Porhibited And Restricted Items

UPS International (United Arab Emirates)

Additional Import Documentation
Medical and Pharmaceutical products

UAE Ministry of Health officials will conduct a physical inspection for any kind of medical and pharmaceutical items imported into the UAE.

After the inspection, UPS Brokerage team will advise customers and provide the relevant documentation for the permit application. Customer will then obtain an import permit from the Ministry of Health portal for each item and ensure that importing such product is stated in the trade license activity.

In case Ministry of Health decides that a shipment requires an official permit for release, the below standard charges for handling and inspection will apply:

Shipments containing between 1-5 packages: AED 200.00

Shipments containing above 5 packages or packed on pallets: AED 500.00

Please note that a storage fee of minimum of AED 30.00 or AED 3.00 per kg per day will apply from the 3rd day of arrival.

Noncompliance is subject to liabilities or penalties from the UAE government.

This mainly applies to B2B customers who are importing into UAE. B2C customers may be exempted after inspection, provided that commodities are not fully regulated and imported in small quantities. Medicines may only be released if the customer has a valid prescription issued by MOH recognized hospitals.

Israeli Origin Goods

Goods originating in Israel are prohibited

Jewelry

All shipments containing precious metal or stones in jewelry form must comply be shipping with the original invoice under the shipper's letter head along with the company stamp/seal. The invoice must also state the weight/carats of the precious metal or stones. On arrival the consignee will be contacted for an authorization letter for UPS to clear the shipment which is a Dubai Customs regulation.

Food

All food items imported into UAE requires Municipality clearance. Importers must submit customs documents and samples of the the food items along with the invoices and all other relevant documentation to the Dubai Municipality for approval. The required customs documents will be supplied to the importer by UPS.

UAE does not have a temperature controlled facility therefore food items that require a temperature controlled storage same should can not be accepted.

Medicine/Vitamins

The shipper must attach a medical report from the doctor at origin which must be certified by the ministry of health at origin. Consignee is also required to obtain the clearance approval from the ministry of health in UAE.

Companies are required to obtain an Import Permit from the Ministry of Health in order to clear commercial quantities. Customs does not permit the disposal of medication in the UAE. If the consignee is unable to obtain the clearance approval or refuses to accept the shipment, then shipper will be responsible for the RTS of the shipment. Customs charges apply for the preparation of RTS paperwork and will be assessed to the shipper. UAE does not have a temperature controlled facility therefore medicine that require same should not be accepted. However small quantities can be refrigerated.(under 5kg.)

Goods under IATA Special Provisions A67 require a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).

It is not required for all, however shipments can be held by local authority in United Arab Emirates after screening due to lack of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) or NON DG (Dangerous Goods) declaration letter from the shipper resulting to misconnections and impacting end-to-end service.

It would be advisable for all shipments originating, transiting and terminating for UAE to have MSDS or NON DG declaration from shipper enclosed in the shipment and copies to be uploaded in IDIS.

Additional Export Documentation
No Information found on this topic for the selected country or territory.
Additional Clearance Information
Commercial Importers must provide UPS with a valid importer code for the customs clearance of their import and export shipments with a CIF value equal to and above 1000 Dirham (approximately US$270.00).

The Customs authorities issue the importer code based on application of the importer. UPS offers the valued added service of obtaining new importer codes and renewals on behalf of the customer at a nominal service charge of respectively in additional to the fee charged by the customs authority. Mentioned below are the charges:
New Import/Export Code application fee: AED 300
Renewal of Import/Export Code fee: AED 200

The country of origin of the goods and HS code require to be mentioned on the commercial invoice.

Shipments addressed to Sharjah Airport customers or shipments requested to be transferred to Sharjah Airport will incur an additional cost of 810 AED (approximately US$232.00) which is charged by the authority. Shipments addressed to Saif Zone customers are bonded as requested whereby the declaration charge of 30 AED (US$9) + UPS disbursement fee of 20AED (US$ 6) is billed.

Shipments addressed to Hamriya , Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah Free Zones are cleared through Dubai Customs against their company importer code /personal name on a duty paid basis.

The following fee is charged;

Disbursement Fees

A fee of 2.00% of the value, subject to a minimum of 75.00 AED will be charged.

Implementation of Excise Tax Payment:

Clearance of Customs Declarations containing Excise Tax applicable goods are subject to verification of Excise Tax payment in Declaration Taxable Goods.

The consignee is responsible to provide the Excise Declaration Taxable Goods Transaction Number to UPS in order to process the customs declaration against each of the applicable commodities.

Any commodities regardless of the value falling under the excise goods category will be held for payment of excise tax prior to customs clearance.

In order to pay the excise tax, the seller or importer of record must ensure that the each commodity is registered with the UAE Federal Tax Authority through the Brand-Sync portal (Website: https://brand-sync.com/fta/ Email: [email protected] Tel: +971 4 557 0988).

Shipments not cleared within 15 days of arrival will be returned to the origin at the cost of the shipper.

Commodities falling under the excise taxable goods category are:

Carbonated and Energy drinks.

Tobacco, snus and other tobacco products including all items listed within Harmonized Tariff Schedule 24 of the GCC Common Customs Tariff.

Electronic shisha or smoking devices and tools.

Vape and Liquids used in such devices and tools.

Sweetened drinks.

Rate of excise tax.

According to Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2019 on Excise Goods, Excise Tax Rates and the Methods of Calculating the Excise Price the rate of excise tax are as follows:

50 % on carbonated drinks, 100 % on tobacco products, 100 % on energy drinks, 100 % on electronic smoking devices, 100 % on liquids used in such devices and tools and 50 % on any product with added sugar or other sweeteners.

Please note that not only the value(s) of the commodity/commodities have to be considered when calculating duty and tax, but also the freight charge and other fees.

Customs duty is calculated on the CIF value (Cost/Insurance/Freight) for shipments valued at 1000 Dirham (AED) and above.

Discounts mentioned on the invoice will not be considered and duty would be calculated on the full value of the items. For more information see "Invoice Requirements"

Although non-document shipments to the United Arab Emirates are dutiable, the shipments addressed to free zones companies are duty exempt based on their customs registration. The invoices must be addressed to the consigned company in the free zone, with line item declarations of the relevant HS codes, and country or territory of manufacture along with the item description.
Credit card payments are accepted upon delivery for freight and import charges by this destination. Contact UPS or the UPS service partner in the destination country or territory to determine which credit cards are accepted.

Restrictions may apply for freight collect shipments from the origin country or territory. Contact UPS or the UPS service partner in the origin country or territory prior to shipping.

Consignee's full name and a valid telephone number, company name (if applicable), building name and or number, and apartment number (if applicable), street name, area name, and city are required. A valid phone number (preferably mobile) is vital to recover any missing clearance documents and/or validate the delivery address if needed. Please note that missing address requirements will cause a delivery delay. A P.O. Box address is not valid as we do NOT deliver to a P.O. Box.

Important Note: Shipments addressed to a P.O. Box are excluded from the UPS International guarantee regardless of the payer. A delay in delivery may occur due to the need for the consignee's physical address in order to complete delivery.

All shipments cleared in AUH Customs are processed through Etihad Airport Services Cargo (EASC). The below documents are required to clear import shipments destined to Abu Dhabi.

Personal Effects (Consigned to a person only)

  • Emirates ID or passport of the consignee mentioned on the air waybill copy
  • Emirates ID of the person clearing (if not the actual consignee) copy.

Rulers Office & Government Entities (VIP Category)

  • Authorization Letter* - original
  • Emirates ID of the person clearing copy

Trading and Clearing Companies

  • Agents/Consignees with a valid EASC ID card can collect shipments consigned to them upon presenting the card.
  • Authorization Letter* - original
  • Passport/Visa Page of signatory (visa must be from consignee company) copy
  • Emirates ID of the person collecting/clearing copy

Standing Authority for Clearance

  • Authorization letter* - original
  • Valid trade license copy
  • Passport/Visa page of signatory (visa must be from consignee company) copy
*Authorization letter Must be original, duly stamped and signed. Signatory title and name must be clearly mentioned (without which the letter will be void).
To ensure timely clearance and delivery of shipments, all importers in UAE must register their VAT ID against their Customs Import/Export registration code.

Importers/Exporters must ensure that their Import/Export code is valid and active for processing customs declarations.

Areas Served
Service is provided to and from certain cities.

Note: Not all parts of each city are fully served. Please check TnT for full details.

Consignee's full name and a valid telephone number, company name (if applicable), building name and or number, and apartment number (if applicable), street name, area name, and city are required. A valid phone number (preferably mobile) is vital to recover any missing clearance documents and/or validate the delivery address if needed. Please note that missing address requirements will cause a delivery delay. A P.O. Box address is not valid as we do NOT deliver to a P.O. Box.

Important Note: Shipments addressed to a P.O. Box are excluded from the UPS International guarantee regardless of the payer. A delay in delivery may occur due to the need for the consignee's physical address in order to complete delivery.

Friday, and official holidays.
In addition all Government Ministries/Offices and schools are closed on Saturdays.
Spring +0400/ Fall +0400
Arabic
UAE Dirham(AED)
Billing Options
  • Shipping charges can be billed to the shipper, receiver or a third party.
  • When billing the receiver, either the shipper or receiver's account number is required.
  • When billing to a third party, the third party's name, country or territory and account number are required.
  • Duties and taxes can be billed to the shipper, receiver or a third party.
  • When billing a third party, the third party's name, country or territory and account number are required.
  • If the duties and taxes are billed to an account outside of the destination country or territory, a "Duty and Tax Forwarding" surcharge will be applied.
  • Please note the following third party billing exceptions:
    • Shipments to and from the same country or territory (domestic shipments) cannot be billed to third party payors in other countries or territories. For example, shipments from Mexico to Mexico or Canada to Canada cannot be billed to a third party payor in the U.S. This rule does not apply to UPS domestic services in European Union countries or territories. For example, shipments from Germany to Germany can be billed to a third party payor in the U.S. (as long as the payor is a business and has a VAT or Tax/EIN ID on file with UPS).
  • When paying by credit card, check, or cash, only the shipper can be billed the shipping charges
Commodity Specific Stipulations

There are special stipulations on the following commodities when shipping to United Arab Emirates. If you plan to ship one of the commodities listed below, be sure to adhere to the following stipulations in order to avoid delays and holds at customs.

Shipments of Antennas,GPS and related equipment will be automatically RTSd at the shippers expense,if not cleared within 30 days of arrival.
Cosmetics are regulated by the local municipality authorities in the United Arab Emirates,and approval needs to be obtained before clearance of any cosmetic items.

Shipments of Cosmetics not cleared within 30 days of arrival,will automatically be RTSd at the shippers expense.

Shipments of films (promotion, training, commercial ) are subject to censorship and will require an approval from the ministry of information prior to clearance.
All food items imported into UAE require approval from Dubai Municipality before being released.Importers must submit customs documents and samples of the the food items along with the invoices and all other relevant documentation to the Dubai Municipality for approval. The required customs documents will be supplied to the importer by UPS.

UAE does not have a temperature controlled facility, therefore food items that require a temperature controlled storage can not be accepted.

Shipments of Food not cleared within 30 days of arrival,will automatically be RTSd at the shippers expense.

Shipments of Herbal Medicine not cleared within 30 days of arrival,will automatically be RTSd at the shippers expense. Herbal medication must mention all the composition.
Data shipments to United Arab Emirates require an invoice with the value of the CD-ROM or disk only.
Shipments of magazines are subject to National Information Office approval.
Shipments of Medical Items not cleared within 30 days of arrival,will automatically be RTSd at the shippers expense.
Items will be inspected by the Ministry of Health doctor - In case of controlled medication, consignee must provide local doctor prescription (personal) / import permit (commercial) prior to the release of the goods. Customers will be contacted if UPS is unable to obtain the approval whereby the consignee could approach the Ministry of Health.

Companies are required to obtain an Import Permit from the Ministry of Health in order to clear commercial quantities.

Customs does not permit the disposal of medication in the UAE. If the consignee is unable to obtain the clearance approval or refuses to accept the shipment, then shipper will be responsible for the RTS of the shipment. Customs charges apply for the preparation of RTS paperwork and will be assessed to the shipper.

Shipments of Medicine not cleared within 30 days of arrival,will automatically be RTSd at the shippers expense.

UAE does not have a temperature controlled facility therefore, medicine that require same should not be accepted. However, small quantities can be refrigerated( under 5kgs).

Shipments of military equipment requie approval from the Ministry of Defense. An Import License is also required.

Shipments of Military Equipment not cleared within 30 days of arrival,will automatically be RTSd at the shippers expense.

Shipments of parts require an invoice that includes a complete description of the part, the parts components, and the machine that will use the part.
Shipments of tapes (audio, video, and magnetic) require Ministry of Information approval prior to clearance.
Shipments of Telecommunications Equipment need to be approved by the local TRA authorities before release.

Shipments which are not cleared within 30 days from arrival will be automatically RTSd and charged to the shipper.

Shipments of telephone equipment, telephones and/or cellular phones require an Import Permit from the local Telecommunications Authority.
Data shipments require an invoice with the character of the USB stick (storing intercompany data) and the value of the USB Stick.
All veterinary medication will be forwarded to the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) for approval.For release ,the customer is required to submit the original stamped invoice,original stamped packing list, along with the Certificate of Origin, and airwaybill copy to be submitted to MOEW for the permit.

Shipments which are not cleared within 30 days from arrival will be automatically RTSd and charged to the shipper.

Vitamins will be inspected by the Ministry of Health doctor prior to release. Customers will be contacted in case shipments are not approved,whereby the consignee could approach Ministry of Health.

Shipments of Vitamins not cleared within 30 days of arrival,will automatically be RTSd at the shippers expense.

Gift Exemptions
0.00 UAE Dirham AED
no gift exemption
no gift exemption

There are no official exemptions on gift items; exemptions are left to the discretion of the Customs examiner. Gift items valued up to 1,000.00 AED are considered low value and are exempt from duty. Gift items valued higher than 1,000.00 AED are charged duty at 5% on CIF value.

Invoice Requirements
Non-document shipments to the United Arab Emirates must include 1 original and 2 copies of an invoice.

Proforma Invoices must state a detailed line item description of the goods and the country or territory of manufacture . Stating only 'samples' or 'parts' is unacceptable to UAE Customs.

Invoices require the company's letterhead and signature.

It is a mandatory requirement to include the commodity classification code (Harmonized Code)on the Commercial Invoice, Country of Origin of goods and HS code.

Goods manufactured in Israel are prohibited.

Shipments of documents do not require an invoice.

The consignee's telephone number, mobile number and email address, if available, should appear on the invoice.

UAE customs authorities calculate duty on the base of the undiscounted CIF value of the shipment. Discounts will not be subtracted for the calculation of duty. The invoices must show the total undiscounted value. Invoices which stated solely the discounted value will not be accepted by the customs authorities.


UPS Paperless Invoice is available for small package exports from this country or territory.

UPS Paperless Invoice is accepted by Customs for small package imports into this country or territory.

Items Classified as Documents

The destination country or territory considers the following items document shipments. If criteria are listed, the shipment must meet the criteria to be considered a document shipment.

Documents exceeding 5 kg (11 lbs.) require a commercial invoice.

Tickets for events like stage performances, football matches or concerts can be sent as documents up to a limit of 1 kg per shipment.

Event tickets coming from a printing company and send to the organizer of the event or ticket sales offices can not be sent as documents.

Intercompany mail shipments requires a Waybill only if the shipment is for non-commercial purposes.
  1. The waybill must include a description of intercompany mail.
  2. The value should be of no commercial value or zero value.
  3. Shipments not meeting this criteria require an invoice.

UPS can recommend which forms you need based on a few simple criteria. Forms can be completed online or printed. See which forms you need.
Prohibited or Restricted Commodities

In addition to the prohibited commodities listed here, it is prohibited to ship the following commodities to United Arab Emirates.

The import of balloons and light aircraft may require special clearance approval.The importation of aircraft parts,accessories and materials are restricted to airlines/flight academies.
Religious books are prohibited. Shipments containing books will be dutiable if the value exceeds AED 1000 or US$270.00. However, if the shipment contains educational books the duty exemption may apply after approval from the National Information Office.
On line approval needs to be obtained for Chemicals from Dubai Municipality in case the shipment is detained for approval.

Consignee will require the MSDS for this purpose.

Shipments which are not cleared within 30 days from arrival will be automatically RTSd and charged to the shipper.

Electronic Cigarettes are prohibited.
Fireworks are prohibited.
Gambling devices are prohibited.
Goods originating in Israel are prohibited.
All shipments containing precious metal or stones in jewelry form must comply with the following

  • Shipments cleared by consignee or other agent need an original invoice under shipper's letter head with the company stamp. If this cannot be provided, the consignee has to pay a deposit of AED 1000 ($US 280.00) which can be refunded when the original purchase receipt is submitted by them. Online declarations can be processed using IDIS invoice if shipment is cleared by UPS.
  • Shipment invoice must state the item along with the value/weight/carats Example : Description - 1 pair diamond earrings Value - US$ 2,000.00, Gold Weight - 10grams Diamonds - Carats of the diamonds. If the shipment contains gold/silver/platinum jewelry, the weight in grams must be mentioned
  • The consignee needs to submit their passport copy with the visa page

  • Jewelry shipments, generally subject to a $500 value limit, are now approved to move between these designated countries or territories up to a value of $2,500 USD per package without an International High Value Waiver (IHVW).

    Jewelry for which the retail price is lower than US$150.00 per item and which do not contain precious metal(s) and/or stone(s) are considered costume jewelry and can be shipped only up to this value from the origin country or territory.

Knives are prohibited except for kitchen knives.
Shipments of Lithium Metal Batteries are prohibited on Emirates Airlines flights which UPS uses to this destination country or territory.

Alternative arrangements are in place, but expect transit delays if the normal planned flow of the package is via Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Time in Transit may be extended due to solution found.

Pork products are subject to municipality approval.
Personal effects cannot be shipped between these countries or territories.
Adult toys for pleasure,Movies or pornographic material is prohibited in the United Arab Emirates

Products made in Iran are prohibited in our service due to a current embargo.
Swords are Prohibited.
Tobacco Products are prohibited.
Saturday Delivery Available

Saturday Delivery Available: Yes

Not available in all areas. Always check the international time in transit system for details of service availability within a country or territory.

Service Options

Always check Calculate Time and Cost for details of service availability and guarantee information within a country or territory. All Service Levels may not be available to or from every address within a country or territory.

  • UPS Express
  • UPS Worldwide Expedited
  • UPS Worldwide Express Plus
  • UPS Worldwide Express Saver
  • UPS WorldWide Express Freight
Special Clearance Requirements
The consignee must provide a letter from the exhibitor in UAE along with their passport copy for the clearance of exhibition goods. Shipments can be cleared on duty which is non refundable.

Temporary import shipments which must be returned after a specific time frame can be cleared against a deposit to be provided by the consignee in UAE. The deposit will be refunded after the shipment has re-exported.

All military equipment must be consigned to the Ministry of Defense. An Import License is also required.
The invoice must include the value of the commodity before repair and the cost of the repair, along with the serial number. Export declaration processed through Dubai Customs must be submitted for clearance at the time of inspection to clear as duty exempt-however duty on the repair charges will be applicable.
The invoice must include the country or territory of manufacture and the reason for return,along with the serial number.

The export tracking number should be mentioned on the invoice for easy reference and value of outgoing and incoming should be the same.

The invoice must include a description of the sample and indicate if the sample is marked or mutilated.
New requirements have been implemented for small package shipments and are based on the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15, which is entitled "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade". ISPM 15 was adopted internationally in 2002, and is gradually being introduced by countries or territories worldwide. Wood or wood products covered by ISPM 15 include items such as packing cases, boxes, crates, drums or similar packing, pallets, box pallets and other load boards, pallet collars and skids, but exclude such processed woods as orientated strand board, particle board, plywood or veneer, created using glue, heat and pressure or a combinations thereof, and, raw wood which is 6mm or less thick. It is recommended that if a question arises on this issue, please check with the authority that issues the Phytosanitary certificates in your country or territory.
Temporary import shipments which must be returned after a specific time frame can be cleared against a deposit to be provided by the consignee in UAE. The deposit will be refunded after the shipment has re-exported.
Value Limits

Private Shipments

  • 1000.00 UAE Dirham (AED)
      • In most cases, when the value of the shipment is less than the Deminimis Value, the shipment may enter the country or territory duty and tax free.

    Commercial Shipments

  • 1000.00 UAE Dirham (AED)
      • In most cases, when the value of the shipment is less than the Deminimis Value, the shipment may enter the country or territory duty and tax free.

    Weight and Size Limits
    70 kg (150 lbs.) per package
    274.00 cm (107.9 in.)  per package
    400.00 cm (157.5 in.)  per package
    Length and girth combined


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