Shipping from Turkey to DubaiShipping from Turkey to Dubai, by air and sea.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, arranges shipping from Turkey to Dubai for businesses. We book air cargo from Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen to DXB, and FCL or LCL sea freight from Mersin, Ambarli and Izmir to Jebel Ali. We check the Turkish export declaration and CEPA origin proof against your invoice, then clear the goods 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.
Turkey to Dubai at a glance
Turkey supplies construction materials, food, textiles and machinery to the UAE. Bulk goods travel by sea from Mersin and Ambarli, while samples, fashion and urgent parts fly from Istanbul.
- Flight time
- About 4.5 h Istanbul to Dubai
- Sea transit
- Varies, often via a transshipment hub
- Export filing
- Customs declaration through BILGE
- Trade deal
- CEPA in force since 1 Sept 2023
Where cargo leaves Turkey for Dubai
Pick the gateway closest to the factory. Mersin and Izmir often have better direct sailings than inland trucking to Istanbul suggests.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | IST | Turkey's main cargo airport, home of Turkish Cargo | |
| Airport | SAW | Istanbul's second airport, on the Asian side | |
| Seaport | TRAMB | Cluster of container terminals on the Marmara coast | |
| Seaport | TRMER | Large Mediterranean container port for southern Turkey | |
| Seaport | TRIZM | Aegean gateway for textiles, food and manufacturing |
Air or sea from Turkey
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| IST or SAW to DXB | Next day to 3 days, plus clearance | Garments, samples, spare parts, urgent goods | |
| Sea freight FCL | Mersin, Ambarli or Izmir to Jebel Ali | Varies, often via a transshipment hub | Tiles, marble, steel, food, full loads |
| Sea freight LCL | Turkish consolidation to Jebel Ali | Varies, via consolidation | Smaller loads, from about 1 CBM |
Airlines flying direct from Turkey to Dubai
- Emirates SkyCargo
- flydubai
- Turkish Airlines (Turkish Cargo)
Transit times are typical ranges from published schedules, not promises. The CEPA direct transport rule can affect routing via a hub. Check the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Export rules in Turkey
A Turkish exporter normally files through a licensed customs broker. We ask for the declaration number and origin papers before the truck leaves the factory.
| Item | In Turkey |
|---|---|
| Export declaration | Filed electronically with Turkish Customs under the Ministry of Trade, through the BILGE system |
| Customs agent | Declarations are normally filed by a licensed customs broker |
| Chambers of Commerce and of Industry issue standard certificates of origin | |
| CEPA origin proof | The UAE-Turkey CEPA requires an origin proof, which can be an approved exporter declaration. Ask your broker which applies |
| Controlled goods | Some goods need prior permission from the Ministry of Trade or another authority before export |
Confirm the CEPA origin proof before the invoice is issued. It is difficult to correct afterwards.
UAE duty on goods from Turkey
Dubai Customs charges duty and VAT on the declared value. The CEPA lowers duty on many Turkish-origin goods when the origin proof is correct.
| Item | For goods from Turkey |
|---|---|
| UAE customs duty | 5% on most goods, set by HS code and charged on the CIF value |
| Trade agreement | UAE-Turkey CEPA, signed 3 March 2023 and in force since 1 September 2023: lower or zero duty on many tariff lines for goods of Turkish origin with a valid origin proof, shipped directly |
| 5% on the CIF value plus duty | |
| Free zone option | Goods can enter JAFZA or Jebel Ali Free Zone without duty until they move 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 Turkey
Turkish goods often need a UAE approval before they can clear. Ask your supplier for the technical files early, because they cannot be arranged once the cargo has landed.
- 01
ECAS conformity
Appliances, electrical goods and some machinery may need a MoIAT conformity certificate.
- 02
Food registration
Food, confectionery and olive oil need Dubai Municipality registration (Montaji) and compliant labels.
- 03
Building materials
Tiles, steel, cables and construction products may need conformity checks before use in UAE projects.
- 04
Textile labelling
Garments and home textiles need correct origin and fibre content labels.
- 05
EDE registration
Medicines and medical products are registered with the Emirates Drug Establishment.
- 06
Plant products
Fresh produce and plants need a phytosanitary certificate and a MOCCAE import permit.
Documents for shipping from Turkey to Dubai
Send these with your booking. We check that names, values and HS codes match across every document.
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Customs value and duty in Dubai | |
| Packing list | Count, weights and marks for inspection |
| Turkish customs proof that the goods have left | |
| Claims reduced duty for Turkish-origin goods | |
| Bill of lading or air waybill | Transport contract and cargo release |
| Product approvals | ECAS, EDE or food registration where they apply |
A wrong origin proof can lose the CEPA rate. Check it before the goods ship.
What UAE importers buy from Turkey
Turkey and the UAE signed a CEPA in 2023, and non-oil trade between them has grown since it took effect.
- 01
Construction materials
Marble, ceramics, steel and cables for building and fit-out projects, mostly by sea.
- 02
Food and beverages
Confectionery, olive oil, dried fruit and processed food, by sea in dry or reefer containers.
- 03
Textiles and garments
Fashion, home textiles and fabrics for retail and wholesale, by air or sea.
Turkey to Dubai shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneYes, it has been in force since 1 September 2023. It was signed in March 2023. Many tariff lines get lower or zero UAE duty if the goods are Turkish origin. The importer needs a valid origin proof, and the goods must ship directly to the UAE.
- Standard duty is 5% for other goods.
- Check the HS code before booking.
Mersin suits southern Turkey and Ambarli suits the Istanbul region. Izmir serves the Aegean belt. Direct services vary by season, so some containers move through a transshipment hub. If you claim the CEPA rate, ask us about routing before the booking is confirmed.
- We compare sailings from all three ports.
- Trucking cost matters as much as freight.
A licensed customs broker usually files it for the Turkish exporter. The declaration goes to Turkish Customs through the BILGE system. The exporter provides the invoice, packing list and origin papers. Ask for the declaration number before the truck leaves the factory.
- The CEPA origin proof is a separate document.
- Numbers must match the invoice.
Often yes, depending on the flight and cut-off. Flights from Istanbul Airport to DXB take about four and a half hours. Dubai customs clearance and delivery add time, and missing approvals cause most delays. We check ECAS, food or medicine requirements before the cargo is booked.
- Flights run daily from IST and SAW.
- Allow a day for clearance.