Qatar has one of the highest GDP per capita levels in the world, making it an affluent market. The UK and Qatar work together on various political, commercial, security, and economic issues of shared interest to both countries. Qatar exports liquefied natural gas and crude oil to the UK, while the UK exports aircraft and car engine parts to Qatar. This article discusses shipping from the UK to Qatar.
Shipping from the UK to Qatar
Sea freight from the UK to Qatar
Sea freight is the most popular and affordable for international shippers. The downside is that container ships are much slower than cargo planes. If you decide to go for sea freight, you have to choose between FCL and LCL transport. FCL (full container load) means that your goods will fill an entire container. On the other hand, LCL (less than container load) means that one container is booked by several shippers.
How long does sea shipping from the UK to Qatar take?
In most cases, it takes 25 to 35 days to ship goods by sea from the UK to Qatar.
Major ports in the UK:
- Port of Immingham, also known as Immingham Dock, is a major port on the east coast of England. In 2019, the Port of Immingham was the largest in the United Kingdom by tonnage, with 54.1 million tons of cargo passing through that year.
- Port of London, once the largest port in the world, was the United Kingdom’s largest port as of 2020. The port can handle cruise liners, roll-on roll-off ferries, and cargo of all types.
- Port of Southampton is a passenger and cargo port in the central part of the south coast of England. It is the busiest cruise terminal and the second-largest container port in the UK.
- Port of Liverpool is an enclosed 12.1 km dock system that runs from Brunswick Dock in Liverpool to Seaforth Dock. In 2020, Liverpool was the United Kingdom’s fourth-largest port by tonnage of freight, handling 31.1 million tons.
- Port of Milford Haven, one of the world’s deepest natural harbors, is a busy shipping channel used by ferries from Pembroke Dock to Ireland, oil tankers, and pleasure craft.
Major ports in Qatar:
- Hamad Port is Qatar’s main seaport, situated south of Doha. It was opened for commercial trade in 2016, replacing the older Doha port. Hamad Port is one of the biggest ports in the Middle East.
- Port of Ras Laffan is situated on the northeast coast of Qatar and is the world’s biggest LNG exporting facility, capable of accommodating the largest carrier ships.
- Al-Ruwais Port is Qatar’s second-most important commercial port. Situated on its northern end, the port facility plays a vital role in increasing and diversifying regional cargo shipments.
- Port of Mesaieed, also known as Umm Said port, lies on the eastern coast of Qatar. The port handles about 2,800 vessels, 48,000,000 tons of cargo, and 59,000 TEU annually.
Air freight from the UK to Qatar
Air freight is the best for urgent deliveries. It is the safest and most reliable mode of transport. Unfortunately, air freight is also approximately five times more expensive than sea freight.
How long does air freight from the UK to Qatar take?
Air shipping from the UK to Qatar typically takes 2-5 days, so it is the best method if you ship time-sensitive goods.
Major airports in the UK:
- Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a major international airport in London, England. It is the largest of six international airports serving London. In 2021 it was the seventh busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic.
- Gatwick Airport (LGW), before the COVID-19 pandemic, was the second-busiest airport by total passenger traffic in the UK, after Heathrow Airport, and was the tenth-busiest airport in Europe.
- Manchester Airport (MAN) is the third busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger numbers and the busiest of those not serving London.
- London Stansted Airport (STN) is the fourth-busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester. The Stansted airport serves over 160 destinations across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- Luton Airport (LTN) is one of six international airports in the UK, the fourth largest airport serving the London area after Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted, and the fifth busiest airport in the UK.
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the busiest airport in Scotland and the sixth busiest airport in the UK by total passengers.
Major airports in Qatar:
- Hamad International Airport (DOH) is an international airport in Qatar and the home of Qatar flag carrier airline, Qatar Airways. It replaced nearby Doha airport as Qatar’s principal airport. The airport became the first Middle Eastern airport to be awarded Skytrax’s World Best Airport for 2021 in the 2021 World Airport Awards.
- Doha Airport (DIA) was Qatar’s commercial international airport until Hamad International Airport opened on 27 May 2014. The airport is planned to be refurbished and reopened to handle more traffic for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha.
How much does it cost to ship from the UK to Qatar?
The shipping cost depends on the type and size of your shipment, chosen mode of transport, and forwarder. The price for sea freight will also vary depending on whether you choose FCL or LCL. That is why it is good to compare offers from different freight forwarders. ShipHub.co is the best website to do so. It allows you to get free quotes from reliable forwarders, compare them, and choose the most suitable one.