Shipping from Kenya to DubaiShipping from Kenya to Dubai, by air and sea.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, handles shipping from Kenya to Dubai for businesses. We book air cargo from Nairobi to DXB, including cut flowers and fresh produce, and FCL or LCL sea freight from Mombasa to Jebel Ali for tea, coffee and other goods. We check export papers, clear the cargo with Dubai Customs, and deliver in the UAE.
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.
Kenya to Dubai at a glance
Kenya sends flowers, produce, tea and coffee to the UAE. Perishables fly from Nairobi to DXB, while containers of tea and coffee leave from Mombasa.
- Flight time
- About 5 to 6 h Nairobi to Dubai
- Sea transit
- Varies, direct or via a transshipment hub
- Export filing
- KRA iCMS, through KenTrade
- UAE duty
- 5% on most goods, on CIF value
Where cargo leaves Kenya for Dubai
Flower and produce farms around Naivasha and Mount Kenya truck cargo to Nairobi. Tea and coffee move by road or rail to Mombasa.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | NBO | Jomo Kenyatta International, the main air cargo gateway for flowers and produce | |
| Airport | MBA | Moi International, for smaller air loads from the coast | |
| Seaport | KEMBA | Kenya's main seaport for containers, tea, coffee and general cargo |
Air or sea from Kenya
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBO or MBA to DXB or DWC | Next day to 2 days, plus clearance | Cut flowers, fresh produce, samples, urgent goods | |
| Sea freight FCL | Mombasa to Jebel Ali | Varies, direct or via a transshipment hub | Full containers of tea, coffee and other goods |
| Sea freight LCL | Mombasa consolidation to Jebel Ali | Varies, via consolidation | Smaller loads, from about 1 CBM |
Airlines flying direct from Kenya to Dubai
- Emirates SkyCargo
- Kenya Airways
- flydubai
Transit times vary with the vessel and routing, and are not promises. Rates change often, so we quote each booking. Check the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Export rules in Kenya
Your Kenyan supplier handles export formalities. We check that their papers match what Dubai Customs will see.
| Item | In Kenya |
|---|---|
| Customs authority | Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), using the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) |
| Single window | KenTrade runs the national single window where exporters lodge permits and declarations |
| Plant health | Flowers and produce need a phytosanitary certificate from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) |
| Agriculture licences | The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) regulates exports of tea, coffee and horticulture |
| Ordinary certificates are issued by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI); KRA issues preferential certificates |
Agriculture permits depend on the product. Ask your supplier which agency covers your goods before you book.
UAE duty on goods from Kenya
Dubai Customs assesses duty on the HS code and CIF value. We file the declaration and arrange delivery.
| Item | For goods from Kenya |
|---|---|
| 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 | The UAE-Kenya CEPA was signed on 14 January 2025. We could not confirm that it is in force, so plan on the standard rate until Dubai Customs confirms otherwise |
| 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 Kenya
Most Kenyan exports to the UAE are plants or food, and each has a UAE approval. Ask your supplier to confirm these early, because they cannot be fixed once the cargo has landed.
- 01
Flowers and plants need a KEPHIS phytosanitary certificate and a MOCCAE import check in the UAE.
- 02
Fresh produce
Avocados, vegetables and fruit are checked by Dubai Municipality and MOCCAE on arrival.
- 03
Tea and coffee
Packaged tea and coffee need Dubai Municipality registration (Montaji) and compliant labels.
- 04
Cold chain
Perishables need temperature records from the farm to the aircraft or reefer container.
- 05
Halal products
Meat and meat products need a halal certificate from a body the UAE recognises.
- 06
Emirates Drug Establishment
Medicines and medical devices need EDE registration before import.
Documents for shipping from Kenya 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; buyers and banks often ask for it | |
| Kenya export entry | Export clearance filed with KRA through KenTrade |
| Needed for flowers, produce and other plant products |
What UAE importers buy from Kenya
Kenya sells flowers, produce, tea and coffee to the UAE, and a CEPA was signed in January 2025. We do not quote trade values here because they change every year.
- 01
Cut flowers
Roses and other flowers flown from Nairobi in cold chain.
- 02
Fresh produce
Avocados, vegetables and fruit, mostly by air.
- 03
Tea and coffee
Packed tea and coffee shipped in containers from Mombasa.
Kenya to Dubai shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneFlowers are trucked to Nairobi and flown out as perishable air cargo. They need a KEPHIS phytosanitary certificate and a cold chain from farm to aircraft. Dubai checks plant material on arrival, so documents must match the flowers. Plan trucking so flowers reach the airport within hours of picking.
- Book space before the farm cuts flowers.
- Cold chain must not break.
The agreement was signed on 14 January 2025 in Abu Dhabi. Kenya's National Assembly considered ratification in November 2025, but we could not confirm an entry-into-force date. Plan for the standard 5% duty on most goods until the agreement applies. We can check the position at booking.
- A certificate of origin may be needed later.
- Duty depends on the HS code.
Tea exporters register with the Agriculture and Food Authority. Shipments are cleared through KRA and KenTrade, and a certificate of origin comes from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Dubai importer must meet food registration rules, so check the buyer's Montaji status before shipment.
- Ask the buyer for their registration.
- Labels must meet UAE rules.
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta handles most air exports, including flowers and produce. Mombasa is the main seaport for containers of tea, coffee and other goods, and Moi International takes smaller air loads. Sea transit to Jebel Ali varies by vessel and routing, so we quote each sailing.
- Ask for current sailings from Mombasa.
- Perishables should fly.