Key points
- Foshan (Lecong and the wider Shunde district) is the main furniture source; Nansha is the natural export port.
- Furniture fills space long before it gets heavy, so CBM decides LCL vs FCL, not weight.
- Customs duty is 5% of CIF value and import VAT is 5% of CIF plus duty; invoices of AED 10,000 or more need MOFA attestation.
- Most furniture damage comes from weak packing, which cargo insurance excludes, so pack for a long sea voyage and extra handling.
- Note damage on the delivery receipt and send written notice within 3 days for sea freight, or a claim can fail.
Where your furniture comes from: Foshan and the Pearl River Delta
Foshan, next to Guangzhou, is China's best-known furniture cluster: the Lecong market in Shunde district runs for kilometres of showrooms, supplied by thousands of nearby factories. Our Guangzhou office is a short drive away, and Nansha port, serving Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhongshan, has strong Middle East services. Buy from several showrooms on one trip: we collect from each, count and photograph every piece at our warehouse, and load one container under one bill of lading.
Packing furniture for a long, hot sea voyage
A sofa must survive trucks, forklifts, three to four weeks in a hot, sweating container, a second truck leg from the east coast and a final unload. Standard insurance clauses exclude loss caused by insufficient packing, so agree the packing standard in your purchase order before production.
Furniture packing checklist to send to your supplier
0/10LCL or FCL: let the CBM decide
Furniture is light for its size: a 40ft high cube holds about 65–68 CBM of cartons and fills up long before the weight limit. Add up your cartons with the calculator below. LCL is charged per W/M, the greater of CBM or tonnes, so furniture nearly always pays by CBM.
| Your total volume | Usual choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under about 12 CBM | LCL (shared container) | You pay only for your CBM, with a minimum of usually 1 CBM |
| About 12–15 CBM | Compare both | The break-even point moves with weekly rates; we quote both |
| About 15–28 CBM | 20GP container | Usable space about 25–28 CBM; less handling than LCL |
| About 28–58 CBM | 40GP container | Usable space about 55–58 CBM |
| Up to about 68 CBM | 40HQ (high cube) | Extra height suits sofas, wardrobes and stacked cartons |
Usable space: 20GP ~25–28 CBM, 40GP ~55–58, 40HQ ~65–68.
- Best for a few pieces or a first trial order
- Goods are loaded with other shippers' cargo at a CFS warehouse and unloaded again in the UAE
- More handling means more risk of scuffs and crushed corners, so palletise if you can
- Adds roughly 3–7 days for consolidation and deconsolidation
- If another shipper's cargo in the box is held, the whole box can wait
- Best for a showroom, hotel or villa project from about 15 CBM
- Loaded once at our warehouse or the factory, sealed, and opened only at your door or customs inspection
- You control how pieces are stacked, blocked and strapped
- One consignee and one clearance
- Return the empty container within free time to avoid detention charges
Duty, VAT and documents for furniture in Dubai
Furniture entering the Dubai mainland pays the GCC common customs duty of 5% on the CIF value, that is the goods plus freight and insurance to the UAE. Import VAT of 5% is then charged on the CIF value plus the duty. If your company is VAT registered and its customs code is linked to its tax number in EmaraTax, the VAT can be reverse charged in your VAT return instead of paid at the port. Goods entering a free zone such as JAFZA stay duty suspended until they reach the mainland. You need a trade licence, a customs client code, a detailed invoice, packing list, bill of lading and usually a certificate of origin; invoices of AED 10,000 or more need MOFA attestation. Built-in electrical parts such as LED lights, USB chargers or recliner motors can need ECAS conformity, so tell us before you order.
Most goods from China pay 5% GCC duty on CIF, once, at the first GCC entry. VAT is on CIF + duty. Estimate only.
If something arrives damaged: claims step by step
Carriers pay only when they are at fault and only up to low limits, typically the higher of 666.67 SDR per package or 2 SDR per kg under the Hague-Visby Rules. That is why we recommend cargo insurance on ICC (A) terms for 110% of CIF value, with war and strikes cover for Gulf shipments in 2026. Either way, the first hours after delivery decide whether a claim succeeds.
- Check before you signCount the pieces, compare the seal number with the bill of lading and look for holes or water marks in the container.
- Write the damage on the receiptBe specific, for example 3 cartons crushed, sofa leg broken. Never sign received in good condition without checking.
- Keep the evidencePhotograph the container, seal, packing and goods, and keep the damaged items and cartons until the surveyor agrees.
- Give written notice on timeNotify us and the carrier in writing within 3 days for hidden damage on sea freight, even if you do not know the amount yet.
- Call the insurerContact the claims agent named on the certificate; a surveyor is usually appointed.
- Limit the lossSeparate undamaged pieces, dry wet items and do not abandon the goods.
- Send the claim fileInvoice, packing list, bill of lading, insurance certificate, receipt with remarks, survey report, photos and repair quotes.
Delivery and assembly in Dubai
While Hormuz is closed, your container lands at Khor Fakkan and moves to Jebel Ali on a bonded truck, duty unpaid. After clearance our Dubai team delivers to your warehouse, shop, villa or site.
- Confirm whether the site can take a 40ft truck, or whether goods must be transferred to smaller trucks
- Book building access, a loading bay or a service lift for towers and malls in advance
- Have people ready to unload: a 40HQ of loose cartons takes several hours to hand-unload
- Order knock-down furniture with assembly drawings and a spare fittings kit in Arabic or English
- Ask us early if you need installation or assembly; our team confirms what can be arranged for your address
- Return the empty container to the depot named on the release, which in 2026 may not be the usual one
Quick check: are you ready to ship?
Furniture shipping quiz
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to ship furniture from China to Dubai?
Typically 18–30 days door to door from Foshan or Guangzhou, depending on the sailing, the discharge port and customs. As of November 2026 cargo lands at Khor Fakkan and is trucked to Jebel Ali, which can add time.
What is the customs duty on furniture imported into Dubai?
5% of the CIF value, plus 5% VAT on the CIF value including duty. VAT-registered importers with a linked customs code can reverse charge the VAT.
Is LCL or FCL better for furniture?
Under about 12 CBM LCL is usually cheaper. From about 15 CBM a 20ft container is often better value and safer for the goods, because it is loaded and opened only once.
Do I need a trade licence to import furniture into Dubai?
For commercial quantities, yes: a UAE company with a trade licence and customs code must be the importer.
Who pays if furniture is damaged in transit?
The carrier pays only if it is at fault and only up to low limits per kg or package. Cargo insurance on ICC (A) terms is the reliable way to recover the full value, but it excludes poor packing.
Can you collect from several Foshan showrooms and ship together?
Yes. We collect from each supplier, check and photograph the goods at our Guangzhou warehouse and load one container with one bill of lading and one clearance in Dubai.
Sources
- Lloyd's List Intelligence: Strait of Hormuz Brief, 22 October 2026
- UAE ICP: Customs union for GCC (common external tariff)
- Gulf News: invoice and origin certificate attestations via MOFA eDAS (August 2026)
- Wecox Claims Group: summary of transport conventions, liability limits and notice periods
- Tradlinx: Gulf rerouting changes port of discharge, D&D and empty returns (September 2026)
- Wikipedia: Lecong, Shunde district, Foshan
General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.