Dubai Customs CIF Landed Cost Engine

UAE Customs Duty & VAT Calculator

Instantly calculate customs duty (5%), import VAT (5%), and total landed costs for commercial cargo entering Dubai (Jebel Ali Port, DXB, DWC). Includes CEPA trade agreements, Free Zone transfers, and statutory Mirsal II fees.

Shipment Valuation Inputs

Currency:

Statutory CBUAE Rate

1. Commercial Invoice Value (FOB / EXW)Cost of goods purchased

2. International Freight Cost (To UAE Port / Airport)Air, Sea or Land freight

3. Marine Cargo Insurance

Statutory UAE benchmark: 1% of (FOB + Freight)

$ 282.00

4. Commodity Classification & Tariff RuleStandard 5%

Standard GCC Unified Customs Tariff applied to manufactured items, electronics, clothing, and machinery.

Include standard Dubai Customs Mirsal II declaration & gate pass fee (approx. 120 AED per Bill of Entry)

1 USD = 3.6725 AED (CBUAE Peg)

Duty & Tax Assessment Ledger

Standard 5%

Total Assessed CIF Value:Cost + Freight + Ins.

104,600 AED≈ $ 28,482

Customs Duty (5%):

5,230.01 AED

≈ $ 1424.10

Import VAT (5% on CIF + Duty):

5,491.51 AED

≈ $ 1495.30

Mirsal II Customs Declaration Fee:

120.00 AED

Total Customs Payable:

10,841.51 AED

≈ $ 2952.08

Payable to Dubai Customs via Dubai Trade Portal prior to container release.

Total Estimated Landed Cost:115,442 AED

Customs Valuation Formula

How Dubai Customs Determines CIF & Tax Liabilities

Under the unified legal framework of the GCC Customs Law and Dubai Customs Policy, customs duties are assessed strictly on the CIF value (Cost, Insurance, and Freight). Duties are never assessed solely on the product invoice value alone.

STEP 1: CIF BASE

FOB Value + Freight + Insurance

If an insurance policy is omitted, Dubai Customs applies a mandatory benchmark of 1% of (FOB + Freight).

STEP 2: CUSTOMS DUTY

5% × Assessed CIF Value

Applied to over 90% of commercial HS codes. Reduced to 0% for CEPA origin nations or statutory exempt goods.

STEP 3: IMPORT VAT

5% × (CIF + Duty + Excise)

Calculated on the compounded total. VAT registered businesses can reclaim this on their FTA tax returns.

Import Compliance

Mandatory Commercial Documents for Dubai Customs Release

Required Document	Issuing Authority	Customs Purpose	Common Failure Point
Commercial Invoice	Overseas Supplier / Exporter	Valuation verification & HS code mapping	Missing HS codes or vague product descriptions
Certificate of Origin (COO)	Origin Chamber of Commerce	Nationality of goods & CEPA 0% eligibility	Country of origin mismatches invoice label
Bill of Lading (OBL/AWB)	Shipping Line / Carrier / Forwarder	Manifest verification & Delivery Order (DO)	Consignee name differs from Dubai Customs code
Detailed Packing List	Shipper / Freight Forwarder	Physical inspection, tare vs net weight	Gross weight discrepancies triggering re-weighing

Complete Regulatory Guide

Need step-by-step guidance on Dubai Customs Mirsal II?

Read our definitive regulatory guide on obtaining a Customs Business Code, MoIAT / MoHAP ministry permits, Free Zone deposit refunds, and avoiding container demurrage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Customs Duty & VAT FAQs

Frequently asked questions about importing commercial cargo into the United Arab Emirates.

Under GCC Unified Customs Law, customs duty is assessed at 5% of the total CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of the shipment in UAE Dirhams (AED). If your commercial invoice is in foreign currency (such as USD, EUR, or CNY), Dubai Customs converts it into AED using the official exchange rate set by the UAE Central Bank.

If the importer or shipper fails to present a formal marine cargo insurance policy or certificate, Dubai Customs regulations dictate an automatic statutory benchmark assessment of 1% added to the combined FOB commercial invoice value and freight charges to establish the CIF valuation base.

UAE Import VAT is 5%, but it is not applied solely to the invoice value. In accordance with Federal Tax Authority (FTA) regulations, VAT is calculated on the sum of the CIF value PLUS the customs duty payable PLUS any applicable excise tax. Formally: VAT = 5% × (CIF + Customs Duty + Excise).

Yes. The UAE has signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with India, Turkey, Indonesia, and other nations. Under these treaties, qualifying commodities accompanied by a valid, certified CEPA Certificate of Origin (COO) and meeting rules-of-origin value-add thresholds can enter Dubai at 0% or substantially reduced preferential customs duty rates.

No. Cargo arriving from overseas destined for a licensed Free Zone company (such as in JAFZA, DAFZA, or Dubai South) is admitted under a customs transit / free zone deposit regime with 0% duty payment. Customs duty and VAT become payable only if the goods are subsequently transferred or sold into the UAE mainland local market.

Standard electronic import declarations submitted via Dubai Trade on the Mirsal II platform incur a statutory declaration registration fee of approximately AED 100 to AED 120, alongside nominal port knowledge and innovation fees, in addition to the percentage customs duty.

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