Shipping from the USA to DubaiShipping from the USA to Dubai, by air and sea.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, arranges shipping from the USA to Dubai for businesses. We book air cargo from New York JFK, Los Angeles and Chicago to DXB, and FCL or LCL sea freight from the Port of Los Angeles, Port of New York and New Jersey and other US ports to Jebel Ali. We check the AES export filing, then clear the goods through Dubai Customs and deliver.
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.
USA to Dubai at a glance
Most US cargo for Dubai moves by sea from the big container ports, while urgent, high-value and technical goods fly from JFK, Chicago or Los Angeles. The US side adds an export filing and, for some goods, a licence.
- Flight time
- About 12 to 14 h New York to Dubai
- Sea transit
- Roughly 4 to 7 weeks, varies by service
- Export filing
- AES (EEI) in ACE, above USD 2,500 per Schedule B
- UAE duty
- 5% of CIF value on most goods
Where cargo leaves the USA for Dubai
Choose the gateway closest to the shipper, because inland trucking in the US can cost as much as part of the ocean leg. We can pick up from any US state through partner agents.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | LAX | Main West Coast air cargo gateway | |
| Airport | JFK | Largest East Coast air cargo hub for Gulf flights | |
| Airport | ORD | Central US, for Midwest manufacturers | |
| Seaport | USLAX · USLGB | The largest US container port complex | |
| Seaport | USNYC | East Coast gateway with rail links inland | |
| Seaport | USSAV | South-east container port for the Atlantic coast |
Air or sea from the USA
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK, LAX or ORD to DXB | About 2 to 4 days including clearance | Electronics, spare parts, samples, urgent goods | |
| Sea freight FCL | US port to Jebel Ali | Roughly 4 to 7 weeks port to port | Full containers of machinery, materials and stock |
| Sea freight LCL | US consolidation to Jebel Ali | Varies, via consolidation and a transshipment hub | Smaller loads, from about 1 CBM |
Airlines flying direct from the USA to Dubai
- Emirates SkyCargo
Timings are typical ranges, not promises, and change with schedules and routing. Check the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Export rules in the USA
The US exporter, called the USPPI, is responsible for the export filing and any licence. We work from the details your supplier provides.
| Item | In USA |
|---|---|
| Electronic Export Information (EEI) filed in the Automated Export System (AES) through ACE, run by the US Census Bureau and CBP | |
| When it is required | Above USD 2,500 per Schedule B number, or when a licence is needed, whatever the value |
| Export controls | EAR, administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and ITAR for defence items; classify the product by ECCN |
| Issued by a US chamber of commerce for non-preferential origin, if the buyer asks | |
| Check before booking | Sanctions and denied-party screening, plus end-use rules for sensitive goods |
UAE duty on goods from the USA
Dubai Customs charges duty on the CIF value of the goods. Check current rates against your HS code.
| Item | For goods from USA |
|---|---|
| UAE customs duty | 5% of the CIF value on most goods, set by HS code; some goods are exempt or higher |
| Trade agreement | No UAE trade agreement with the USA in force that we can confirm |
| 5% on the CIF value plus duty | |
| Free zone option | Goods can move into JAFZA or another free zone without duty until they leave for 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 the USA
Some US-origin goods need a UAE approval before they clear. Ask your buyer to confirm these early.
- 01
Electrical and electronic products often need an ECAS certificate from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
- 02
TDRA type approval
Phones, routers and other radio devices need type approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.
- 03
Medicines and supplements
Pharmaceuticals and medical products go through the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE).
- 04
Food registration
Food products are registered with Dubai Municipality (Montaji) and must meet UAE label rules.
- 05
Halal certificate
US meat and poultry need a halal certificate from a body the UAE recognises.
- 06
Plants and animals
Plants, seeds and live animals need MOCCAE permits and health or phytosanitary certificates.
Documents for shipping from the USA 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 the UAE | |
| Packing list | Count, weights and marks for inspection |
| Air waybill or bill of lading | Transport contract and cargo release |
| Proves US origin when the buyer or bank asks | |
| Proof the US export was reported, where required | |
| ECAS, TDRA, EDE or Montaji where they apply |
Licensed goods also need the export licence number on the shipping documents.
What UAE importers buy from the USA
The USA is one of the larger suppliers of machinery, aircraft parts, vehicles and medical equipment to the UAE, though shares change by year.
- 01
Machinery and equipment
Industrial equipment, engines and parts, usually by sea or air depending on size.
- 02
Electronics and instruments
IT hardware, medical devices and test equipment, mostly by air.
- 03
Aircraft parts
Aviation spares for UAE operators, often urgent and by air.
USA to Dubai shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneAn EEI filing is needed above USD 2,500 per Schedule B number. It is also needed whenever a licence applies, whatever the value. The exporter or its forwarder files in AES through ACE and receives an ITN. Check the rule for your goods before booking.
- The US seller is the USPPI.
- Licensed goods need the licence number.
Los Angeles (LAX) is the main West Coast air cargo gateway. Cargo from Seattle, San Francisco or Phoenix can be trucked to LAX or flown on a connecting flight. Sea cargo normally leaves from Los Angeles or Long Beach. Choosing the gateway closest to the shipper usually saves the most trucking cost.
- We arrange pickup from US suppliers.
- LCL is consolidated at the port.
Yes, if the goods are controlled. The Bureau of Industry and Security administers the EAR for most commercial goods, and ITAR covers defence items. Many items need no licence, but electronics, encryption and some machinery may. Classify the product by ECCN before booking.
- We cannot move ITAR items without a licence.
- Screen the buyer and end use.
Air cargo from JFK usually reaches Dubai in two to four days. Sea freight from New York and New Jersey to Jebel Ali often takes four to seven weeks, depending on the service and any transshipment. LCL adds consolidation time at both ends, and clearance depends on documents.
- Schedules change with port congestion.
- Ask for the next sailing dates.