China and Dubai (UAE) have close trade relations and strong demand for transportation. Helping enterprises or individuals understand the transportation costs can reasonably plan logistics costs. This article will analyze in detail from multiple aspects.
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Overview of Dubai
Dubai is an important logistics and trade center in the Middle East, famous for its modern infrastructure, free trade zones and convenient sea and air ports. As an important node in global trade, Dubai has attracted a large number of Chinese goods, including electronic products, furniture, clothing and mechanical equipment.
Shipping from China to Dubai
Depending on the nature of the goods, time requirements and budget, the transportation methods from China to Dubai are mainly divided into the following two types:
Sea Freight
Sea Freight is the most common mode of transportation, with relatively low freight rates, suitable for bulk goods, especially oversized and overweight goods. Common types of sea transportation services are as follows:
- Full Container Load (FCL): suitable for large-volume cargo transportation, the shipper can exclusively use the entire container. Common container types: 20 feet, 40 feet and 40 feet high cabinet.
- Less than Container Load (LCL): Applicable to small-volume goods, sharing a container with other shippers’ goods, effectively reducing transportation costs.
Air Freight
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation, with strong timeliness and high safety, and is suitable for transporting high-value, small-volume goods. Common air freight services are as follows:
- General air freight: Applicable to general goods, with short transportation time and moderate cost.
- Express air freight: Applicable to small-piece goods with extremely strong timeliness, provided by international express companies (such as DHL, FedEx, UPS), with higher prices but the fastest speed.
What factors affect the cost from China to Dubai
Cargo type
General goods (such as clothing and furniture) have lower costs, while special goods (such as cold chain food and dangerous goods) require additional equipment or services and have higher costs.
Transportation distance
Different ports and airports have different distances to Dubai, resulting in different costs
Fuel surcharge
The fuel surcharges for sea and air transportation fluctuate with international oil prices. When fuel prices rise, transportation costs will increase significantly.
Seasonal factors
During peak seasons (such as around the Chinese New Year or during peak international trade periods), demand for sea and air freight increases and prices may rise
Freight forwarding service fees
Freight forwarding companies’ quotations usually include service fees such as transportation, customs clearance, and document processing, and the fees vary depending on the scope of the service.
Shipping Cost from China to Dubai
Understanding the costs involved is essential for budgeting when shipping from China to Dubai. Some typical cost components include:
- Basic freight: the main cost of sea or air freight.
- Fuel surcharge: adjusted according to international oil price fluctuations.
- Destination port charges: including unloading fees, storage fees, etc.
- Document fees: the cost of handling shipping documents.
- Tariff: Calculated based on the type of goods and declared value. Dubai has a zero tariff policy for some goods. The value-added tax (VAT) is usually 5%.
| Mode of transport | Cost Range |
| 20ft container by sea | $1,000-$1,500 |
| 40ft container by sea | $1,500-$2,500 |
| LCL Shipping | $80-$120 / cubic meter |
| General air freight | $5-$8 / kg |
| Express air freight | $8-$12 / kg |
Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to Dubai
The cost of shipping a full container from China to Dubai varies slightly from different ports in China. Here are the detailed shipping costs:
| Departure Port | 20ft Container Cost Range | 40ft Container Cost Range |
| Shenzhen Port | $1,000-$1,200 | $1,500-$2,000 |
| Guangzhou Port | $1,000-$1,300 | $1,600-$2,100 |
| Shanghai Port | $1,200-$1,500 | $1,800-$2,300 |
| Ningbo Port | $1,200-$1,500 | $1,800-$2,300 |
| Qingdao Port | $1,300-$1,600 | $2,000-$2,500 |
| Tianjin Port | $1,400-$1,700 | $2,100-$2,600 |
DDP Shipping Cost from China to Dubai
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means that the seller bears all costs until the goods are delivered to the buyer’s designated location, and all costs including transportation fees, tariffs, value-added tax (VAT), customs clearance fees, etc. have been paid.
| Service Type | From | To | LCL cost | 20-foot container (FCL) | 40-foot container (FCL) |
| Sea Freight DDP | China | France | $100 – $150/CBM | $2,000 – $3,000 | $3,000 – $4,000 |
| Air Freight DDP | China | France | $8 – $14/kg |
How to Save Cost from China to Dubai
To save money on shipping from China to Dubai, you can optimize the logistics process through the following strategies
Optimize packaging and boxing
Reduce the volume and weight of goods, especially for LCL shipping, the cost per cubic meter or per ton is calculated
Plan and book in advance
Avoiding holidays (such as Spring Festival, Christmas and other peak transportation periods can help save costs.
Choose a reasonably priced freight forwarder
Different freight forwarding companies have different quotes on freight, surcharges and services. It is recommended to choose the most competitive solution by comparing prices, asking prices and negotiating with multiple freight forwarders.
Optimize tariffs
Ensure that the declaration of goods meets customs requirements to avoid additional costs caused by incorrect declarations. Make reasonable use of trade agreements to ensure possible tariff reductions or zero rates.
Consolidate goods
If there are multiple customers or batch orders, you can consolidate the goods for transportation to reduce air or shipping costs.
Ubest Shipping – Best Freight Forwarder from China to Dubai
With years of global logistics experience, Ubest Shipping is your trusted partner for reliable and efficient shipping from China to Dubai. We work with the best airlines and shipping companies in China to ensure the highest quality shipping at competitive prices.
When you entrust your shipment to us, you can enjoy a range of advantages:
- Fast and transparent online quotes: We will quote you by providing clear and easy-to-understand price information.
- Expert handling of IMO or dangerous goods: We specialize in the safety of dangerous and sensitive goods and comply with all regulations.
- Seamless delivery to Amazon FBA in Dubai: We offer a hassle-free solution to ship your products directly to Amazon FBA centers in Dubai, simplifying your e-commerce operations.
- Document support: Our dedicated team assists you in filling out and submitting the necessary shipping documents, relieving you of the administrative burden.
- Simplified customs formalities: Ubest Shipping will handle most of the customs requirements for you, minimizing the complexity and ensuring smooth customs clearance in the UAE.
- 24/7 customer support: Our customer support team is available 24/7 via email, phone or chat to answer your questions and concerns promptly.
- Full compliance with shipping regulations: Rest assured that your shipment will be handled in full compliance with local and international shipping regulations, ensuring a smooth shipping process.
Documents Required for Shipping from China to Dubai
The customs clearance process is crucial to ensure that your shipment passes smoothly through UAE customs. To do this, several important documents are required, including:
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Certificate of Origin
- Bill of Lading (for ocean shipments) or Airway Bill (for air shipments)
Depending on the nature of the imported goods, additional documents may be required. These supplementary documents may include food sanitary and phytosanitary certificates, controlled goods licenses, or import permits.
Through the comprehensive understanding of this article, whether it is a small batch of personal goods or a large batch of corporate goods, the process of transporting goods from China to Dubai will be more efficient and economical.