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• How to ship household items & belongings
• Prohibited & restricted items in the UAE
• Customs allowances in the UAE
• Home goods storage
• Vaccinations & health requirements for the UAE
• Moving to the UAE with pets

While importing used items into the UAE can qualify them for duty free, you may need to provide a residence permit first. Customs tax may vary slightly from emirate to emirate, but overall, if a customs inspector believes something is being imported commercially, they will impose a 5% tax on the item.

• If you do not have a residence visa yet, you can submit a letter from your UAE entry visa sponsor.
• You will need to make a deposit valuing 5% of your goods.
• This 5% will be refunded to you once you have your residence visa. In order to receive the refund, you must submit your residence visa within 59 days of your goods’ arrival in the UAE.
• Ensure that you do not hit the 60-day deadline to submit your residence visa to avoid penalties.

When shipping goods to the UAE, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of air versus sea freight.

Air Freight to the UAE

• Best for: Time-sensitive goods, high‑value products (electronics, luxury items), medical supplies, express e‑commerce, and urgent spare parts.
• Transit time: 1 to 7 days from most major regions (Europe, Asia, Africa)
• Pros: Fastest delivery option; frequent flights into UAE hubs (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah) give good schedule flexibility and reliability.
• Cons: Significantly more expensive than sea freight, especially for heavy or bulky cargo, and higher carbon footprint per kilogram shipped.

Sea Freight to the UAE

• Best for: Large‑volume, heavy, or non‑urgent goods such as bulk commodities
• Transit time: Roughly 10 to 25 days port‑to‑port from Europe and parts of Africa/Asia; around 25 to 35 days from North America or East Asia. Door‑to‑door including inland trucking and customs can stretch this by several days on each end.
• Pros: Most economical option for big or heavy shipments; lower emissions per ton than air; ideal for regular, forecastable replenishment into ports like Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port, and Port Rashid.
• Cons: Much slower than air freight; more exposed to port congestion, vessel schedules, and weather‑related delays, so requires careful inventory planning.

But if you’re relocating to the UAE from a distant country and need your goods to arrive quickly, air freight is often your best option. Some international and UAE based moving companies you can consider include:

Air freight costs to the UAE generally range from 15 to 35 AED per kg (approx. 4 to 9 USD), depending on the country of origin and the speed of service.

If you are coming from a neighboring country, it might be much cheaper to by road transportation, and these are some of the transportation companies:

If your items are shipped separate from you then the items must be claimed within one to six months of your arrival. You must be present in order for the goods to clear customs.

Be sure to keep an itemized list of what you have shipped as well as any relevant receipts, invoices, and insurance papers. These may be needed in the event that you have to prove ownership of certain items.

• Controlled/recreational drugs and narcotic substances
• Pirated content
• Counterfeit goods
• Used or refurbished tyres
• Weapons or firearms
• Items used in black magic, witchcraft, or sorcery
• Publications and artwork that contradict or challenge Islamic teachings and values
• Exotic, protected, and endangered animals and certain breeds of dogs
• Gambling tools and machines

Publications challenging Islam do not necessarily refer to other religious texts. However, expats who want to bring their own holy books (non-Islamic holy books) are advised to do so with discretion, you are allowed to use them for personal use and no proselytizing. Likewise, importing controlled medicines may be a hassle. The UAE has very strict drug policies and certain drugs that are deemed “mild” or “over-the-counter” in other countries are controlled in the UAE. This can include drugs found in cough syrups and pain killers.

Some of the permitted medicines that require no special approval are:

• Pain relievers/Fever reducers – like paracetamol or ibuprofen
• Stomach medication – like antacids or loperamide
• Allergy & cold meds
• Standard vitamins
• Chronic disease meds – like insulin, blood pressure medication

For allowed substances, you may only bring in three-month’s worth of medication. You will also need a permit from the

For an extensive list of prohibited/restricted drugs, see

UAE customs allowances include, but are not limited to, the following:

Alcohol and cigarettes

You can import alcohol and cigarettes only if:

• you are above 18 years of age
• the amount of alcoholic does not exceed four liters
• the number of cigarettes does not exceed 400, nor its value exceed 2,000 AED (approx. 545 USD);
• the number of cigars cannot exceed 50 cigars and a value of 3,000 AED (approx. 820 USD)
• the quantity of tobacco cannot exceed 500 grams of loose/pipe tobacco

Food

Your food imports are governed by a "personal use" standard that prioritizes safety and local values over strict commercial weights. While you are technically allowed generous quantities of pantry staples such as up to 30 kg of grains, 25 kg of canned food, and 20 kg of honey, the most critical rule is that all items must be in their original, sealed commercial packaging with legible English or Arabic labels showing production and expiry dates.

You should strictly avoid shipping pork products, poppy seeds (which are treated as narcotics), and homemade or unlabeled items, as these are frequently confiscated.

Furthermore, while the law allows for small amounts of meat and dairy, it is highly recommended to leave these out of your sea or air freight to avoid spoilage in the heat and potential biohazard flags; instead, focus on dry, shelf-stable goods and remember that high-value items like caviar (500g limit) or saffron (500g limit) should be accompanied by receipts to prove they aren't for resale.

Cars

If you want to bring your car to the UAE you will have to pay an import tax of approximately 10-10.5% of the vehicle's total value. Also required are these documents:

• copy of passport
• registration documents
• title or deed
• bill of lading
• copy of purchase invoice
• certificate of origin
• insurance policy
• UAE residence permit

There are plenty of long- and short-term storage options throughout the UAE. Storage facilities range from private units to large warehouses. Most companies charge weekly or monthly fees. You can expect to pay anywhere from 100 to 300 AED (20 approx. 30 to 80 USD) per month for a few boxes up to over 1,000 AED (approx. 270 USD) to store the equivalent of a two-bedroom apartment.

The average price for each storage size is as follows:

Some websites and companies that offer a variety of storage facilities include:

Storage may be an option if:

• you do not yet have a place to stay
• you want to have your stuff waiting for you when you arrive
• you have personal items you do not want to leave behind, but you also want it in the UAE with you
• you are unsure about your tenure in the UAE and do not want to commit to a permanent place quite yet

There are no mandatory vaccinations required to enter the UAE but the following are recommended:

• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• typhoid
• rabies

Routine vaccines for residents of the UAE:

• measles and mumps
• rubella
• tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
• chickenpox
• shingles
• pneumonia
• influenza
• meningitis
• polio

Note: Specific vaccines, such as the meningococcal vaccine, are required for Islamic pilgrims traveling for Hajj or Umrah who are passing through the UAE.

There are no vaccination requirements for UAE immigration. However, to receive a residence permit you will need to undergo a medical exam within the UAE. People who test positive for certain communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or leprosy will be immediately deported.

It should also be noted that you should not test positive for any recreational drugs during this exam as doing so is a serious offense.

Moving to the UAE with pets is easy once you have the required documents in order. Unlike other countries, the UAE does not have required quarantine periods for animals entering the country.

Here is a step-by-step process for importing your dog or cat:

• Step 1: Preparation (3-6 month before travel)

Check breed eligibility: Ensure your pet is not on the UAE's (e.g., Pit Bulls, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Dobermans) **Microchipping: Your pet must have an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit microchip. This must be implanted before any rabies vaccinations.

Note: The tests must be done no more than 12 months before travelling and If you are taking your dog or cat into the UAE, be advised that you can only bring two pets.

• Step 2: Mandatory vaccination

Pets must be fully vaccinated at least 21 days before arrival. The following core vaccines are required:

• Dogs: Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, and Leptospirosis.
• Cats: Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Calicivirus.

Rabies titer test (RNATT) is required for pets arriving from high-risk countries. Blood must be drawn at least 21 days after the rabies vaccination. The result must show an antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml.

• Step 3: Permits and shipping

Apply for MOCCAE weeks before your departure

Cost for each pet:

• Service cost for one dog is 500 AED (approx. 140 USD)
• Service cost for one cat is 250 AED (approx. 70 USD)

The permit is good for dogs, cats, and horses. You must have this permit prior to entering the UAE. It is only valid up to 30 days.

Book Manifest Cargo: Most pets must travel as manifest cargo in IATA-approved crates. Note that Etihad is currently the only UAE airline allowing some small pets in the cabin under specific conditions.

• Step 4 : Final visit to the veterinary

Within 14 days of travel, a vet must administer internal (e.g., Praziquantel) and external (e.g., Fipronil or Permethrin) parasite treatments and record them in the health certificate. Obtain an official veterinary health certificate endorsed by your country's government authority (e.g., USDA in the US or DEFRA in the UK). This must be issued within 10 days of arrival in the UAE.

• Phase 5: Arrival

• Pets are inspected by MOCCAE officials at the airport's cargo terminal.

• Inspection fees are typically AED 500 for cats and AED 1,000 for dogs.

If moving to Abu Dhabi, you must register your pet via the TAMM platform to avoid a 1,000 AED (approx. 270 USD) fine. Pets in Dubai must be registered with Dubai Municipality.

Steps for importing other pets

1. Check if the animal is allowed: Dangerous wild animals, many exotic species, and certain dog breeds are not allowed except for licensed facilities.
2. Get the import permit before travel: You must apply for an import permit through MOCCAE before the animal enters the UAE. The UAE says residents can import a maximum of 2 companion animals per person per year, with some exceptions.
3. Make sure the animal is properly identified: Microchipping is required for birds and other identification methods depending on the species. MOCCAE also requires a fixed identification device suitable for the animal type.
4. Prepare the veterinary health documents in the export country: Your pet or bird must travel with an attested veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authority in the exporting country.
5. Arrange the flight or road shipment: Live animals must be shipped directly from the country of export to the UAE. And the pets can enter through UAE airports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, and some shipments may also come by road.
6. Submit the release documents on arrival: At clearance, the authorities may require the health certificate, customs declaration or bill of lading, and sometimes lab test results depending on the origin country.
7. Complete inspection and release: The animal may undergo clinical inspection and, if needed, laboratory testing before release is approved.

Documents you usually need for birds and live animals:

• Import permit from MOCCAE
• Attested veterinary health certificate
• Certificate of origin for commercial consignments, except certain GCC and CITES-related cases
• Customs declaration or bill of lading
• Lab test certificate if the export country or the UAE rules require it

Beware of the heat

The UAE is a desert country. Temperatures can often soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep this in mind when bringing your pets to the UAE. If moving during the hottest months, June – August, consider having your pets only travel at night so there is no risk of overheating while in transport.

If you have a cold-weather breed dog (large with thick fur) consider how they may fare in such extreme temperatures. All homes have air conditioning, but walks during the day may be hard.