Customs clearance and warehousing in Dubai Cargo Village
Customs clearance in Dubai for air, sea and road cargo, the documents and permits you need, and storage at Warehouse No. 1230, Dubai Cargo Village.
Customs clearance
Solar Base clears import and export shipments in Dubai for air, sea and road cargo. Our team checks your documents, processes the customs paperwork, collects delivery orders from shipping lines and dnata, arranges attestation and legalization where needed, and pays duties, port charges and official fees on your behalf.
Our customs team handles the paperwork and the people so your cargo keeps moving. We liaise with shipping lines and dnata, collect delivery orders, process import and export customs documents and arrange transport for inward and outward movements.
When exports require it, we arrange attestation and legalization of documents. We also handle every clearance formality, including port and customs fees and other official charges.
What we do
- Import and export customs documentation
- Liaison with shipping lines and dnata
- Collection of delivery orders
- Attestation and legalization of export documents
- Payment of port, customs and other official charges
- Transport for inward and outward movements
How it works
- 01
Send documents
Share your shipment documents. We check them and tell you if anything is missing.
- 02
Liaise and collect
We liaise with the shipping line or dnata and collect the delivery order.
- 03
Process and pay
We process the customs documents and settle port, customs and official charges.
- 04
Release and move
We arrange transport for the cargo's inward or outward movement.
Questions and answers
Do you clear both imports and exports?
Yes. We process customs documents for imports and exports.
Can you get export documents attested and legalized?
Yes. We arrange attestation and legalization whenever an export requires it.
Do you handle port and customs fees?
Yes. We handle every clearance formality, including port and customs fees and other official charges.
What documents do I need for customs clearance in Dubai?
Usually the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, the air waybill, bill of lading or truck waybill, and the importer's customs code and trade license, plus any permit the goods need. Our guide lists them by mode.
How much is customs duty in Dubai?
Most goods pay 5% customs duty on their CIF value, plus 5% import VAT. Commercial invoices for imports of AED 10,000 or more also need Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, at AED 150 per invoice. Port and handling charges depend on the shipment.
How long does customs clearance take in Dubai?
It depends on the documents and the goods. Complete documents for goods that need no extra permit clear fastest; permits from authorities such as Dubai Municipality or MOCCAE add time. We give you a realistic timeline when we review your documents.
Clearance in four steps
01
Document check
Invoice, packing list, origin and permits reviewed before filing.
02
Delivery order
Shipping line or dnata contacted; delivery order collected.
03
Declare & pay
Declaration processed; duty, VAT and charges settled.
04
Release & transport
Cargo released and moved to your site or our warehouse.
Import and export documents
| Import documents | Export documents |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice (HS code, value, origin) | Commercial invoice and packing list |
| Packing list | Export declaration |
| Certificate of origin | Certificate of origin |
| Air waybill, bill of lading or truck waybill | Exit certificate |
| Importer code and trade license | Phytosanitary or EOCN permit, where required |
| Permits for regulated goods | Air waybill or bill of lading |
Clearance services
- Sea and air import clearance
- Food stuff clearance
- Personal vehicles and household goods
- Import codes and customs cards, new and renewal
- Company and item registration in Dubai Municipality
- Vehicle Clearance Certificates for the Gulf
- National Media Council approval
Authorities and regulators in UAE clearance
| Authority | Role |
|---|---|
| Dubai Customs | Declarations and inspection |
| Dubai Chambers | Certificates of origin, ATA Carnets |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Invoice and document attestation |
| Dubai Municipality | Food and consumer products |
| EOCN | Strategic and dual-use goods |
| National Media Council | Printed and media content |
Documents you need for customs clearance
A checklist of the documents for clearing imports and exports through Dubai Customs by air, sea and road, with the permits, attestation and fees that often catch shippers out.
Last checked October 20, 2026
Import documents (air, sea and road)
- Commercial invoice in English, signed and stamped, showing the HS code, value and country of origin for each item
- Packing list with the number of packages, weights, dimensions and shipping marks
- Certificate of origin from a chamber in the country of origin (needed for road freight and for preferential duty rates)
- Transport document: air waybill (air), bill of lading plus the shipping line's delivery order (sea), or truck waybill, often with an Arabic invoice (road)
- The importer's customs code and trade license
- Any permit the goods need (see 'UAE import permits: which authority approves what')
- Health or halal certificate for food; safety data sheet (MSDS) for chemicals
Source: trade.gov (opens in a new tab)
Export documents
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Export declaration filed in Mirsal 2 through Dubai Trade
- Certificate of origin from Dubai Chambers, where the buyer or destination needs one
- Exit certificate (needed to reclaim deposits)
- Phytosanitary certificate or EOCN permit where the goods require one
- ISPM 15-compliant wooden packaging (see the ISPM 15 guide)
Duties, VAT and official fees
Most goods pay 5% customs duty on their CIF value.
Source: trade.gov (opens in a new tab)Import VAT is 5%. VAT-registered importers whose tax registration number is linked to their customs code can account for it in their VAT return; others pay it at clearance.
Commercial invoices for imports worth AED 10,000 or more must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through eDAS 2.0, at AED 150 per invoice. Payment is due within 14 days of the bill of entry, or a fine of AED 500 per invoice applies. Transit shipments are exempt.
Source: mofa.gov.ae (opens in a new tab)A Dubai Chambers certificate of origin costs AED 100 and takes about two hours; amendments cost AED 50.
Source: dubaichambers.com (opens in a new tab)Since January 2025, Dubai Customs declarations use 12-digit HS codes.
Source: kayrouzandassociates.com (opens in a new tab)
How long clearance takes
Timing depends on the documents and the goods. Complete, accurate documents for goods that need no permit clear fastest. Missing originals, HS code questions and permits from other authorities add time. We confirm a realistic timeline when we review your documents.
Clearing on copies
If originals are not ready, some shipments can be cleared on copies against a refundable document deposit, with originals submitted later.
UAE import permits: who approves what
Many goods need approval from an authority other than customs before they can be cleared. A directory of who approves what in 2026.
Last checked October 20, 2026
| Authority | What it approves | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Chambers | Certificates of origin and ATA Carnets | dubaichambers.com (opens in a new tab) |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eDAS 2.0) | Attestation of commercial invoices for imports of AED 10,000 or more | mofa.gov.ae (opens in a new tab) |
| Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT) | Conformity certificates (ECAS) and the Emirates Quality Mark for regulated products | sgs.com (opens in a new tab) |
| Dubai Municipality (Montaji) | Registration of food, cosmetics and consumer products. Montaji+ launched in October 2025 | dm.gov.ae (opens in a new tab) |
| Emirates Drug Establishment | Medical products: authorizations and import/export permits, taken over from MOHAP on 29 December 2025 | mohap.gov.ae (opens in a new tab) |
| Executive Office for Control and Non-Proliferation (EOCN) | Strategic and dual-use goods: import, export, re-export, transit and brokering | morganlewis.com (opens in a new tab) |
| Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) | Plants, seeds, animals and pesticides; phytosanitary certificates; ISPM 15 | khaleejtimes.com (opens in a new tab) |
| Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) | Type approval and customs clearance permits for telecom and wireless devices | gulfnews.com (opens in a new tab) |
| UAE Media Council | Approval of printed and media material for import (formerly the National Media Council) | wam.ae (opens in a new tab) |
| Federal Tax Authority | 5% import VAT | |
| Dubai Customs (Mirsal 2 on Dubai Trade) | Customs declarations, duty and refunds | kayrouzandassociates.com (opens in a new tab) |
| Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) | Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program | icp.gov.ae (opens in a new tab) |
Warehousing in Dubai Cargo Village
Solar Base stores, cross-docks and dispatches goods from Warehouse No. 1230 in Dubai Cargo Village, beside DXB airport. Because our crate workshop is on the same site, goods can be packed, crated or palletized before they leave by air, road or sea.
We offer a full range of warehousing and distribution functions that add value to your supply chain and keep goods moving onward.
From our warehouse and packing facility in Dubai's Cargo Village we store goods, assemble distribution assortments, handle orders and dispatch by air, road and sea.
What we do
- Storage
- Cross-docking
- Distribution assortment
- Order handling
- Dispatch by air, road and sea
- Packing on site at our warehouse
Warehouse services
- Distribution assortment
- Cross-docking
- Storage
- Order handling
- Dispatch by air, road and sea
How it works
- 01
Receive
We receive and check your goods at our Cargo Village warehouse.
- 02
Store
Goods are stored until needed, or cross-docked straight onward.
- 03
Handle orders
We pick, assemble and pack orders as instructed.
- 04
Dispatch
We dispatch by air, road or sea.
Questions and answers
Where is your warehouse?
Warehouse No. 1230, Cargo Village, Dubai, which is also where our packing team works.
Can you pack goods at the warehouse?
Yes. Our warehouse is also our packing facility, so goods can be crated or palletized before dispatch.
Clearing a shipment?
Send invoice, packing list, AWB or B/L.
Unrivaled care for your logistics needs