Consolidation · Freight · Customs · Warehousing
FF&E logistics, consolidation and warehousing in the UAE
Overview
A hotel package can come from ten factories in five countries. We coordinate it as one flow: consolidation at origin, sea freight, UAE customs clearance, storage until the site is ready, and room-by-room delivery, working with our logistics and warehousing partners.
- Main ports
- Jebel Ali · Khalifa Port · Sharjah
- UAE customs duty
- 5% of CIF value (general rate)
- Storage
- Free-zone, bonded or mainland
- Onward
- Road and sea to the GCC
Consolidation: fewer, fuller shipments
Shipping each supplier separately means more freight cost, more customs entries and deliveries that arrive in the wrong order. We plan consolidation by origin and by programme: goods from several factories are combined into full containers where possible, and loaded in the order the site needs them.
Each container is checked at loading, with the packing list, photos and seal number recorded, so what arrives can be reconciled against what was ordered.
- Combined shipments from several factories
- Loading in installation order
- Packing lists by room or area
- Loading photos and seal numbers on file
Ports, customs and duty
Most FF&E for Dubai projects arrives through Jebel Ali, the region’s busiest port, next to the Jebel Ali Free Zone. Abu Dhabi projects often use Khalifa Port, and Sharjah has its own ports and free zones.
The UAE generally applies 5% customs duty on the CIF value of goods from outside the GCC, under the GCC common customs tariff, and 5% VAT is charged on import. Goods kept in a free zone are not charged duty until they enter the mainland, and goods in transit to other GCC countries are treated under transit rules. Some products, origins and trade agreements change the duty, so we check each shipment.
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Value and description used for duty. |
| Packing list | Carton-by-carton contents, used for clearance and for checking deliveries. |
| Bill of lading or airway bill | Proof of shipment and the basis for release at the port. |
| Certificate of origin | Country of origin, attested at origin; needed for any preferential duty. |
| Bill of entry | The customs declaration filed in the UAE. |
Some products need extra certificates, for example for treated timber packing or regulated lighting and electrical items. We confirm these per shipment.
Warehousing until the site is ready
Sites are rarely ready when the goods arrive. Through our warehousing partners, FF&E can be stored in a free zone or bonded facility (with duty paid only when goods move to the mainland) or in a mainland warehouse, then called off floor by floor.
Goods are checked on arrival, damage is reported to the supplier straight away, and deliveries to site are planned with the installer.
- Free-zone, bonded or mainland storage
- Inspection on arrival
- Call-off deliveries by floor or phase
- Onward shipping to the rest of the GCC
What we coordinate
Freight planning
Routes, consolidation and shipping dates planned against the installation programme.
Sea and air freight
Booked and tracked through our freight partners, from factory to UAE port.
Customs clearance
Documents checked before shipping and clearance coordinated on arrival.
Storage
Free-zone, bonded or mainland warehousing through our partners.
Arrival checks
Counts and condition checked on arrival, damage reported to suppliers.
Site delivery
Delivery by floor or phase, coordinated with installation teams.
From factory to room
At origin
Consolidate and load
Goods from several factories combined, inspected and loaded in installation order.
In transit
Track and prepare clearance
Shipment tracked and customs documents checked before arrival.
In the UAE
Clear and store
Customs clearance, then free-zone, bonded or mainland storage as needed.
To site
Deliver and install
Call-off deliveries floor by floor, with installation and snagging.
Frequently asked questions
What customs duty applies to furniture imported into the UAE?
The general rate is 5% of the CIF value for goods from outside the GCC, plus 5% VAT on import. Some goods and origins differ, so we check each shipment.
Can goods be stored without paying duty straight away?
Yes. Goods kept in a free zone or bonded warehouse are not charged duty until they move into the UAE mainland. Goods re-exported outside the GCC are generally not charged UAE duty.
Do you own the warehouses?
No. We coordinate freight, clearance and storage with our logistics and warehousing partners, and stay responsible for the plan, the checks and the delivery to site.
Can you deliver to Saudi Arabia or other GCC countries?
Yes. Goods can be consolidated in the UAE and sent on by road or sea with the documents each country needs.
Plan your FF&E logistics
Tell us where the goods are coming from, the volumes and when the site needs them. We reply with a consolidation, shipping and storage plan. Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Gulf Standard Time). Closed on Sunday.