Container shipping from Turkey to the UAE
We buy your goods from Turkish factories and Istanbul's markets, check them and ship them to the UAE by road via Iraq and Saudi Arabia, or by sea to Khor Fakkan, Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port. Here are the route, the time it takes, the papers the UAE asks for, and its duties.
- By road, by truckTime confirmed with your quote
- By sea from Turkey20–36 days
- Shared containerFrom one pallet
The route from Turkey to the UAE
Goods for the UAE go by road through Iraq and Saudi Arabia under TIR, or by sea around Arabia. Under the UAE–Türkiye trade agreement (CEPA) most Turkish goods now pay little or no duty.
Since March 2026 the Strait of Hormuz has been mostly shut, and Jebel Ali handled 90% less cargo in spring 2026 than a year earlier. Carriers now land UAE cargo at Khor Fakkan, outside the strait, and move it on by road. We confirm the best route when you order.
Under TIR through Iraq and across Saudi Arabia: a TIR delivery from Türkiye to the UAE took 10 days door to door (IRU, October 2025). A shorter route through Iraq and a ferry from Umm Qasr to Dubai opened in January 2026, but whether it still runs is not confirmed.
Time confirmed with your quoteFrom Ambarlı in Istanbul, Aliağa in İzmir and Mersin to Khor Fakkan, Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port. A full container just for you, or space in a shared one.
Normal times, with one or two transhipments. While the strait is shut, cargo lands at Khor Fakkan and goes on by road, which can add time.
20–36 daysFor samples and urgent, light orders.
3–7 daysTimes are approximate, port to port or border to border, and don't include customs clearance.
Which container fits your goods?
Enter one carton's size and weight and how many cartons you have. We show the volume, the weight and how many cartons each way of shipping takes. The price comes in your quote.
One carton
120 cartons · 11.5 m³ · 2,160 kg
By air you'd be charged for 2,160 kg: the larger of the real weight and the volume weight (volume ÷ 6000).
Usually the best fit: a shared container. You pay only for 11.5 m³.
| Way to ship | Inside size | Max load | Your cartons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container | You pay for the space you use | — | You pay for 11.5 m³ |
| 20 ft container | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m · 33.2 m³ | 25 t | All 120 fit35% full |
| 40 ft container | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m · 67.7 m³ | 27.6 t | All 120 fit17% full |
| 40 ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m · 76.4 m³ | 28.5 t | All 120 fit15% full |
| 13.6 m truck | 13.6 × 2.45 × 2.70 m · about 90 m³ | about 24 t | All 120 fit13% full |
Sizes are typical and vary a little from one container or trailer to another, and some countries allow less weight on their roads. We work out the exact loading with your quote.
Papers: what we prepare and what the UAE asks for
We prepare in Turkey
- Commercial invoiceEvery model, its quantity and price.
- Packing listWhat is in each carton, its weight and size, from the inspection.
- Certificate of originWith a CEPA certificate of origin issued in Türkiye, and goods shipped directly, Turkish goods get the agreement's lower duty in the UAE.
What the UAE asks of you
- ECAS certificateProducts on the Ministry of Industry's regulated list, such as electrical goods, toys and some foods like bottled water, juices and dairy, need an ECAS certificate from an approved body, valid a year, and the ECAS mark. Customs checks it online.Official site
- FoodFood is approved by each emirate's authority (Dubai Municipality, ADAFSA in Abu Dhabi), with a health certificate, a halal certificate for beef and poultry, and Arabic labels.Official site
- Invoice attestationCommercial invoices for imports of AED 10,000 or more are attested online by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (AED 150 each); imports into free zones are exempt.Official site
Trade agreement and duties
The UAE–Türkiye Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been in force since September 2023. On the goods it covers, about 80% of tariff lines, the UAE's duty (usually 5%) is now 0% or falling. Alcohol pays 50% and tobacco 100%.
Before you order goods for the UAE
- Food that fails UAE standards can be banned from sale, and in Dubai the importer may have to destroy it or send it out within 10 days.
- Some goods are banned or need a special permit on religious or moral grounds; ask us before ordering anything unusual.
- The importer needs a valid UAE trade licence.
How we ship your order to the UAE
Send your request
The goods and the quantity, through the form below or on WhatsApp.
We send offers and samples
Supplier prices and photos of the goods, and samples if you ask.
We check and combine
We count the pieces, look for faults, measure and weigh the cartons, and send you a report with photos and video.
See an example reportWe ship it to the UAE
And we send you the papers before the goods arrive, so your customs broker can start.
Questions about shipping goods to the UAE
How long does shipping from Turkey to the UAE take?
By road: a time we confirm with your quote. By sea: 20–36 days. By air: 3–7 days, for samples and urgent orders. Customs clearance in the UAE comes on top.
Can I ship in a shared container?
Yes. A shared container starts from one pallet, and you pay for the space your goods take. Try the container tool on this page to see your goods' volume.
What papers does the UAE ask for?
An ECAS certificate for regulated products, approval from the emirate's food authority for food, invoice attestation for imports of AED 10,000 or more, and a CEPA certificate of origin for the lower duty. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
Who clears the goods in the UAE?
You or your customs broker in the UAE. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin and send them before the goods arrive; the duties are paid in the UAE.
Can you combine goods from several suppliers into one shipment?
Yes. We receive the goods from every supplier at our Istanbul warehouse, check them and put them together in one shipment to the UAE.
Get a quote for your shipment to the UAE
The quote is free, with no obligation. It comes itemised: the price of the goods, our service fee and the shipping, each on its own line.
