Sea Freight Services

ZMC Express Cargo Air Freight & Cargo Services

Sea Freight Services Dubai — FCL, LCL and Door-to-Door Ocean Freight

Sea freight is the most cost-effective way to ship large volumes of cargo. If your shipment is too big for air freight or you want to keep costs low, ocean freight through Jebel Ali Port is the answer.

ZMC Express Cargo is a licensed sea freight forwarder in Dubai. We operate from Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) — home to Jebel Ali Port, the largest port in the Middle East and one of the ten busiest ports in the world. We also operate from Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA) for documentation and customer service.

We handle sea freight in both directions: exporting goods out of Dubai, and importing goods into the UAE from China, Turkey, Germany, Iraq, Oman, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and beyond.

You name the country. We handle the ocean.

Jebel Ali Port — JAFZA Based

1.9M+ Shipments Handled

20+ Countries Served

FCL, LCL & Door-to-Door

FCL Vs LCL: Which Sea Freight Option Is Right For You?

There are two main types of sea freight. The right one depends on how much cargo you have.

FCL — Full Container Load

FCL means you book an entire shipping container for your cargo alone. Nobody else’s goods share your container.

Standard container sizes at Jebel Ali Port:

20-foot container (20ft GP) — approximately 25 to 28 CBM usable space

40-foot container (40ft GP) — approximately 55 to 67 CBM usable space

40-foot high cube (40ft HC) — approximately 67 to 76 CBM usable space

FCL is the right choice when:

Your cargo fills more than 15 CBM

You need a fixed sailing schedule and guaranteed space

Your goods are high-value or fragile and need exclusive handling

You want the fastest sea freight transit time without consolidation delays

FCL is charged per container, not per kilogram or CBM. This makes it extremely cost-effective for large shipments.

LCL — Less Than Container Load

LCL means your cargo shares container space with shipments from other businesses. You only pay for the space your cargo takes up, measured in cubic metres (CBM).

LCL is the right choice when:

Your cargo is under 15 CBM

You are not ready to fill a full container

You want to ship smaller quantities more frequently

You are testing a new supplier or product before ordering in bulk

LCL rates from Dubai start at approximately $45 to $80 per CBM depending on the route and season. ZMC Express consolidates LCL cargo regularly on all major trade lanes.

Our Sea Freight Services

ZMC Express offers a complete range of sea freight and ocean cargo services — for export from Dubai and import into the UAE.

✅ FCL Shipping

Full container load shipping on all major routes from Jebel Ali Port. We book space with the world’s leading carriers, manage all documentation, and handle customs clearance at both origin and destination.

✅ LCL CONSOLIDATION

We consolidate LCL cargo from multiple shippers into one container. Your goods are picked up, consolidated at our JAFZA warehouse, and shipped on the next available sailing. Cost-effective, reliable, and available on all major routes.

✅ DOOR-TO-DOOR SEA FREIGHT

Pickup from your supplier or warehouse anywhere in the world. We manage export clearance at origin, book ocean freight, clear UAE customs at Jebel Ali, and deliver your cargo to your door anywhere in the UAE.
This service works for both imports and exports. One company handles everything — no coordination between multiple agents.

✅ PORT-TO-PORT OCEAN FREIGHT

For importers and exporters who manage their own customs clearance and final delivery. ZMC Express handles origin pickup, export documentation, ocean booking, and cargo handling at the loading port. You collect at the destination port.

✅ SEA FREIGHT IMPORT INTO DUBAI

Most sea freight companies in Dubai only manage exports. ZMC Express handles full import sea cargo into Dubai from multiple countries. We pick up from your overseas supplier, manage export customs at origin, book ocean freight, clear UAE import customs at Jebel Ali, and deliver to your address.
We import by sea from: China, Turkey, Germany, Iraq, Oman, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and more.
Import route details are listed below.

✅ BULK AND PROJECT CARGO

For large, heavy, or irregular-shaped cargo that does not fit in standard containers. Machinery, construction equipment, vehicles, steel structures, and oversized goods. ZMC Express manages flat rack, open top, and bulk cargo shipments from Dubai to worldwide destinations.

✅ REEFER (REFRIGERATED) CARGO

Temperature-sensitive cargo including food products, dairy, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. We book refrigerated containers (reefers) on scheduled services and monitor temperature throughout transit.

Book our freight & cargo services today!

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Sea Freight Import Into Dubai: Countries We Ship From

ZMC Express manages sea freight imports into Dubai and UAE from the following countries. Our local branches and agent network at origin means we manage your shipment from the supplier’s door to your warehouse, not just from Jebel Ali.

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM CHINA TO DUBAI

China to Dubai is one of the world’s busiest ocean trade lanes. ZMC Express has branches in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Yiwu. We offer weekly LCL consolidations and FCL bookings on all major China-to-UAE sailings. Jebel Ali Port receives regular direct sailings from all major Chinese ports.

Departure ports: Shanghai (PVG/SHA), Guangzhou/Nansha, Shenzhen/Yantian, Ningbo, Qingdao
Transit time: 18 to 28 days
LCL rate: From $45–$70 per CBM
FCL rate (20ft): From $650–$1,100 | FCL rate (40ft): From $900–$1,600 Also available: Air freight — 3 to 7 days

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM TURKEY TO DUBAI

Turkey is a key sea freight source for UAE importers — textiles, furniture, food, and industrial goods move regularly by ocean between Turkish ports and Jebel Ali. ZMC Express has a Turkey branch and offers LCL and FCL on this route.

Departure ports: Mersin, Izmir, Istanbul (Ambarli), Gemlik
Transit time: 10 to 18 days
LCL rate: From $55–$85 per CBM
Also available: Air freight — 2 to 4 days

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM GERMANY TO DUBAI

Germany to Dubai is the primary European ocean freight lane for UAE industrial importers. ZMC Express has a branch in Germany and manages regular LCL and FCL shipments from Hamburg and other North European ports.

Departure ports: Hamburg, Bremen, Rotterdam (transshipment)
Transit time: 22 to 28 days
LCL rate: From $65–$100 per CBM
FCL rate (20ft): From $900–$1,600
FCL rate (40ft): From $1,200–$2,200
Also available: Air freight — 2 to 4 days

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM DUBAI TO IRAQ

Dubai to Iraq is a fast-growing regional cargo corridor for commercial goods, retail stock, industrial equipment, and eCommerce shipments. ZMC Express provides reliable sea freight solutions from Dubai to major Iraqi cities including Baghdad, Basra, and Erbil through multimodal shipping and port-to-door logistics services. We handle both LCL and FCL cargo with customs clearance support and final delivery coordination across Iraq.

Departure port: Jebel Ali Port, Dubai
Destination hubs: Basra, Baghdad, Erbil
Transit time: 7 to 15 days
LCL rate: From $45–$75 per CBM
FCL rate (20ft): From $1,200–$2,200
FCL rate (40ft): From $1,800–$3,200
Also available: Air freight — 1 to 2 days

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM IRAQ TO DUBAI

ZMC Express has 18 branches across Iraq. While land freight is the most common route for Iraq-UAE trade, sea freight via Umm Qasr Port is also available for bulk cargo.

Departure port: Umm Qasr Port, Basra
Transit time: 3 to 6 days
Also available: Land freight — 2 to 3 days & Air freight — 1 to 2 days

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM OMAN TO DUBAI

Oman-UAE sea freight operates on a short coastal route, ideal for bulk goods, construction materials, and larger commercial cargo that is easier to ship by sea than road.

Departure ports: Port Sultan Qaboos (Muscat), Sohar Port, Salalah Port
Transit time: 1 to 3 days
Also available: Road freight — 1 to 2 days

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM LEBANON TO DUBAI

ZMC Express has recently opened a branch in Lebanon. We manage LCL and FCL ocean cargo from Beirut to Jebel Ali, covering food products, olive oil, furniture, and industrial goods.

Departure port: Beirut Port (Port of Beirut)
Transit time: 5 to 9 days
Also available: Air freight — 1 to 2 days

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM SAUDI ARABIA TO DUBAI

Saudi-UAE sea freight is a well-established coastal route. ZMC Express manages regular shipments from Saudi ports to Jebel Ali, particularly for petrochemical products, packaging materials, and manufactured goods.

Departure ports: Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port (Dammam)
Transit time: 2 to 5 days
Also available: Road freight — 1 to 3 days

✅ SEA FREIGHT FROM QATAR TO DUBAI

With restored trade relations, Qatar-UAE ocean freight is growing again. ZMC Express manages LCL and FCL from Doha Port to Jebel Ali.

Departure port: Hamad Port, Doha
Transit time: 2 to 4 days
Also available: Air freight — 1 day

Sea Freight Rates From Jebel Ali: 2026 Guide

Sea freight rates from Dubai are not fixed. They change by route, season, carrier, and cargo type. Here are indicative rates for 2026 to help you plan your budget.

Route	Direction	LCL Rate	20ft FCL	40ft FCL	Transit Time
China (Shanghai/Guangzhou) → Dubai	Import	$45–$70/CBM	$650–$1,100	$900–$1,600	18–28 days
Dubai → China	Export	$45–$70/CBM	$500–$900	$700–$1,200	18–22 days
Turkey → Dubai	Import	$55–$85/CBM	$500–$900	$700–$1,300	10–18 days
Germany → Dubai	Import	$65–$100/CBM	$900–$1,600	$1,200–$2,200	22–28 days
Dubai → Germany	Export	$65–$100/CBM	$800–$1,400	$1,100–$1,900	22–28 days
Lebanon → Dubai	Import	$60–$90/CBM	$350–$700	$550–$1,000	5–9 days
Saudi Arabia → Dubai	Import	$35–$60/CBM	$200–$450	$350–$700	2–5 days
Qatar → Dubai	Import	$35–$60/CBM	$200–$450	$350–$700	2–4 days
Dubai → UK (Felixstowe)	Export	$70–$110/CBM	$800–$1,400	$1,100–$1,900	20–25 days
Dubai → USA (Los Angeles)	Export	$80–$130/CBM	$1,200–$2,000	$1,600–$2,800	25–35 days

All rates are indicative. Final rates depend on commodity, cargo dimensions, vessel availability, and surcharges. Contact ZMC Express for an exact quote before booking.

Get a Free Sea Freight Quote

How Our Sea Freight Service Works

Whether you are exporting from Dubai or importing into the UAE, the process with ZMC Express is straightforward.

✅ Step 1:

Get a quote Tell us your origin, destination, commodity, and cargo volume. We respond with a transparent quote — ocean freight rate, origin charges, destination charges, and estimated customs duty — so you know your full landed cost before you commit.

✅ Step 2

Cargo pickup For imports, our team or origin agent picks up from your overseas supplier. For exports, we collect from your warehouse or facility in the UAE. For LCL, cargo is received at our JAFZA consolidation warehouse.

✅ Step 3

Documentation Our team prepares the bill of lading (B/L), commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and any commodity-specific documents. We file the export declaration at origin and the import declaration at destination.

✅ Step 4

Ocean booking We book your FCL or LCL space on the best available vessel for your route and timeline. ZMC Express has carrier agreements with major shipping lines for preferred rates and reliable space allocation.

✅ Step 5

Live container tracking Your container tracking number is issued at booking. Track your shipment’s progress in real time — port of loading, estimated arrival, and customs status — through the ZMC tracking portal or mobile app.

✅ Step 6

Jebel Ali customs clearance (for imports) Our licensed customs team at JAFZA files your UAE import declaration through the Mirsal 2 system. We handle duty calculation, payment, and regulatory approvals. For FCL shipments, your container can be discharged and trucked directly to your facility.

✅ Step 7

Delivery Your cargo is delivered to your warehouse, shop, or business address anywhere in Dubai or across all seven Emirates.

Documents Required For Sea Freight To And From Dubai

For sea freight export from Dubai:

✅ Commercial invoice
✅ Packing list
✅ Bill of lading (B/L) — issued by the carrier through ZMC Express
✅ Export customs declaration — filed by ZMC’s Dubai team
✅ Certificate of origin (if required by destination country)
✅ Any product-specific export permits

For sea freight import into Dubai:

✅ Commercial invoice from supplier
✅ Packing list
✅ Original bill of lading or seaway bill from origin carrier
✅ Certificate of origin
✅ UAE import declaration — filed by ZMC’s JAFZA customs team
✅ Valid UAE trade license with import activity code

ZMC Express manages all documentation at both ends. You do not need to coordinate paperwork across multiple parties.

Total Sea Freight Costs: What To Budget For

The freight rate is only one part of your total shipping cost. Here is every component you need to budget for when importing by sea to Dubai:

Ocean freight — The base cost of moving your container or LCL cargo from origin port to Jebel Ali.

Origin charges — Pickup from supplier, export documentation, port handling fees, and bill of lading at the loading port.

Destination charges — Port handling at Jebel Ali, customs inspection fee, delivery order fee, and documentation charges on arrival.

UAE customs duty — 5% of the CIF value (cost + insurance + freight) for most goods from outside the GCC. GCC-origin goods may be duty-exempt.

VAT — 5% applied to most goods at the point of UAE customs clearance.

Inland delivery — Trucking from Jebel Ali Port to your warehouse or address within the UAE.

Cargo insurance — Strongly recommended. Covers loss or damage during transit. Typically costs 0.3% to 0.5% of the cargo value.

ZMC Express provides a complete landed cost breakdown before your shipment departs. Every cost is itemised, no surprises when your container arrives at Jebel Ali.

Why Choose ZMC Express For Sea Freight In Dubai?

✅ JAFZA-based — directly at Jebel Ali Port Our JAFZA warehouse (Warehouse HB07) gives us direct access to Jebel Ali, the busiest port in the Middle East. Faster container release. Shorter trucking distance. Lower port costs.

✅ Branches in source countries ZMC Express has offices in China, Germany, Turkey, Iraq, Oman, and Lebanon. We manage your import from the supplier’s door — not just from the quayside in Dubai.

✅ In-house customs clearance at Jebel Ali Our licensed customs team files UAE import declarations directly through the Mirsal 2 system. No third-party customs broker. No communication gaps. Faster release.

✅ Carrier agreements for better rates ZMC Express holds contracts with major ocean carriers for preferred rates and guaranteed space on high-demand lanes — including China to UAE, Europe to UAE, and GCC coastal routes.

✅ FCL, LCL, reefer, and project cargo We handle all cargo types. Standard dry containers, refrigerated reefers, flat racks for oversized goods, and bulk cargo. One company for every sea freight need.

✅ Real-time container tracking Track your container from port of loading to Jebel Ali in real time through the ZMC portal or mobile app. Estimated arrival dates. Live vessel position. Customs status updates.

✅ Complete landed cost transparency We show you the full cost — ocean freight, origin charges, destination charges, customs duty, VAT, and delivery — before you confirm. No surprise invoices on arrival.

✅ 19+ years of sea freight experience ZMC Express has managed ocean freight through Jebel Ali since 2004. We know the port, the carriers, the customs process, and the trade lanes inside out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between FCL and LCL sea freight?

FCL is a full container for your cargo only. LCL shares space with other shippers — you pay per CBM. FCL suits shipments over 15 CBM. LCL suits smaller volumes. ZMC Express offers both.

How long does sea freight from China to Dubai take?

Sea freight from China to Dubai takes 18 to 28 days. Shanghai to Jebel Ali is around 22 to 25 days. ZMC Express offers weekly sailings from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Yiwu.

What are sea freight rates from Dubai in 2026?

LCL from Dubai starts at $45–$100 per CBM. A 40ft FCL from China to Dubai costs $900–$1,600. Dubai to Germany 40ft FCL costs $1,100–$1,900. Contact ZMC Express for an exact quote.

Can ZMC Express import goods by sea into Dubai?

Yes. ZMC imports by sea from China, Turkey, Germany, Iraq, Oman, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — covering pickup, export clearance, UAE customs, and door-to-door delivery.

What documents do I need to import goods by sea to Dubai?

You need a commercial invoice, packing list, original bill of lading, certificate of origin, and UAE import declaration. ZMC Express prepares and files all documents on your behalf.

How is sea freight cost calculated?

FCL is charged per container. LCL is charged per CBM. Total cost includes ocean freight, port charges, UAE customs duty (5% CIF), VAT (5%), and inland delivery. ZMC shows full landed cost upfront.

Which port does ZMC Express use in Dubai?

Jebel Ali Port — the largest port in the Middle East. ZMC’s JAFZA warehouse (HB07) sits directly adjacent to the port for fast container release and low handling costs.

How do I track my sea freight shipment?

Every ZMC sea freight shipment gets a container tracking number. Track in real time at apps.zmc-iraq.com/tracking.php or via the ZMC mobile app on iOS and Android.

What is the cheapest way to ship from China to Dubai?

LCL sea freight starts at $45–$70 per CBM. For volumes over 15 CBM, a 40ft FCL at $900–$1,600 is most cost-effective. ZMC Express provides free quotes for both options.

About Us

ZMC Express Cargo was established in Iraq in 2004 and has since turned into a global logistic company. ZMC boasts a significant worldwide presence with 7 international branches spanning UAE (HQ), Iraq, Oman, Germany, Turkey, Lebanon and China. In Iraq alone, ZMC maintains a strong foothold with 11 strategically located branches, demonstrating its commitment to freight services industry.