Shipping Cars and EVs from China to UAE: 2026 Guide

Key points

RoRo suits batches of new, driveable cars; containers suit small numbers, valuable or non-running cars, and loads with spare parts.
Every EV and hybrid is regulated as dangerous goods at sea, so the battery documents must be ready before the booking.
Since 1 January 2026 China requires an export licence for pure electric passenger cars, so buy from an exporter that holds one.
New cars need a valid GCC conformity certificate for the model year; used cars are checked by MOIAT before release.

Container or RoRo: two ways to move a car by sea

A RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) car carrier is a floating car park: vehicles are driven on board at a Chinese port and driven off at destination. A container shipment lashes one or more cars inside a 40ft high cube, or carries wide and tall vehicles on a flat rack. The right choice depends on how many cars you ship, whether they run, and what travels with them. In August 2026 Khor Fakkan received 6,068 BYD vehicles from Xiaomo port in Shenzhen on one RoRo ship, the first voyage of a new direct service, and the terminal promotes a Discharge and Drive model in which cars clear customs and leave the port within 96 hours.

Best for batches of new, driveable cars from brands, dealers and exporters
Cars must start, steer and brake, because they are driven on and off
Fewer sailings and ports than container services; we check which carrier serves your port that month
More handling on open decks, so inspect and photograph each car at loading and discharge

SeaRoad

EVs and hybrids are dangerous goods at sea

Under the IMDG Code, whose Amendment 42-24 has been mandatory since 1 January 2026, vehicles with a traction battery or a fuel tank are dangerous goods. Battery-powered cars are Class 9: the code now has a specific entry for lithium-ion battery powered vehicles (UN3556) next to the older UN3171, while petrol cars and hybrids fall under UN3166. The carrier tells you which entry and wording it needs on the booking. The shipper supplies the DG declaration, the battery's UN38.3 test summary and the safety data sheet before the DG cut-off, which comes earlier than the normal one. Damaged or recalled batteries need special approval and are often refused.

Documents for an EV or hybrid booking

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DG declaration signed by the shipper, with the UN number the carrier confirms
UN38.3 test summary for the traction battery, from the manufacturer
Safety data sheet (SDS) for the battery
Chinese export licence for pure electric passenger cars (required since 1 January 2026)
Commercial invoice listing VIN, make, model, model year, motor or engine type and colour
GCC conformity certificate or a specification sheet showing the Gulf version

GCC specs and conformity: what lets a car onto UAE roads

GCC specs means the car is built and certified for Gulf standards on safety, emissions, energy and climate. Under a GSO decision of 12 October 2004, four-wheel vehicles, motorcycles and tyres need a GCC conformity certificate to be sold in the GCC states. The certificate is issued per model and is valid for one calendar year, and MOIAT attests GSO certificates for the UAE. Most Chinese brands selling in the Gulf certify their Gulf versions; a car built for the Chinese home market may not match. Used cars go through MOIAT's electronic system, which checks each vehicle against databases of the origin country and blocks damaged, defective or non-compliant cars. MOIAT reported 6,500 used vehicles blocked in the year to April 2023.

Vehicle	Main UAE requirement	Ask the seller for
New car, Gulf version	GCC conformity certificate for the model year, attested for the UAE	Certificate copy, specification sheet, invoice with VIN
New car, China-market version	Must still meet GCC standards; it may need changes and testing, or may not be accepted	Ask us before buying; we check the exact model first
New EV	Conformity as above, plus DG shipping documents	UN38.3 summary, SDS, Chinese export licence
Used car	MOIAT product status statement after the database check	Previous registration, proof of ownership, VIN photos
Car in transit or re-export	Generally no UAE road conformity, because the car does not stay; destination rules apply	Destination conformity and import documents

Duty and VAT on cars from China

Cars from China pay the GCC common tariff of 5% customs duty on the CIF value (price plus freight and insurance to the UAE), then 5% VAT on CIF plus duty. A VAT-registered importer whose customs code is linked to its tax number can account for the VAT through the reverse charge. Customs compares invoices with reference values, so an unusually low price can be reassessed. Example: CIF USD 30,000 is about AED 110,175 at 3.6725; duty is about AED 5,509 and VAT about AED 5,784. Customs fees, MOFA attestation of invoices of AED 10,000 or more (AED 150 each), port charges and registration fees come on top. The broker confirms the HS code and final duty for each vehicle.

5%customs duty on CIF value

5%VAT on CIF plus duty

96 hKhor Fakkan Discharge and Drive target

18–30typical days door to door, China to UAE

DestinationDuty rate %Goods value (USD)Freight and insurance (USD)

CIF value–

Duty–

VAT–

Duty and VAT–

Most goods from China pay 5% GCC duty on CIF, once, at the first GCC entry. VAT is on CIF + duty. Estimate only.

From Chinese factory to UAE number plate, step by step

Check the modelConfirm GCC conformity for the model year and, for EVs, the exporter's licence and battery documents.
Choose RoRo or containerWe compare both and confirm DG acceptance for EVs and hybrids with the carrier.
Inspect and loadPhotos of each car, odometer and VIN; cars lashed in the box or checked onto the RoRo deck.
Export clearance in ChinaThe exporter declares the vehicles; pure electric cars need the export licence.
Sea transitAs of November 2026 most UAE-bound cars discharge at Khor Fakkan or other ports outside Hormuz.
UAE customsDeclaration with invoice, B/L, certificate of origin and conformity documents; duty and VAT settled.
Delivery and registrationCars trucked to your yard or showroom; keep the customs papers for registration with the traffic authority.

Re-export and transit: the UAE as a car hub

Many Chinese cars landing in the UAE are sold on to Africa, Central Asia, Iraq or other GCC states. A car that leaves the UAE does not need to carry UAE duty. Under a transit declaration it moves under customs control with a deposit or guarantee that is released once exit is confirmed. In a free zone it can be stored with duty suspended and re-exported. If duty was paid and the car is re-exported unchanged within the allowed period, a refund can be claimed with proof of exit. The destination's own rules then apply, such as Iraq's COSQC conformity or Saudi standards. Every re-export is screened: Iran, Russia and Afghanistan need a full compliance review, and we only handle vehicles whose end user and destination are declared openly.

Quick check: are you ready to ship?

Cars from China to the UAE

A pure electric car leaves China in 2026. What does the exporter need besides normal export clearance?

The CIF value is AED 100,000. How much customs duty is due?

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to ship a car from China to Dubai?

Typically 18–30 days door to door by container, depending on the Chinese port, the sailing and customs. RoRo timing depends on the service. As of November 2026 most cars arrive at Khor Fakkan and are trucked to Dubai, and our team confirms the current schedule.

Can I import an electric car from China to the UAE?

Yes. The model must meet GCC standards, the car ships as Class 9 dangerous goods with UN38.3 and SDS documents, and since 1 January 2026 the Chinese exporter needs an export licence for pure electric passenger cars.

What is the import duty on cars in the UAE?

5% customs duty on the CIF value, plus 5% VAT on CIF plus duty, with customs fees, attestation and port charges on top. The broker confirms the HS code and final amount.

Is RoRo cheaper than shipping a car in a container?

It depends on how many cars you ship, their size and the sailings that week. RoRo is usually efficient for batches of driveable cars; containers suit a few valuable or non-running cars. Our team quotes both within one working day.

Can I re-export Chinese cars from Dubai to Africa without paying UAE duty?

Yes, under a transit or re-export declaration or from a free zone, with a deposit or guarantee released on exit. The destination's rules and our compliance screening apply.

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General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.

Shipping cars and EVs from China to the UAE: RoRo or container, specs, duty and re-export