What do cross-border sellers fear most when exporting to Dubai? Having their goods held up at customs! At best, this causes delivery delays and increased costs; at worst, the entire shipment could be confiscated—resulting in total loss. Powdered items, liquids, pharmaceuticals, batteries, and missing or incorrect certification documents are among the most common causes of cargo being seized by Middle Eastern customs.
Product
Middle Eastern customs have strict and detailed regulations concerning sensitive goods. The following product categories are highly prone to inspection or even seizure:
Powders and Chemical Substances: This includes cosmetics, chemical raw materials, powdered pharmaceuticals, etc. Customs are highly vigilant about such goods. Powdered items often require a Dangerous Goods Packaging Performance Test Report and an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). Without these, customs may seize the goods for "non-compliant packaging" or "unknown composition".
Food, Pharmaceuticals, and Health Supplements: These involve biosafety concerns and must be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin, Halal Certification (for Islamic compliance), or SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) approval.The U.A.E strictly prohibits the import of rice and flour—unapproved food products will be returned or destroyed.
Battery-Powered and Magnetic Products: Items such as mobile phones, power banks, and electric toys must come with a UN38.3 test report and MSDS to prove battery safety. Undeclared battery items detected by X-ray scanners are considered "false declaration".
Certifications and Declarations
Even if the products themselves are compliant, missing documents or inaccurate declarations can still trigger customs interception.
Missing Essential Documents: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and Bill of Lading are all mandatory and must be in English. Certificate of Origin (e.g., must state "Made in China" for Chinese exports and be officially stamped) is used for customs valuation.
Failure to Obtain Special Certifications: The U.A.E requires GCC Certification for certain electronics, and medical devices must be registered with the local health authority.
Inaccurate Declaration: Under-declaration (deliberately lowering the declared value) or false product descriptions (e.g., declaring a phone as a "toy") are treated as fraud.
Ontask Express offers Dubai DDP customs-cleared delivery services, providing customers with efficient and reliable Dubai door to door logistics. Choosing us is like assigning a “customs bodyguard” for your goods—ensuring smooth and worry-free delivery to the Dubai.