Shipping to Dubai: How ParcelParcel makes it easy

Dubai is one of the busiest trade hubs in the world. From SMEs exporting products to expats sending personal goods, demand for shipping to Dubai keeps growing. Many shippers wonder about container shipping to Dubai; others search for the cost of shipping to Dubai or simply ask how to send a parcel to Dubai.

Chantal van Thiel

Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.

ParcelParcel is here to simplify the process. We don’t provide full container shipping, but we offer flexible alternatives: parcels and pallets delivered through DHL, UPS, and FedEx. With our international shipping calculator, you can compare prices instantly, book your shipment online, and let us guide you through customs.

Why shipping to Dubai is unique

Dubai’s strategic location in the Middle East makes it an international logistics hub. However, customs regulations can be complex—especially for electronics, luxury goods, and high-value shipments. That’s why preparation is key.

ParcelParcel helps you handle all paperwork with our customs documentation tool, ensuring your shipment clears customs without delays.

Cost of shipping to Dubai

The cost of shipping to Dubai varies by courier, parcel size, and weight. As a guide:

Small parcels or documents: from €40–€60.
Medium parcels (up to 10kg): €90–€150.
Pallets: from €250 upwards, depending on weight and dimensions.

By booking through ParcelParcel, you access discounted courier rates—often 20–30% lower than going directly to DHL, UPS, or FedEx.

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How to send a parcel to Dubai

If you’re asking how to send a parcel to Dubai, the answer is simple with ParcelParcel:

Use our shipping calculator to compare couriers.
Select the best service for your budget and timeframe.
Prepare your shipment with proper packaging—see our packing tips.
Generate customs documents with our online tool.
Schedule pickup at your home or office.

From there, DHL, UPS, or FedEx takes care of the rest, with tracking included.

Delivery times to Dubai

Depending on service type, delivery times are:

Express shipping: 3–5 business days.
Economy shipping: 6–10 business days.

With ParcelParcel, you see transit times upfront and avoid surprises.

Why choose ParcelParcel for Dubai?

Our customers choose ParcelParcel because we:

Provide pallet shipping as an affordable alternative to containers.
Offer transparent, discounted courier rates.
Simplify customs with tools and expert support.
Work with top couriers: DHL, FedEx, UPS.
Give personal service and full control online.

What questions did other senders have?

Use ParcelParcel’s calculator to compare DHL, UPS, and FedEx. Book online, prepare customs paperwork, and schedule pickup from your door.

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Costs vary by size and courier. Small parcels start at €40, while pallets start around €250. Use our calculator for exact rates.

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Not necessarily. For most senders, pallet shipping is a more affordable and practical alternative to full container shipping.

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Express services take 3–5 business days, while economy deliveries take 6–10 days on average.

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ParcelParcel partners with DHL, UPS, and FedEx—all of which offer reliable delivery services to Dubai.

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You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.

If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the button to play the video and the Play video fullscreen icon to view the video in fullscreen.

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Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.

The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.

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You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).

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Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.

Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.

Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.

View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.

Outside the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.

However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.

Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.

If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.

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A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.

The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.

When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.

Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.

Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.

Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.

You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.

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You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel.

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You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page.

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Yes, we act as a logistics intermediary, enabling us to obtain high discounted rates from the carriers. We pass these savings on to you, allowing you to ship worldwide at a cost-effective price.

In short, you benefit from our shipping rates. In nearly all cases, you will save much more by using ParcelParcel for shipping than going directly through the carrier.

For example, let's say you want to send a shipment to the United States and contact the carriers (e.g., FedEx, DHL, or TNT) directly for shipping rates. Based on the volume of your shipments, you may receive a certain discount on the shipping rate (volume discount). If you are sending only one shipment, the discount rate would be limited.

As ParcelParcel, we are a major customer of the carriers, sending thousands of shipments as an intermediary. By choosing ParcelParcel, you can save up to 70% on your shipping costs as you benefit from our discounted rates. Quite straightforward, isn't it?

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You can insure your package for 1.0% of the total value with minimum administrative costs of €19.50.

For example, if the contents of your shipment are valued at €700, the insurance administrative costs would be €19.50. So, 1% of €700 is €7, but the minimum administrative costs for insurance are €19.50.

Therefore, we charge €19.50 administrative costs for insurance. You can use our rate calculator to indicate if you want to opt for insurance.

You insure your shipment against damage, theft, and loss. We also recommend reading this article about the 5 essential points to consider when choosing insurance.

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If you submit the package before 13:30, it can often be picked up on the same working day. If it's after 13:30, you can always call to inquire if a pickup is still possible today. Unfortunately, your shipment cannot be picked up during the weekend.

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You can pay with all popular payment methods such as iDeal, PayPal, Bancontact, credit card, Apple Pay, KBC/CBC Payment Button, Belfius Direct, and SOFORT Banking through

iDeal Creditcard Apple Pay Bancontact Belfius KBC PayPal

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Yes, this is possible and is called third country shipments. A third country shipment is an international shipment where the package originates from a country that is not the country of dispatch or receipt. In other words, shipments from and to all countries in the world. This is also known as third-country transport. You can send shipments that go beyond the Netherlands. For example:

A domestic shipment in the United States
A package from France to Switzerland
A shipment from Germany to China

Do you want to send a gift to family or friends? Distribute products worldwide? Import, export; in other words, engage in trade between non-adjacent countries? You can easily and quickly arrange this with ParcelParcel. Register today for a free MyParcelParcel account or calculate shipping costs via our rate calculator.

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Use a suitable box
To send your package safely, it's important to choose a box that fits the dimensions of your package's contents. Keep in mind that smaller packaging can be relatively cheaper.

Take pictures of the inside and outside packaging (insured shipments)
To be able to prove that your package is properly packed in case of damage or loss, we recommend taking pictures during the packing process. Take pictures of at least the inside and outside packaging, showing the product you want to send. This tip only applies if you choose to insure your package.

Fill all empty spaces
Fill the package with, for example, bubble wrap, packing paper, or old newspapers. Make sure the contents of the package cannot shift during transport. This prevents damage to your package.

Seal the package properly
Seal the package with strong tape. We recommend using packaging tape, but duct tape can also be used. Make sure the box is properly sealed so it cannot open during transport.

Label the package correctly
Make sure the delivery address is clearly visible and complete. Preferably, put a label with the delivery address on different sides of the package. This ensures the address is always visible, even if the package is placed upside down during transport.

Remove old labels or stickers
If you are reusing a box, make sure to remove any old labels or stickers. This prevents confusion about the destination of your package.

Choose the right shipping method
Choose a shipping method that matches the fragility of your package's contents. For example, choose extra secure packaging if you're sending fragile items.

Choose additional insurance if needed
If the contents of your package are valuable, you can choose additional insurance for extra peace of mind. Keep in mind that insured shipments require photos of the inside and outside packaging as proof of proper packing.

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