Sea freight
Sea Freight Company in Dubai — FCL, LCL & Ocean Cargo Worldwide
Full and shared container shipping, break bulk and RoRo from Jebel Ali to every major port — and between ports anywhere in the world.
Around 80% of world trade moves by sea, and Dubai sits at the centre of it. MEPL International is one of the sea freight companies in Dubai that importers, exporters and manufacturers trust to move containers reliably and at the right price — through Jebel Ali, the largest port in the Middle East, and every major port in the UAE.
Our sea freight services in Dubai cover full container loads (FCL), shared container loads (LCL), break bulk, RoRo and reefer cargo, with customs clearance and door-to-door delivery. As a sea freight forwarding company in Dubai with an international network, we also move sea cargo between other countries — not just shipments that start or end in the UAE.
Our services
Sea freight services in Dubai for every cargo
Whether you ship one pallet or a hundred containers, our sea cargo services in Dubai match the right equipment and sailing to your cargo, budget and deadline.
FCL — Full Container Load
A dedicated 20' or 40' container for your cargo: faster, more secure and best value for larger volumes.
LCL — Less than Container Load
Share container space with other shippers and pay only for the CBM you use.
Break bulk & project cargo
Heavy, oversized and out-of-gauge cargo on flat racks, open tops or break bulk vessels.
RoRo shipping
Roll-on/roll-off for cars, trucks, heavy machinery and other wheeled cargo.
Reefer containers
Temperature-controlled containers for food, pharmaceuticals and perishables.
Dangerous goods (IMDG)
Classification, packing and IMDG documentation for hazardous cargo.
Door-to-door & port-to-port
From pickup at the supplier to delivery at your warehouse — or just the ocean leg.
Customs clearance
Export and import declarations, duty calculation and port formalities.
Free tool
CBM calculator: FCL or LCL?
LCL is billed per revenue ton (W/M) — the higher of the volume in cubic metres (CBM) or the weight in tonnes. FCL is billed per container, whatever you load inside.
CBM formula
Length × Width × Height (m) × pieces = CBM
Example: 10 cartons of 60 × 40 × 50 cm = 0.12 CBM each = 1.2 CBM. At 400 kg total, LCL bills 1.2 RT.
As a rule of thumb, LCL is cheaper below about 15 CBM; above that a full 20' container is usually better value. Add your cargo to see the volume and a container suggestion.
Enter the number of pieces, their dimensions in centimetres and the weight of one piece.
Get a sea freight quoteContainer guide
Shipping container sizes and capacity
Approximate internal dimensions, volume and maximum payload — exact figures vary slightly by carrier and container age.
| Container | Inside (L × W × H) | Volume | Max payload | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Standard (GP) | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | ≈ 33 CBM | ≈ 28,000 kg | General cargo, heavy goods |
| 40' Standard (GP) | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | ≈ 67 CBM | ≈ 26,700 kg | Larger general cargo |
| 40' High Cube (HC) | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | ≈ 76 CBM | ≈ 26,500 kg | Light, bulky cargo |
| 45' High Cube | 13.56 × 2.35 × 2.70 m | ≈ 86 CBM | ≈ 27,500 kg | Maximum volume |
| 20' Reefer | 5.44 × 2.29 × 2.27 m | ≈ 28 CBM | ≈ 27,000 kg | Chilled / frozen goods |
| 40' Reefer HC | 11.58 × 2.29 × 2.50 m | ≈ 67 CBM | ≈ 29,000 kg | Larger cold-chain loads |
| Open Top (20' / 40') | Removable roof | ≈ 32 / 65 CBM | ≈ 28,000 kg | Tall cargo loaded from above |
| Flat Rack (20' / 40') | No sides or roof | — | ≈ 30,000–40,000 kg | Machinery, out-of-gauge |
Need to buy or lease a container instead? See our container trading service.
Pricing
Sea freight charges: what makes up the cost
There is no fixed tariff for sea freight from Dubai. The ocean rate depends on the route, carrier, season and equipment, and several port and document charges are added on top.
Duties at destination depend on the HS code and value of your goods — in the UAE, most imports attract 5% customs duty on the CIF value plus VAT. We quote every charge upfront, so there are no surprises when your cargo arrives.
| Ocean freight | Base rate per container (FCL) or per CBM / tonne (LCL) |
|---|---|
| BAF / fuel surcharge | Bunker adjustment, moves with fuel prices |
| Terminal handling (THC) | Loading and unloading at origin and destination ports |
| Documentation / B/L fee | Issuing the bill of lading and shipping documents |
| CFS charges (LCL) | Consolidation and de-consolidation at the freight station |
| Delivery order (DO) charges | Issued by the line or agent to release import cargo |
| Customs clearance & duty | Declarations plus duties and VAT at destination |
| Inland haulage | Trucking from supplier or to your warehouse |
UAE ports
Ports we ship through
- Jebel Ali Port, Dubai — DP World's flagship and the largest port in the Middle East, next to Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA).
- Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi — Deep-water container port serving Abu Dhabi and KEZAD.
- Khor Fakkan & Port Khalid, Sharjah — East-coast transhipment hub and Sharjah's city port.
- Hamriyah & Fujairah — Bulk, break bulk and energy cargo.
Typical port-to-port transit times
| Jebel Ali → Nhava Sheva / Mundra (India) | 4–7 days |
|---|---|
| Jebel Ali → Mombasa / Dar es Salaam | 10–16 days |
| China (Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen) → Jebel Ali | 18–25 days |
| Jebel Ali → Rotterdam / Hamburg / Felixstowe | 20–30 days |
| Jebel Ali → Lagos / Tema (West Africa) | 25–35 days |
| Jebel Ali → US East Coast / Canada | 30–40 days |
| Jebel Ali → Santos / Buenos Aires | 30–45 days |
Indicative ranges; actual times depend on the carrier, direct or transhipment service and port congestion.
Routes
Sea cargo routes we serve worldwide
Our sea cargo Dubai network covers every continent, imports into the UAE from China, India and Europe, and cross-trade between other countries.
Sea cargo between Dubai and Europe & UK
Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Felixstowe, Valencia, Genoa, Piraeus and Istanbul.
Sea cargo between Dubai and CIS & Russia
All major Russian ports and every CIS country — cargo from China, India, the Middle East and Africa routed via the UAE and our Kazakhstan office.
GCC & Middle East
Dammam, Jeddah, Sohar, Hamad (Doha), Shuwaikh, Umm Qasr and Aqaba.
East Africa
Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti and Berbera — with onward trucking to Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and other inland markets.
West & Southern Africa
Lagos (Apapa, Tin Can), Tema, Abidjan, Dakar, Durban and Cape Town.
India & Pakistan
Nhava Sheva (Mumbai), Mundra, Chennai, Karachi and Port Qasim.
Americas
New York, Savannah, Houston, Los Angeles, Montreal, Vancouver, Santos and Buenos Aires.
Asia & Oceania
Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Busan, Singapore, Port Klang, Colombo, Chittagong, Melbourne and Sydney.
How it works
How your sea freight moves, step by step
- 1
Share your cargo details
Route, volume or container type, weight, commodity, Incoterm and ready date.
- 2
Routing and rate
We compare carriers, sailings and transit times and send a clear, all-in quote.
- 3
Booking and pickup
We book space, arrange the container or LCL drop-off and collect from your supplier.
- 4
Export clearance and sailing
Documents and the bill of lading prepared, customs cleared, cargo loaded and tracked.
- 5
Import clearance and delivery
DO, customs and port formalities handled, and your cargo delivered to the door.
Paperwork
Documents required for sea freight
- Bill of lading (B/L) — Contract of carriage, receipt and title document for the goods.
- Commercial invoice — Seller, buyer, goods description, HS code and value.
- Packing list — Pieces, dimensions, weights and marks for every package.
- Certificate of origin — Required by some countries and for preferential duty rates.
- Customs declaration — Export declaration at origin and import declaration at destination.
- Delivery order (DO) — Issued by the shipping line or agent to release import cargo.
- IMDG declaration & SDS — For dangerous goods under the IMDG Code.
Imports into Dubai are declared to Dubai Customs and released once duties and DO charges are paid. Our customs clearance team handles it end to end.
Compare
Sea freight vs air freight
| Sea freight | Air freight | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest cost per kg / CBM | Highest cost per kg |
| Transit time | Days to weeks | 1–5 days |
| Best for | Heavy, bulky, high-volume and non-urgent cargo | Urgent, high-value, light cargo |
| Capacity | Containers, break bulk and RoRo — almost no size limit | Limited by aircraft hold and weight |
| Charged on | Container (FCL) or W/M — CBM vs tonnes (LCL) | Chargeable weight (actual vs ÷6,000) |
| Carbon footprint | Lowest CO₂ per tonne-km | Highest CO₂ per tonne-km |
Need it faster? See air freight or sea-air multimodal.
Industries
Ocean freight for every sector
Supply chain & distribution
Regular FCL and LCL replenishment for distributors and retailers.
EPC & project cargo
Phased equipment and materials deliveries to project sites.
Oil, gas & energy
Pipes, tubulars, heavy equipment and spares.
Industrial & machinery
Machinery, steel, building materials and spare parts.
Chemicals
Hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals in drums, IBCs and ISO tanks.
Food & perishables
Reefer shipments for chilled and frozen food.
Why choose MEPL among sea freight forwarding companies in Dubai
- Accredited and experienced. WCA and FIATA member, moving containers since 2014.
- Carrier choice. We compare shipping lines, sailings and transit times for every booking.
- Truly international. Exports, imports and cross-trade between ports worldwide.
- Customs in-house. Export and import clearance, DO and port formalities handled for you.
- Container know-how. Our own container trading arm means the right equipment, every time.
- Lower-carbon option. Sea freight is the most carbon-efficient way to move goods long distances.
6 ways to lower your sea freight cost
- 1Fill your container — moving from LCL to FCL at around 15 CBM often cuts the cost per unit.
- 2Use a 40' High Cube for light, bulky goods: about 15% more volume than a 40' standard.
- 3Book early ahead of peak season and holidays, when space and rates tighten.
- 4Agree the right Incoterm so you control the freight you pay for.
- 5Have documents ready before arrival to avoid demurrage and storage at the port.
- 6Consolidate shipments from several suppliers into one container.
FAQ
Sea freight in Dubai — frequently asked questions
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Get a quote
Request a sea freight quote
Comparing sea cargo companies in Dubai? Tell us your ports, container or CBM and commodity — we'll reply with sailings, transit times and an all-in price.
Ready to book your container?
Tell us what you're shipping and where — we'll find the right sailing and quote within hours.