Car Shipping to UAE
from the United Kingdom
The UAE, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is one of the top destinations for UK luxury and sports car exports. The Ship Cars provides weekly RORO services to Jebel Ali (Dubai) and container options to all Emirates. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to UAE from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to UAE costs from £1,150 port-to-port for a standard saloon (4x4/SUV from £1,260). 18–22 days to Jebel Ali (Dubai) from Southampton. Both RORO and container shipping are available, with vehicles arriving at Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah. 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 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 UAE
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah in about 18–22 days to Jebel Ali (Dubai) from Southampton. 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 UAE
Quick answer: Trucks, lorries, vans and pickups usually ship by RORO to Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah, priced by length, height and weight (per cubic metre). Transit is about 18–22 days to Jebel Ali (Dubai) from Southampton.
- 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 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 UAE
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship as RORO or break-bulk cargo to Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah. Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including 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.
UAE vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- The UAE has relatively simple import rules.
- Import duty is 5% of CIF value.
- No VAT on vehicle imports (VAT applies at point of sale only).
- Vehicles must be right-hand drive converted or left-hand drive.
- GCC specification compliance required for registration.
- Vehicles older than 5 years may face restrictions in some Emirates.
Documents required
- V5C registration
- Passport copy
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Emirates ID (for residents)
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from bank if financed
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official UAE & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to UAE?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for UAE, usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
18–22 days to Jebel Ali (Dubai)
Ports
Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi) +1
Starting From
£1,150
Overview
The UAE, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is one of the top destinations for UK luxury and sports car exports. The Ship Cars provides weekly RORO services to Jebel Ali (Dubai) and container options to all Emirates.
Shipping Methods
RORO to Jebel Ali with weekly sailings — the most popular route. Container shipping available for enclosed protection. Jebel Ali is one of the world's largest and most efficient ports.
Transit Time
18–22 days to Jebel Ali (Dubai) from Southampton.
Import Regulations
The UAE has relatively simple import rules. Import duty is 5% of CIF value. No VAT on vehicle imports (VAT applies at point of sale only). Vehicles must be right-hand drive converted or left-hand drive. GCC specification compliance required for registration. Vehicles older than 5 years may face restrictions in some Emirates.
Documents Required
- V5C registration
- Passport copy
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Emirates ID (for residents)
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from bank if financed
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 UAE / Dubai (Jebel Ali) is £1,150 port-to-port for a saloon and £1,260 for a 4x4 / SUV. Import duty 5%. Registration fees ~AED 500–1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import a right-hand drive car to the UAE?
Is there age restriction on car imports to UAE?
How much is import duty in the UAE?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to UAE?
Which UK ports do you ship from to UAE?
What documents do I need to ship a car to UAE?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to UAE?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to UAE?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to UAE from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to UAE every month. The Middle East is the highest-value corridor for UK car exports, driven by Gulf demand for British-spec luxury saloons, large-engined SUVs, classic Land Rovers and right-hand-drive performance cars. Jebel Ali, Dammam, Hamad, Sohar and Shuwaikh act as regional re-export hubs. Typical clients on this lane include armoured-vehicle and luxury buyers, alongside private owners relocating to UAE and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-UAE corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with UAE customs.
Vehicles depart from Immingham, Liverpool, Tilbury and arrive at Jebel Ali (Dubai), Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah via Suez Canal transit via Algeciras or Malta. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 18–22 days to jebel ali (dubai) from southampton, 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 UAE car shipping works
Every shipment to UAE follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Immingham, bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Jebel Ali (Dubai) (and onward feeder to Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi) 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 UAE.
RORO to UAE
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for UAE. Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Jebel Ali (Dubai). RORO shipping to UAE — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to UAE
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi). Dedicated container shipping to UAE.
UAE ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for UAE are typically routed through Jebel Ali (Dubai) as the lead discharge port, with Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi), Sharjah available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to UAE and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Jebel Ali (Dubai)
- Port of Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi)
- Port of Sharjah
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
UAE import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into UAE is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest 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 UAE
- V5C registration
- Passport copy
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Emirates ID (for residents)
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from bank if financed
For full country-specific customs rules, see our UAE import guides and articles, our UK and UAE customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Jebel Ali (Dubai).
Who ships to UAE
- • Returning UAE residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to UAE
- • Middle East car dealers and UAE re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to 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 UAE
• Specialist UK-to-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 UAE pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Jebel Ali (Dubai) agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to UAE
Shipping methods
Pricing & schedules
Guides & comparisons
Other Middle East destinations from the UK
We ship to 8+ other Middle East countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as UAE. Many customers shipping to UAE also enquire about Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to UAE
Request a free, no-obligation UK-to-UAE shipping quote online. Most quotes are returned within one working hour.