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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?
| Threshold | Rule |
|---|---|
| Import duty | AED 300 |
| VAT / GST de minimis | AED 300 |
| VAT / GST rate | 5% |
| Typical duty band | 5% 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?
| Carrier option | Indicative delivery band |
|---|---|
| Express courier | 2-5 days |
| Economy air (postal) | 7-14 days |
| Economy sea (consolidated) | 25-40 days |
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 line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Item cost | AED 550.00 |
| Express shipping (2 kg) | See calculator |
| Duty 5% (CIF) | AED 35.75 |
| VAT 5% (CIF + duty) | AED 37.54 |
| Illustrative total | AED 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 timelinesRelated 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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