International Shipping
from UK to the UAE
What are you moving?
International Shipping to the UAE
Shipping to the UAE is one of the more established Gulf routes we serve, covering Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates. Whether you are sending a few boxes, a full container of furniture or a vehicle, we manage the whole journey from your UK doorstep to your UAE address. We ship by sea freight and air freight, with door to door collection and delivery, full customs handling and fixed pricing confirmed before you book.
We also handle shipping from the UAE back to the UK. Anglo Pacific has moved belongings between the two countries for over 40 years, with more than 20,000 consignments handled every year, door to door in both directions.
How Much Does Shipping to the UAE Cost
The cost of shipping to the UAE from the UK depends on three things: the volume of your shipment, the shipping method you choose and your delivery address. We charge by the size of your shipment, not by weight at check-in, so you know the full price before booking.
- Single 23kg suitcase by sea freight: from around £180 door to door.
- Single 23kg suitcase by air freight: from around £320 door to door.
- Three to five boxes (around 0.5 cubic metres) by sea freight: from around £290.
- Small flat contents (around 1 cubic metre) by sea freight: from around £550.
Quotes are fixed at the time of booking and cover UK collection, freight, UAE customs documentation and final delivery. For an exact figure based on your shipment, send us a rough inventory and we will respond the same working day.
Every shipment to the UAE runs on two routes, sea freight and air freight. The right choice depends on how soon you need your items and how much you are sending.
Sea Freight to the UAE
- Ideal for cost-effective shipping.
- Items are placed in shared or sole-use shipping containers via Jebel Ali Port in Dubai or Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi.
- Best for large loads or when timing is not critical.
- Delivery time: 10 to 14 weeks door to door from the UK to the UAE. Shipments to the northern emirates such as Sharjah, Ajman or Ras Al Khaimah can add a little time for inland transport from the port.
Air Freight to the UAE
- Best for urgent shipments.
- Goods are packed onto commercial air carriers into Dubai International, Al Maktoum International or Abu Dhabi International.
- Fastest delivery time, usually upto 10 days.
- Higher cost compared to sea freight.
If you need to ship boxes, furniture or a vehicle from the UAE back to the UK, we coordinate shipping in the reverse direction. The service runs the same way: door to door collection, fixed pricing, sea or air freight, UK customs handled on arrival.
- Collection across the UAE: our partner agents collect from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and other UAE locations.
- Sea freight from the UAE: shipments leave Jebel Ali Port or Khalifa Port, arriving at Felixstowe or London Gateway. Transit is typically 10 to 14 weeks door to door, in line with the outbound route.
- Air freight from the UAE: departs Dubai International, Al Maktoum International or Abu Dhabi International, with UK delivery within 7 to 10 days of collection.
- UK customs and ToR relief: returning UK residents may qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief from UK customs duty and VAT, provided you have owned and used the items in the UAE for at least 6 months. We help you prepare the ToR1 application before your shipment leaves the UAE.
Get your online shipping to the UAE quote
in a few easy steps.
Why Choose Anglo Pacific for Your Shipping to the UAE
Anglo Pacific has been shipping belongings internationally since 1982. We are one of the UK’s largest and most established international shipping companies, handling over 20,000 consignments every year.
- Fixed pricing. Your quote is confirmed at the time of booking and covers collection, packing, freight, customs documentation and delivery. No hidden fees, no surcharges on arrival.
- Door to door service. We collect from any UK address and deliver to any address worldwide, whichever emirate you are moving to.
- BAR accredited. We are members of the British Association of Removers with Advanced Payment Guarantee protection. Your money is protected from the moment you book.
- FIDI affiliate. We are affiliated with FIDI Global Alliance, the international network of quality-certified moving companies, giving you trusted partner agents across the UAE.
- Customs handling. We complete all paperwork to Dubai Customs and Federal Customs Authority standards, including the personal effects inventory and any required declarations, so your shipment clears the border without delay.
- Transit insurance. Every shipment can be covered by Amica transit insurance, underwritten for international moves. You choose the level of cover based on the declared value of your belongings.
- Real-time tracking. Track your shipment from collection through to delivery. We keep you updated at every stage of the journey.
Popular UK to UAE Shipping Destinations
Thanks to today’s online accessibility, communicating with people on the other side of the world is easy. And so is international shipping to the United Arab Emirates from the UK with Anglo Pacific!
Although we deliver goods to almost all locations in the UAE, some of our more popular shipping destinations are:
Check out our country guides
Interested in anything else?
Reviews
Shipping from the UK to the UAE is easy when you choose Anglo Pacific. We are committed, experienced and we complete successful shipments to the United Arab Emirates each and every time. Rather than just hearing what we have to say, see what our customers think in our international shipping reviews.
To set the wheels in motion of your international shipping to the UAE, book your video home survey today and one of our specialist estimators will review your consignment and provide you with the detailed shipping quote.
- Book a remote video survey
- Show us your items
- Get your quote
Costs depend on volume, shipping method and destination. A single 23kg suitcase by sea freight starts from around £180 door to door as an indicative figure. Air freight costs more per kilogram but delivers faster. For an exact quote, send us a rough inventory and we will respond the same working day.
Sea freight takes 10 to 14 weeks door to door for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with shipments to the northern emirates such as Sharjah, Ajman or Ras Al Khaimah adding a little time for inland transport from the port. Air freight delivers upto 10 days and suits urgent or smaller shipments.
Yes. A dedicated 20ft container suits a full household move and holds the contents of a typical two to three bedroom home. Dedicated containers also travel faster than shared containers on the same route since they do not wait for consolidation.
Yes. Standard boxes measure 48 x 37 x 33 cm with a weight limit of 30 kilos each, and we provide free export strength boxes on request. Furniture is wrapped and protected individually using blankets, bubble wrap and custom crating where needed.
The UAE restricts or tightly controls a number of items, including alcohol, pork and pork products, narcotics, certain medications without a prescription, and publications, recordings or items considered offensive to public morality. If you are unsure about a specific item, contact us before packing and we will advise.
Sea freight is the most cost effective way to ship to the UAE, particularly for volumes over 0.5 cubic metres. Consolidating boxes, furniture and other items into a shared container brings the per cubic metre rate down further than shipping items separately.