Yes — Jetrans Movers provides complete door-to-door relocation, freight forwarding, and container shipping between the USA and Dubai, UAE. Here is everything you need to know about customs clearance, transit times, container options, and pricing before planning your move.
Whether you are searching for an international moving company for Dubai or container shipping to Abu Dhabi, this guide covers what to expect from the first quote to the final delivery.
Moving Household Goods to Dubai — Everything You Need to Know
Every Dubai move starts with export-grade packing: double-walled cartons, custom wooden crates for art and glass, and wrapped furniture. Our crews load your container or truck, record every item on the inventory and seal the container. Your documents (customs declaration, packing list and Bill of Lading) are produced from that same inventory, so everything matches at the port.
Most moves sail from a US East or Gulf coast port to Jebel Ali, then continue by truck to your door in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, where we unload and place furniture room by room. Marine insurance is available for the full declared value.
Customs clearance and duty relief for used household goods
Dubai Customs allows personal-use goods to be cleared after inspection. Goods that look new and in commercial quantities can attract duty of about 5 percent, so the safest approach is to ship used items you have owned and used for six months or more, and to keep new purchases to a minimum and list them separately.
- Copy of your passport or Emirates ID and your residence visa
- A detailed list of the goods being imported
- Vehicles: original invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading and ID copy, with duty of about 5 percent on the assessed value
- Always confirm current rules with Dubai Customs before shipping
Alcohol, medicines, drones, satellite equipment, weapons, narcotics and some media and religious items are controlled or banned in the UAE. Prescription medication needs documentation. Send us your packing plan and we will flag anything that needs a permit.
Jetrans prepares the Bill of Lading, the export and import inventory lists and the customs declaration in-house, then cross-checks every figure and description against the others before the container is sealed. Mismatched paperwork is the most common cause of port delays, so we treat it as part of the move, not an afterthought.
- Bill of Lading issued against the sealed container or consolidated cargo
- Room-by-room export and import inventory with the age and use of each item
- Packing list and customs declaration prepared to the destination’s format
- Copies of your passport and visa or residence documents as the destination requires
FCL vs LCL vs air freight to Dubai
- 20-foot container (FCL), roughly a one to two bedroom home: from about $3,500 USD to $6,500 USD (approximately AED 12,850–23,870)
- 40-foot container (FCL), roughly a three to four bedroom home: from about $5,500 USD to $9,500 USD (approximately AED 20,200–34,890)
- Shared container (LCL), best for under about 10 cubic metres: about $150–$300 USD per cubic metre (approximately AED 550–1,100)
- Air freight for urgent essentials: about $3–$7 USD per kg (approximately AED 11–26), charged on the greater of actual and volumetric weight
Figures are estimates, not quotes. Converted at about 1 USD = AED 3.6725 (the dirham is pegged to the dollar) (mid-market rate, 1 November 2026); rates move daily, and your written quote is fixed in USD.
Appliances and electronics: power differences
The UAE runs on 230V and 50Hz, with UK-style three-pin plugs, while the USA uses 120V and 60Hz. Most phones, laptops and chargers are dual-voltage and need only a plug adapter. Large appliances, hair dryers, TVs without universal power supplies and anything with a motor timed to 60Hz are often better sold in the USA and replaced in Dubai.
Port fees, charges and delivery terms
Typical charges for a Dubai move include origin and destination Terminal Handling Charges (THC), port entry and documentation fees, and any customs inspection fee. As estimates, budget about $150–$450 USD for THC per container (approximately AED 550–1,650) and $150–$350 USD for customs documentation and broker handling (approximately AED 550–1,285).
Our quotes are all-inclusive of the charges listed on the quote, with delivery terms stated in writing: door-to-door, with destination handling, customs processing and doorstep unloading itemised before you book. Import duties and taxes, where they apply, are shown separately so there are no surprises at the port.
Shipping schedule for the USA to Dubai
- Ocean freight: about 30–45 days port to port from the US East coast, 40–55 days from the West coast
- Door to door including packing, export clearance, customs and delivery: plan for 7–10 weeks
- Air freight: about 5–10 days door to door
Who moves to Dubai from the USA
Most Dubai moves are expat corporate relocations, with employers handling visas and families timing the container to arrive after the residence permit is issued. We also move retirees, remote professionals and business owners. Dubai delivery logistics need planning too, including building access, lift booking and parking permits in towers and gated communities, and we coordinate these with your building.
Is It Worth Hiring Professional Movers from the USA to Dubai?
Compare the cost of shipping your furniture against buying it again in Dubai. Mid-range and quality furniture, appliances and baby goods are commonly estimated to cost 40–60 percent more locally than in the USA, so a 20-foot container of well-made furniture often pays for itself. Shipping also protects sentimental and high-value items that cannot be replaced.
Professional movers remove the risk of customs delays, damaged goods and lost paperwork, and consolidated volume rates through Jetrans help keep the price down.
Why movers choose Jetrans
- A single dedicated move coordinator from first call to final delivery
- Live tracking of your shipment on our tracking page, using the ID on your booking confirmation
- All-risk marine cargo insurance available on every move
- Vetted destination port and delivery partners
- Custom wooden crating, export wrapping and sealed containers or air cases for fragile and high-value items
Ask for a written quote and we will confirm every line item in USD before you commit.
Request a free quote with your pickup city, home size and target move date.