Car Shipping to Dubai (UAE)
from the United Kingdom
Dubai, via the Port of Jebel Ali — one of the world's largest container ports and a major re-export hub — is one of the busiest destinations for UK vehicle exports. The Ship Cars ships classics, supercars, 4x4s, and family vehicles to Dubai for local registration or onward re-export across the Gulf, Africa, and South Asia. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to Dubai (UAE) from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to Dubai (UAE) costs from £1,150 port-to-port for a standard saloon (4x4/SUV from £1,260). 16–22 days from Southampton or Tilbury to Jebel Ali via the Suez Canal. Both RORO and container shipping are available, with vehicles arriving at Jebel Ali, Dubai. The Ship Cars, the vehicle shipping agent of Ascope Shipping Services LTD, handles UK collection, export paperwork and customs documentation end to end.
Shipping to Dubai (UAE): cars, trucks, machinery and import rules
Information reviewed September 2026. Always confirm final rules with the official authority before shipping.
Car shipping from the UK to Dubai (UAE)
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Jebel Ali, Dubai in about 16–22 days from Southampton or Tilbury to Jebel Ali via the Suez Canal. RORO: £1,150. Container: Enquire (20ft container).
Choose RORO shipping for the lowest price on running vehicles, or container shipping for extra protection and personal effects. Specialist options include classic car shipping and electric vehicle shipping.
Estimate your price with the cost calculator or check upcoming departures on the RORO sailing schedule.
Truck and commercial vehicle shipping to Dubai (UAE)
Quick answer: Trucks, lorries, vans and pickups usually ship by RORO to Jebel Ali, Dubai, priced by length, height and weight (per cubic metre). Transit is about 16–22 days from Southampton or Tilbury to Jebel Ali via the Suez Canal.
- Exact length, width, height and gross weight required for a quote
- Running and non-running trucks accepted (towing / crane loading arranged)
- Tanks drained, loose items removed, V5C and export declaration needed
- Check Dubai (UAE) age and emissions limits for commercial vehicles before buying
Read more: truck shipping service, commercial vehicle shipping and our guide to shipping a truck from the UK.
Machinery and plant shipping to Dubai (UAE)
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship as RORO or break-bulk cargo to Jebel Ali, Dubai. Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including Dubai (UAE), inspect for biosecurity.
- Tracked machines loaded on MAFI trailers or flat-racks
- Professional washing and fumigation certificates where required
- Dimensions and weight drive the price — oversize cargo quoted individually
- Commercial invoice and proof of ownership needed for customs
See our heavy machinery shipping service and customs clearance support.
Dubai (UAE) vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- The UAE applies a flat 5% customs duty on the CIF value of imported vehicles for UAE nationals and residents registering locally (GCC nationals may have different provisions), plus 5% VAT.
- Vehicles must pass an RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) technical inspection before Dubai registration.
- There is no strict age limit for import into Dubai for personal use or re-export, though vehicles over a certain age may face higher insurance and inspection scrutiny for local registration.
- RHD UK vehicles are commonly imported for re-export markets (e.g., South Asia, Southern Africa) since the UAE itself drives on the right and requires LHD for local registration in most emirates.
Documents required
- V5C registration document
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- UAE customs declaration
- RTA technical inspection certificate (for local registration)
- Certificate of Origin
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official Dubai (UAE) & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to Dubai (UAE)?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for Dubai (UAE), usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
16–22 days or Tilbury to Jebel Ali via the Suez Canal
Ports
Jebel Ali, Dubai
Starting From
£1,150
Overview
Dubai, via the Port of Jebel Ali — one of the world's largest container ports and a major re-export hub — is one of the busiest destinations for UK vehicle exports. The Ship Cars ships classics, supercars, 4x4s, and family vehicles to Dubai for local registration or onward re-export across the Gulf, Africa, and South Asia.
Shipping Methods
Both RORO and container shipping are available to Jebel Ali. RORO offers cost-effective transport for standard running vehicles, while dedicated containers are strongly recommended for high-value, modified, or classic cars given Dubai's role as a re-export and collector hub.
Transit Time
16–22 days from Southampton or Tilbury to Jebel Ali via the Suez Canal.
Import Regulations
The UAE applies a flat 5% customs duty on the CIF value of imported vehicles for UAE nationals and residents registering locally (GCC nationals may have different provisions), plus 5% VAT. Vehicles must pass an RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) technical inspection before Dubai registration. There is no strict age limit for import into Dubai for personal use or re-export, though vehicles over a certain age may face higher insurance and inspection scrutiny for local registration. RHD UK vehicles are commonly imported for re-export markets (e.g., South Asia, Southern Africa) since the UAE itself drives on the right and requires LHD for local registration in most emirates.
Documents Required
- V5C registration document
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- UAE customs declaration
- RTA technical inspection certificate (for local registration)
- Certificate of Origin
Costs & Fees
| Saloon vehicle — RORO | £1,150 |
| 4x4 / SUV — RORO | £1,260 |
| Container | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 2 cars (saloon / 4x4) — 40ft container | Enquire |
Port-to-port only. UK collection, destination charges and import duty are quoted separately.
RORO shipping to Dubai (Jebel Ali) is £1,150 port-to-port for a saloon and £1,260 for a 4x4 / SUV. Customs duty 5% of CIF value. VAT 5%. RTA inspection and registration fees approximately AED 400–800.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import a right-hand drive car to Dubai?
What is the import duty on cars shipped to Dubai?
Is Jebel Ali a re-export hub for vehicles?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to Dubai (UAE)?
Which UK ports do you ship from to Dubai (UAE)?
What documents do I need to ship a car to Dubai (UAE)?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to Dubai (UAE)?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to Dubai (UAE)?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to Dubai (UAE) from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to Dubai (UAE) every month. Gulf demand for UK-sourced luxury, performance and 4x4 stock keeps the Middle East corridor at the top of the value table. Jebel Ali alone clears thousands of British-registered units each year, with Dammam, Sohar, Shuwaikh and Hamad acting as secondary gateways. Typical clients on this lane include GCC dealers and showrooms, alongside private owners relocating to Dubai (UAE) and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-Dubai (UAE) corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with Dubai (UAE) customs.
Vehicles depart from Tilbury, Immingham, Liverpool and arrive at Jebel Ali, Dubai via Suez Canal transit via Algeciras or Malta. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 16–22 days from southampton or tilbury to jebel ali via the suez canal, supported by marine all-risks insurance, GPS-tracked UK collection and bonded warehousing where required. For an instant indication of cost, use our car shipping cost calculator or request a tailored quote on our quote page.
How UK to Dubai (UAE) car shipping works
Every shipment to Dubai (UAE) follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Tilbury, bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Jebel Ali (and onward feeder to Dubai where required), and destination customs handover. You choose the shipping mode that best matches the vehicle profile and budget — see the full breakdown on our car shipping costs page or compare live RORO sailing dates to Dubai (UAE).
RORO to Dubai (UAE)
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for Dubai (UAE). Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Jebel Ali. RORO shipping to Dubai (UAE) — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to Dubai (UAE)
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Dubai. Dedicated container shipping to Dubai (UAE).
Dubai (UAE) ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for Dubai (UAE) are typically routed through Jebel Ali as the lead discharge port, with Dubai available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to Dubai (UAE) and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Jebel Ali
- Port of Dubai
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
Dubai (UAE) import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into Dubai (UAE) is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest Dubai (UAE) customs schedule before quoting.
- GCC specification compliance and chassis-number verification
- 5% GCC customs duty and country-specific VAT
- Right-hand-drive restrictions in selected markets
- Re-export hubs in Dubai, Sharjah and Bahrain
Document checklist for Dubai (UAE)
- V5C registration document
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- UAE customs declaration
- RTA technical inspection certificate (for local registration)
- Certificate of Origin
For full country-specific customs rules, see our Dubai (UAE) import guides and articles, our UK and Dubai (UAE) customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Jebel Ali.
Who ships to Dubai (UAE)
- • Returning Dubai (UAE) residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to Dubai (UAE)
- • Middle East car dealers and Dubai (UAE) re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to Dubai (UAE)
- • Saloons, hatchbacks and family cars
- • SUVs, 4x4s and pickups (Land Rover, Range Rover, Toyota, Nissan)
- • Luxury and executive vehicles (Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi)
- • Performance and supercars (McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari)
- • Classic and historic vehicles (pre-1990 with HMRC NOVA exemption)
- • Motorbikes, scooters and quad bikes
- • Vans, light commercials and motorhomes
- • Electric and hybrid vehicles (EV battery documentation supported)
Why exporters choose The Ship Cars for Dubai (UAE)
• Specialist UK-to-Dubai (UAE) corridor with weekly capacity
• Marine all-risks insurance and bonded UK warehousing
• HMRC NOVA, C88, EORI and DVLA V5C export handled in-house
• Transparent UK to Dubai (UAE) pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Jebel Ali agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to Dubai (UAE)
Shipping methods
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Other Middle East destinations from the UK
We ship to 8+ other Middle East countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as Dubai (UAE). Many customers shipping to Dubai (UAE) also enquire about Abu Dhabi (UAE), Karachi (Pakistan) because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to Dubai (UAE)
Use our online quote form for Dubai (UAE) sailing dates, indicative landed cost and document checks. Quotes are typically answered the same working day.