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Shipping to United Arab Emirates from Thailand: duty, VAT and what gets through

Parcels from Thailand to the UAE under AED 300 clear free of charges. Above that, a flat 5 percent duty and 5 percent VAT apply, among the lowest combined rates on our network.

What are the tax thresholds in United Arab Emirates?

Import tax thresholds for United Arab Emirates
ThresholdRule
Import dutyAED 300
VAT / GST de minimisAED 300
VAT / GST rate5%
Typical duty band5% flat on most goods

Official references

Thresholds above are summarised for shippers. Confirm edge cases with the destination authority:

How long does delivery to United Arab Emirates take?

Delivery options to United Arab Emirates
Carrier optionIndicative delivery band
Express courier2-5 days
Economy air (postal)7-14 days
Economy sea (consolidated)25-40 days
Freight rates Thailand to United Arab Emirates

What cannot be shipped to United Arab Emirates?

  • Anything containing pork or alcohol without licence
  • E-cigarettes without approval
  • Religious materials for proselytizing
  • CBD and kratom
  • Adult content

The full per-destination list lives on our restricted items policy and is enforced at our warehouse intake.

Worked example: what a real parcel costs

2 kg parcel of Thai silk, declared AED 550

Cost lineAmount
Item costAED 550.00
Express shipping (2 kg)See calculator
Duty 5% (CIF)AED 35.75
VAT 5% (CIF + duty)AED 37.54
Illustrative totalAED 788.29

Express shipping is a live parcel-calculator rate in THB (0.5 kg, 10x10x10 cm). Duty, VAT and other lines use illustrative local-currency maths; total is a guide only until you confirm on the calculator.

Combined 10 percent-ish on-top cost makes the UAE one of the cheapest above-threshold destinations we serve.

What happens if it is held at customs?

UAE holds usually involve content screening (food ingredients, media). Ingredient lists and invoices, which we file with every shipment, typically release parcels in 2 to 4 days.

Full failure procedures and refund timelines

Related operator pages

This page owns duty and VAT thresholds. Use the route page for freight bands, the express parcel calculator for package rates, and the FCL vs LCL volume tool for sea mode guidance.

Shipping to United Arab Emirates: questions we get asked

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