FMCG export from Dubai to Middle East
Short sailings and long paperwork. Several of these markets require consular legalisation of the commercial documents before the goods arrive.
| Markets we quote | 8 |
|---|---|
| Ports of loading | Jebel Ali (AEJEA), Khor Fakkan (AEKHL), Fujairah (AEFJR), Sharjah (AESHJ) |
| Ports of discharge we book | Umm Qasr (IQUQR) |
| Conformity regimes in force | COSQC |
| Consular legalisation | Required for Egypt, Iraq |
| Minimum order | One full container per order, mixed across products |
Duty and what governs it
There is no single customs union across this group and duty is national. Several members apply GAFTA preferences on goods of Arab origin, which is a question about where the goods were produced rather than where they shipped from — a distinction that matters for anything re-exported through Dubai. Iraq operates COSQC pre-shipment conformity. Egypt requires exporter and manufacturer registration with GOEIC before a shipment can be cleared, which takes months and is done once, not per container.
How the goods move
Short sea to Umm Qasr, Aqaba and the Levant, or overland where the border is open. Legalisation is arranged before the vessel sails, because a document legalised after arrival does not release a container that is already accruing demurrage.
Transit times are confirmed at quotation stage. Gulf routing is volatile, and a transit commitment we cannot honour is worse than no commitment.
Markets we quote in Middle East
| Market | Port of discharge | Conformity | Typical terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Egypt | On enquiry | — | CFR, legalisation required |
| Iran | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Iraq | Umm Qasr (IQUQR) | COSQC | CFR, legalisation required |
| Jordan | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Lebanon | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Türkiye | On enquiry | — | CFR |
| Yemen | On enquiry | — | CFR |
Common questions
Which ports do you ship to in Middle East?
We load against Umm Qasr (IQUQR). Other ports in the region are quoted on enquiry; the list here is the ones we book most often, not the limit of where we ship.
What is the minimum order to Middle East?
One full container per order. A single product need not fill it. Where it will not, we consolidate compatible products to make up the volume.
Which conformity certificates apply in Middle East?
COSQC apply in one of these markets. Each is a pre-shipment requirement, which means the certificate has to exist before the goods sail — none of them can be obtained retrospectively, and a container that arrives without one is a container in demurrage. We confirm which applies to your destination and product before quoting.
Can I mix products in one container to Middle East?
Yes, and most orders on these lanes are mixed. One full container per order, but a single product does not have to fill it — we consolidate compatible lines until the volume is made up and confirm the fill before quoting.
Quote a shipment to Middle East
Tell us the destination port, the products and the quantities. We confirm the container fill, the conformity position and the shelf life at arrival before quoting.
Browse the catalogue — every product carries its HS code and pack configuration, which is what a customs broker in this region asks for first.