Currently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the US’s 30th largest goods trading partner. Even though the UAE is not one of the top 10 US trade partners, its goods are still important for the US economy. The goods imported from the UAE are mainly aluminum, mineral fuels, iron, steel products, and machinery. Many agricultural products are imported from the UAE, mostly processed fruit and vegetables, snack foods, tea, spices, and rice. If you want to know more about ways of importing products from the UAE, check this article about shipping from the UAE to the US.
Shipping from the UAE to the US – Means of transport
Sea freight from the UAE to the US
Sea freight is one of the most economical ways to transport goods over a long distance. The downside is that the transit time is one of the longest. A typical shipment from the UAE to the US will arrive in 38-59 days. That is why you need to consider the type of goods you want to import, as ocean freight is not suitable for goods with a short expiry date.
In terms of shipping products in containers, you can choose either LCL (Less than Container Load) or FCL (Full Container Load). The choice depends on how many goods you want to ship. LCL shipment is transported in a shipping container alongside cargo from other shippers, so it is highly recommended if you want to transport smaller cargo. If you want to have a container only for your cargo, the best option is to choose an FCL. It is not only cheaper than LCL but also faster.
Main cargo ports in the United Arab Emirates
- Port of Jebel Ali (Dubai)
- Port of Mina Zayed (Abu Dhabi)
- Mina Rashid Port (Dubai)
- Mina Khalid Port (Sharjah)
- Khor Fakkhan Port (Sharjah).
Main cargo ports in the US
- Port of Tacoma
- Port of Oakland
- Port of Long Beach
- Port of Los Angeles
- Port Newark.
Air freight from the UAE to the US
Although sea freight is the cheapest option, it is not the best one if you want to get cargo as soon as possible. The fastest and the safest method of transport is airfreight. There is no faster way to get your goods from the UAE to the US, but you need to take into consideration the higher price. If you can afford air freight, choosing this method will be the best option as the shipping takes only 4-8 days. Air transport is highly recommended when transporting goods such as valuables, flowers, food, plants, and medicine. Remember that the goods must be light and small enough to fill a maximum of two to three pallets.
Main cargo airports in the UAE
- Dubai Al Maktoum (DWC)
- Dubai International (DXB)
- Abu Dhabi (AUH)
- Sharjah (SHJ).
Main cargo airports in the US
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Los Angeles International (LAX).
How much does it cost to ship from the UAE to the US?
Although sea freight is the cheapest option, other factors must be considered. Shipping costs depend on many things, like the size of your package, the method of transportation, and the chosen forwarder. It is best to compare different freight forwarders because each one will give you a different offer. You can check it on ShipHub, where finding a forwarder is very easy. Just fill in the form shown below and wait for forwarders to send you the offers.
Shipping from the UAE to the US – Summary
- The United Arab Emirates is the US’ 30th largest goods trading partner.
- The main goods imported from the UAE to the US are aluminum, mineral fuels, iron, steel products, and machinery, but also agricultural products like processed fruit and vegetables, snack foods, tea, spices, and rice.
- Since the US and the UAE are on different continents, you need to ship cargo by sea or air.
- The cheapest transport method is sea freight, but it also takes the longest. You can choose either LCL or FCL shipment. Sea freight is suitable for big cargo with a short expiry date.
- Airfreight is the safest and fastest but also the most expensive. Your products must comply with special requirements (size and weight) to ship the cargo by air.
- Before making the final decision, compare offers from different forwarders to get the best one. ShipHub.co is the perfect place for that.
