emirates Drug Establishment
Medicines and medical devices need registration with EDE, not MOHAP, before import.
- 04
MoIAT conformity
Electrical goods and appliances may need ECAS conformity approval.
- 05
Plants and seeds
Plant products need an Indian phytosanitary certificate and a MOCCAE import check.
- 06
Dangerous goods
Batteries and chemicals need correct UN papers, labels and packing for air or sea.
Documents for shipping from India 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 |
| Claims lower UAE duty for Indian-origin goods | |
| Indian export clearance, filed on ICEGATE | |
| Product approvals | Halal, Montaji, EDE or ECAS where they apply |
Without a valid CEPA certificate, the standard rate applies.
What UAE importers buy from India
India is among the UAE's largest trading partners, and the CEPA has widened what Indian suppliers can sell into Dubai. We do not quote trade values here because they change every year.
- 01
Food and agri goods
Basmati rice, spices, tea, fruit and vegetables, by sea or air.
- 02
Engineering and industrial goods
Machinery parts, pipes, tools and electrical equipment.
- 03
Textiles and household goods
Garments, home textiles, ceramics and consumer products.
India to Dubai shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneYes, qualifying goods of Indian origin can enter the UAE at reduced duty. The agreement has been in force since 1 May 2022. Your exporter obtains a CEPA certificate of origin through the DGFT platform. Goods that only pass through India do not qualify, and the standard 5% rate applies without the certificate.
- Check the HS code against the CEPA schedule.
- The certificate must match the invoice.
Rates change by port, shipping line and week, so we quote each booking. Nhava Sheva and Mundra usually have the most sailings to Jebel Ali. The quote covers ocean freight, origin handling and surcharges, while UAE duty, VAT and delivery are separate. Send the cargo, weight and ready date.
- Ask whether the quote is port to port.
- Weight limits differ by lane.
India charges no export duty on most goods. Exporters pay origin costs such as terminal handling, documentation, inland haulage and broker fees. A few goods carry export duty or need a licence, so check the DGFT export policy. Ask your supplier whether the price is EXW, FOB or CIF.
- GST on exports is zero-rated.
- Origin charges depend on the Incoterm.
Yes, an Importer Exporter Code from the DGFT is needed. The Shipping Bill is filed on ICEGATE using that code. Controlled goods on the SCOMET list also need an export authorisation. Ask the supplier for the IEC and the HS code before you confirm the booking.
- The IEC name must match the invoice.
- Send us the HS code early.