International Car Shipping UK to UAE

Ship Cars Ltd ships vehicles from the UK to the UAE — Jebel Ali (Dubai) from £1053 with a 21-day transit, and Abu Dhabi from Southampton with a 26-day transit. Only left-hand drive vehicles may be registered in the UAE. UAE residency (Emirates ID) is required to import personally. Import duty is 5% of CIF value plus 5% VAT. Vehicles under 10 years old from manufacture are eligible.

Car Shipping to UAE from UK | RoRo & International Container Shipping to United Arab Emirates 

Are you looking to ship a car from the UK to the UAE? Our vehicle shipping services to the United Arab Emirates sail from the port of Southampton every 2 weeks. Our experienced staff will be able to offer you one of our very competitive rates for either saloon cars, 4 x 4s, trucks or plant machinery to anywhere in the UAE.

Your vehicle can also be shipped to the port of Jebel Ali, which is the port for Dubai. This again sails from the port of Southampton with a transit time of approximately 21 days. Rates for either Trucks or Plant machinery will need to be spot quoted; we will require dimensions of either the truck or the machinery to help us work out the costs. Please advise the length, width and height so that we can quote you accurately.

What Shipping Methods Are Available to the UAE?

You can ship your vehicle overseas in two ways, Ro Ro (roll on roll off) or by secured container. You can ship from Southampton to the port of Abu Dhabi with a transit time for approximately 26 days quay to quay.

If you still need a bit more information on car shipping to the UAE then do not hesitate in giving us a call and speaking to one of our experienced members of staff who are always willing to help with any questions that you may have.

What Documents Do I Need to Ship a Car from the UK to the UAE?

Documents Required for Car Shipping to the UAE

UK export (before shipment):

1. V5C Vehicle Registration Document (UK Logbook) — original

2. Commercial Invoice stating the vehicle’s CIF value and full specifications

3. Certificate of Marine Insurance covering the sea transit

4. UK Export Declaration (C88 Form) — completed by ShipCars as a registered UK customs broker

5. Certificate of Origin — issued by the manufacturer or UK Chamber of Commerce; required for UAE customs

6. No Objection Certificate (NOC) — obtained from RTA Dubai or Abu Dhabi Police before shipping

7. Power of Attorney (notarised and attested) — if appointing a UAE customs broker to act on your behalf

UAE customs clearance (at Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port): 8. Original Bill of Lading 9. Commercial Invoice and packing list 10. Certificate of Origin 11. Marine Insurance Certificate 12. Copy of importer’s passport and Emirates ID 13. UAE residency visa copy 14. NOC (approved before shipment) 15. Pre-export inspection certificate (if required for the vehicle type)

Your UAE clearing agent will manage customs clearance and issue the Vehicle Clearance Certificate (VCC) required for RTA registration.

What Are the UAE Vehicle Import Rules?

Important for UK customers: The UAE drives on the right and only permits the registration and use of left-hand drive (LHD) vehicles for standard road use. All standard UK-registered cars are right-hand drive (RHD) and cannot be registered or driven on UAE roads under normal import rules. RHD vehicles 25 years or older may qualify for UAE heritage/classic registration (brown heritage plates) with special approval. This lane is primarily used by UK vehicle exporters, LHD commercial vehicle dealers, and expats relocating with a LHD vehicle. Contact ShipCars to discuss your specific vehicle.

UAE Residency Required: Only UAE residents holding a valid Emirates ID and UAE residency visa may import a vehicle into the UAE for personal use. Tourists and visit-visa holders are ineligible. If you are not yet a UAE resident, you will need to engage a licensed customs broker or clearing agent in the UAE to act as the importer of record on your behalf until your residency is established.

No Objection Certificate (NOC) — Required Before Shipping

A No Objection Certificate (NOC) serves as the vehicle’s UAE entry permit and must be obtained before the vehicle leaves the UK. Apply through the RTA Smart Services portal (rta.ae) for Dubai/Jebel Ali imports, or the Abu Dhabi Police Vehicle Licensing Department for Abu Dhabi/Khalifa Port imports. Processing takes 2–5 business days; fees range from AED 200 to AED 500 depending on the emirate. Do not book your shipment until the NOC is approved.

Vehicle Age Limit: Standard used vehicle imports into the UAE are restricted to vehicles under 10 years old from the date of manufacture. Vehicles 10 years or older require special approval from the relevant emirate’s transport authority. Classic and heritage vehicles 25 years or older may qualify for heritage registration (brown number plates) under separate rules — contact ShipCars to discuss your specific classic vehicle. Source: UAE Federal Customs Authority; ArabWheels (December 2025).

GCC Specification and RTA Inspection: All vehicles imported into the UAE must meet GCC technical specifications for safety, emissions, and climate control. UK-specification vehicles will typically require a MoIAT conformity assessment (Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology) before they can pass RTA inspection. After customs clearance, the UAE Customs Authority issues a Vehicle Clearance Certificate (VCC). The vehicle must then pass an RTA inspection at an approved centre (Tasjeel or Shamil in Dubai; Mussafah in Abu Dhabi) before registration and number plate issuance. Non-conforming vehicles must be modified at an approved workshop and re-inspected. Source: UAE Expert Hub (April 2026); Seles.io (February 2026).

Frequently Asked Questions — Car Shipping to UAE

How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to the UAE?

Car shipping from the UK to Jebel Ali (Dubai) or Khalifa Port (Abu Dhabi) starts from £1053. Prices vary by vehicle size, shipping method (RoRo or container), and destination port. UAE import duty (5% of CIF), VAT (5% on duty-inclusive value), NOC fee, RTA inspection, and registration costs are payable separately in the UAE and typically add a further 13–18% to the total landed cost. Get a free quote →

How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to the UAE?

Transit from Southampton to Jebel Ali (Dubai) takes approximately 21 days. Transit to Abu Dhabi (Khalifa Port) takes approximately 26 days. Both routes depart from Southampton. Allow additional time for NOC processing before departure and for UAE customs clearance (2–4 business days for GCC-spec vehicles), RTA inspection, and registration after arrival.

Can I ship a right-hand drive UK car to the UAE?

Standard UK RHD vehicles cannot be registered or legally driven on UAE roads for everyday use. The UAE drives on the right and only permits left-hand drive (LHD) vehicles for standard personal import and registration. RHD vehicles 25 years or older may qualify for UAE heritage registration (brown heritage number plates) with special approval from the RTA — contact ShipCars to discuss heritage vehicle imports. This lane is primarily used by UK exporters and dealers shipping LHD commercial stock.

Do I need UAE residency to import a car?

Yes — only UAE residents holding a valid Emirates ID and UAE residency visa may import a vehicle into the UAE for personal use. Tourists and visit-visa holders are ineligible. If you are not yet a UAE resident, a licensed UAE customs broker can act as importer of record on your behalf until your residency is established.

What import duty and VAT do I pay when shipping a car to the UAE?

The UAE levies 5% customs duty on the vehicle’s CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value and 5% VAT on the duty-inclusive value — an effective combined rate of approximately 10.25% of CIF. Additional costs include UAE customs clearance fees (~AED 4,700), RTA inspection and registration (AED 300–1,500 depending on emirate), and MoIAT conformity assessment for non-GCC specification vehicles. Source: UAE Federal Customs Authority (fcainfodesk.gov.ae). Always verify current rates before shipping.

What is the vehicle age limit for importing a car into the UAE?

Standard used vehicle imports are restricted to vehicles under 10 years old from the date of manufacture. Vehicles 10 years or older require special approval from the emirate’s transport authority (RTA Dubai, Abu Dhabi Police). Classic and heritage vehicles 25 years or older may qualify for heritage registration under separate rules. Always confirm your vehicle’s eligibility with ShipCars or a UAE customs broker before booking.

What is the NOC and when do I need to get it?

The No Objection Certificate (NOC) is the UAE entry permit for your vehicle and must be obtained before the vehicle leaves the UK. Apply through the RTA Smart Services portal (rta.ae) for Dubai/Jebel Ali imports, or Abu Dhabi Police Vehicle Licensing for Khalifa Port imports. Processing takes 2–5 business days; fees range from AED 200–500. Shipping without an approved NOC will result in customs clearance refusal and port storage charges.

What documents do I need to ship a car from the UK to the UAE?

UK side: original V5C (logbook), commercial invoice with full vehicle specs and CIF value, Certificate of Origin (from manufacturer or UK Chamber of Commerce), certificate of marine insurance, UK Export Declaration (C88) completed by ShipCars, approved NOC, and Power of Attorney (if using a UAE clearing agent). UAE customs: original Bill of Lading, Emirates ID, UAE residency visa, Certificate of Origin, and all UK documents. A licensed UAE customs broker is essential for Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port clearance.

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