Customs Clearance UAE for Amazon FBA & Noon FBN Sellers — Importer of Record | ARRIVAGE

⚠️ Critical step · International sellers · UAE import

Amazon does not act as your Importer of Record. Neither does Noon. If your stock arrives in the UAE without a licensed local entity to clear it through customs, it gets held — and held stock costs AED 10 per day per shipment after 5 days. ARRIVAGE acts as your IOR and handles the complete UAE customs process.

UAE CUSTOMS 🇦🇪 😰 HELD ⛔ No IOR AED 10/day 😬 😊 CLEARED ✓ IOR ✓ → Amazon FC 🚚 ARRIVAGE IOR ✓
IOR service
Licensed UAE entity
Sea & air
All freight modes
End-to-end
Clearance to FC delivery
Since 2019
SRTIP licensed, Dubai
The problem most international FBA sellers discover too late

When your shipment lands in the UAE — whether at Jebel Ali Port, Dubai Airport, or any other entry point — it cannot be released from customs without an Importer of Record (IOR). The IOR is the licensed UAE entity legally responsible for the goods: paying duties and VAT, submitting the import declaration, and ensuring the products meet UAE regulations.

The critical point most guides miss: Amazon UAE does not act as the IOR for your FBA inventory, and neither does Noon. You or your designated agent must be the IOR. For international sellers with no UAE entity, this means either appointing a licensed UAE company to act as IOR — or watching your stock rack up storage and demurrage fees while it sits held at the port.

⚠️ What happens if you have no IOR
Your goods are held at the port or airport. After 5 days, storage charges begin at AED 10 per day. After 30 days of no resolution, customs can initiate disposal proceedings. Your entire shipment — and every AED you spent on it — can be lost.
UAE import duties and taxes — what you'll pay

UAE import costs are straightforward compared to many markets. The same rates apply whether you're shipping to Amazon UAE, Noon, or any other destination in the country.

5%
Customs duty
On the CIF value (cost of goods + insurance + freight). Applies to most product categories.
5%
UAE VAT
On CIF value + customs duty. Standard UAE VAT rate on all commercial imports.
~10.25%
Total landed cost
Combined duty + VAT on most standard products. Factor this into your margin calculation before ordering.
💡 Worked example
Shipment value AED 10,000 (CIF) → Customs duty: AED 500 (5%) → VAT: AED 525 (5% of AED 10,500) → Total import cost: AED 1,025. This is on top of your freight cost — not included in it.
⚠️ Categories with higher or zero duty
Most goods attract 5% duty, but some categories differ. Alcohol and tobacco carry much higher rates. Some products — including certain electronics and medical devices — may qualify for 0% duty under GCC agreements. HS code classification matters significantly — incorrect classification can trigger higher duties or customs holds. ARRIVAGE can advise on your specific products before you ship.
What ARRIVAGE handles — end-to-end UAE customs clearance
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Importer of Record — ARRIVAGE acts as your licensed UAE IOR, legally responsible for your shipment through customs
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Import declaration — all customs documentation prepared and submitted correctly on your behalf
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HS code classification — correct tariff codes applied to your products to ensure the right duty rate and avoid holds
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Duty and VAT payment — we advance payment of import duties and VAT and recharge to you with a clear invoice
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Dubai Municipality (FIRS) — registration for food, cosmetics, and health products that require municipality approval before Amazon acceptance
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Port and airport coordination — we coordinate release at Jebel Ali, Dubai Airport Freezone, and other UAE entry points
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Onward delivery — cleared stock transferred to our warehouse for FBA/FBN prep and delivery to Amazon UAE or Noon fulfilment centres
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Pre-shipment consultation — contact us before you ship and we'll flag any product restrictions, labelling issues, or duty concerns in advance
The clearance process — step by step
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1. Contact us before you ship
Share your product details, HS codes, invoice value, and freight details. We confirm clearance feasibility and any regulatory requirements for your specific products.
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2. Your shipment arrives in UAE
Your freight forwarder notifies us of arrival. We are listed as IOR on the airway bill or bill of lading before departure from origin.
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3. We submit customs declaration
Import declaration filed with UAE Customs. All documentation — commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin — prepared and submitted correctly.
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4. Duties and VAT paid
We advance the 5% customs duty and 5% VAT on your behalf. You receive a clear invoice itemising all charges paid.
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5. Stock released and delivered to us
Cleared stock is collected from the port or airport and transferred to our Dubai warehouse for FBA and FBN prep.
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6. Delivered to Amazon FC or Noon ✓
Prepped, labelled, and delivered on our weekly runs to Amazon UAE fulfilment centres and Noon. Your Seller Central shows received status typically within 48 hours.
⚠️ Contact us BEFORE your shipment leaves origin
We must be listed as IOR on your shipping documentation before the goods depart from their origin country. We cannot be added retrospectively after the shipment has arrived in the UAE. If your goods arrive with no IOR listed, clearance becomes significantly more complex and costly. Always contact ARRIVAGE before booking your freight to confirm the correct documentation.
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Shipping stock into the UAE for Amazon or Noon?

Contact ARRIVAGE before you book your freight. Tell us your product, origin country, shipment value, and target marketplace — we'll confirm the clearance requirements and act as your IOR from the moment your goods depart.