Customs clearance is where shipments most often lose time and money — usually because the paperwork is incomplete, inconsistent or filed too late. Our customs team handles UAE clearance in-house every day, which is why our clients spend less time chasing port queries and more time receiving cargo on schedule.
End-to-end UAE customs clearance
We file declarations through Dubai Customs and the other UAE authority systems for both imports and exports, covering ocean, air and land arrivals. Our team handles HS code classification, declaration preparation and submission, duty and VAT processing, regulatory permit coordination, inspection management and release coordination — every step inside one team, accountable end-to-end.
Mainland and free zone — both routes covered
UAE imports broadly split into two routes. Free zone imports (JAFZA, DAFZA, KIZAD and others) allow goods to enter, be stored and re-exported without customs duty becoming payable, as long as the goods stay inside the zone. Mainland imports clear for "home use" with duty and VAT assessed on entry. We are set up to handle both, including movement between zones and the mainland with proper customs documentation.
What our customs service includes
What we cover
- HS code classification — correct first time, so duty is right
- Import and export declaration preparation and filing
- Customs duty (typically 5% GCC common tariff) and 5% UAE VAT processing
- Regulated-goods permits — food, pharma, chemicals, electronics, textiles
- Certificate of Origin handling and attestation where needed
- Inspection coordination and response to customs queries
- Bonded transport and onward delivery to mainland or free-zone destination
Why preparation beats speed
The shipments that clear fastest are not the ones with the most-aggressive broker — they are the ones where the documentation was prepared before the vessel or flight arrived. Storage and demurrage charges accrue from day one. Getting the paperwork right the first time is far cheaper than scrambling to fix it after a hold. For a full overview, our Dubai customs clearance guide walks through exactly what every import needs.
Onward inland transport
Cleared cargo does not stop at the port. We arrange inland delivery by truck — FTL or LTL — to your warehouse, project site or onward gateway, including cross-border into the GCC. The handover from customs to transport happens inside our team, with no gap. Contact our customs team on your next import.