⚡ Quick Answer: Shipping a car to Dubai from the UK costs between £450 and £1,400 depending on method and vehicle size. RoRo starts from £450, container from £850. Transit time to Jebel Ali is 3–4 weeks. The UAE drives on the right, so left-hand drive conversion is required before the vehicle can be registered — budget £1,500–£5,000+ for this separately.
Dubai is one of the most popular destinations for UK car exports. With zero income tax, no annual road tax, and cheap fuel, the UAE is an attractive place to own a high-specification vehicle — and many UK residents relocating to Dubai want to bring their car with them rather than sell it. Whether you’re moving to the UAE, selling a vehicle to a buyer there, or shipping a prestige car to a collector, this guide covers everything you need to know.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Dubai from the UK?
The cost of shipping a car to Dubai depends on vehicle size, shipping method, and your UK departure port. Here are typical 2026 prices to Jebel Ali (Dubai’s main port):
| Vehicle Type | RoRo to Jebel Ali | Groupage Container | Sole-Use 20ft Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small car (e.g. Ford Fiesta) | £450–£600 | £850–£1,050 | £1,800–£2,400 |
| Medium car (e.g. BMW 3 Series) | £550–£750 | £950–£1,200 | £2,000–£2,600 |
| Large car / SUV (e.g. Range Rover) | £700–£950 | £1,100–£1,400 | £2,400–£3,200 |
| Prestige / supercar | Not recommended | £1,400–£2,000 | £2,800–£4,500+ |
These are indicative sea freight prices for 2026. Fuel surcharges, port handling, and currency fluctuation affect final costs. Request a free quote from Ascope Shipping for an accurate price for your specific vehicle.
These prices cover sea freight and basic port handling only. They do not include UAE customs duties, VAT, LHD conversion costs, vehicle registration in Dubai, or collection from your UK address. The biggest additional cost to plan for is the left-hand drive conversion — see below.
RoRo vs Container Shipping to Dubai
Both RoRo shipping and container shipping are available on the UK–Dubai route, with sailings departing regularly from UK ports.
RoRo Shipping to Dubai
RoRo is the fastest and cheapest method. Your car is driven onto a dedicated roll-on/roll-off vessel at the UK departure port and secured on the car deck for the voyage to Jebel Ali. It is the standard choice for everyday road cars and is the most common method used on the UK–UAE route.
RoRo is not suitable for prestige, classic, or non-running vehicles, which should always travel in a container for added protection and security.
Container Shipping to Dubai
Container shipping places your car inside a sealed steel shipping container. Groupage container shipping shares space with other vehicles and offers a good balance of protection and cost. Sole-use containers give you a full 20ft or 40ft container — the right choice for high-value vehicles, classic cars, or if you want to load personal effects alongside the car (subject to UAE customs rules).
For prestige vehicles — Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini — a sole-use container with specialist loading (sometimes using a flat-rack or airbag system) is strongly recommended to protect both the vehicle and its value during transit.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car to Dubai?
🌐 Short Answer: The sea voyage from the UK to Jebel Ali (Dubai) takes approximately 2–3 weeks. Including UK port processing and Dubai customs clearance, allow 3–4 weeks from UK collection to your car being available for collection in Dubai.
| Stage | Typical Time |
|---|---|
| UK collection to departure port | 2–5 days |
| Port processing and loading | 3–7 days |
| Sea voyage to Jebel Ali | 14–21 days |
| Jebel Ali port handling | 2–5 days |
| UAE customs clearance | 2–5 days |
| Total door to port | 3–4 weeks |
Dubai is one of the shorter shipping routes from the UK compared to destinations like New Zealand or Australia, which makes it a popular choice for urgent relocations. Vessels travel through the Suez Canal, making the UAE route significantly faster than routes that go around Africa.
The Most Important Thing: Left-Hand Drive Conversion
⚡ Key Point: The UAE drives on the right-hand side of the road. UK cars are right-hand drive (RHD). To register and drive a UK car in Dubai, it must be converted to left-hand drive (LHD). This is a major cost that must be factored in before deciding whether shipping your car to Dubai makes financial sense.
LHD conversion involves moving the steering column, pedals, dashboard, and associated systems to the left side of the vehicle. For most modern cars, this is a complex, specialist job. Typical UK conversion costs:
- Standard saloon or hatchback: £1,500–£2,500
- SUV or 4×4: £2,000–£3,500
- Prestige or luxury car: £3,000–£5,000+
- Supercar: £5,000–£10,000+ (if available at all)
Some vehicles — particularly rare supercars or limited-edition models — do not have LHD variants and cannot be converted at all. In these cases, the car can still be imported and displayed as a private collection vehicle, but cannot be registered for road use in Dubai.
LHD conversion is typically done before the car is shipped so it arrives in Dubai ready for registration. Ascope Shipping can advise on trusted conversion specialists in the UK as part of the shipping process.
UAE Customs and Import Duties
The UAE charges a 5% customs duty on imported vehicles, calculated on the CIF value (cost of the car + insurance + freight). In addition, 5% VAT is applied on top. There is no further registration tax or road tax in Dubai — annual road licensing is minimal compared to the UK.
Example calculation for a car with a CIF value of AED 80,000 (approx. £17,000):
- Customs duty (5%): AED 4,000
- VAT (5% of AED 84,000): AED 4,200
- Total tax: AED 8,200 (approx. £1,750)
UAE residents returning from abroad may qualify for duty exemptions on personal effects, including vehicles, if they have been resident outside the UAE for at least 6 months and have owned the vehicle for at least 6 months prior to import. This is assessed by UAE Customs on a case-by-case basis.
UK Departure Ports for Dubai
Ascope Shipping handles international car shipping from multiple UK ports for the Dubai route:
- Southampton — the UK’s primary deep-sea RoRo and container hub, with the most frequent sailings to the UAE
- Tilbury (London) — major container port with regular Middle East services
- Hull — Ascope Shipping’s home port; ideal for collections from the North of England, Yorkshire, and the Midlands
- Bristol (Portbury) — serves the South West, Wales, and the West Midlands
- Grangemouth — serves Scotland and the North East
Your car will be collected from your UK address and delivered to the most suitable departure port for your chosen sailing. Most UK postcodes can be accommodated within 24–48 hours for collection.
Dubai Arrival: Jebel Ali Port
All vehicle imports into Dubai arrive at Jebel Ali Port, operated by DP World and one of the largest container and vehicle ports in the world. Jebel Ali is approximately 35km south-west of central Dubai and has direct road access to all UAE emirates.
Once your vehicle has cleared UAE customs at Jebel Ali, you or your appointed agent can collect it directly from the port. If you need onward transport within the UAE — to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or another emirate — local haulage can be arranged.
Documents You Need to Ship a Car to Dubai
Having the right paperwork prepared in advance avoids delays at Jebel Ali. You will need:
- V5C logbook — original UK vehicle registration document
- Proof of ownership — purchase invoice or receipt if recently bought
- Passport copy — of the registered owner and exporter
- UAE residence visa (if applicable) — required if claiming duty exemption as a returning UAE resident
- Shipping bill of lading — issued by Ascope Shipping on departure
- Insurance certificate — for the voyage (marine insurance)
- Commercial invoice — stating the vehicle’s value in USD or AED for customs purposes
- LHD conversion certificate — from the conversion workshop, required for UAE registration
Ascope Shipping will guide you through the full documentation checklist as part of your booking. Incomplete paperwork is one of the most common causes of delay at Jebel Ali, so it is worth getting this right from the start.
Registering Your Car in Dubai After Shipping
Once your car has cleared UAE customs, it needs to be registered with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) before it can be driven on Dubai roads. The registration process involves:
- Vehicle inspection — a roadworthiness test at an approved testing centre
- LHD compliance check — confirmation the conversion meets UAE standards
- Insurance — UAE comprehensive motor insurance (mandatory)
- Number plate issuance — Dubai plates assigned on registration
The RTA registration process typically takes 1–3 days once customs clearance is complete. Your local agent or a UAE-based shipping agent can handle this on your behalf if you are not yet in the country.
Is It Worth Shipping Your Car to Dubai?
This is the key question. Shipping a car to Dubai makes financial sense in some situations — and less sense in others.
It makes sense when:
- You are relocating to Dubai permanently and have a high-value or hard-to-replace vehicle
- You have a prestige or classic car that is worth significantly more than the combined shipping + conversion cost
- You are selling the vehicle to a UAE buyer at a strong export price
- The car is a diesel or hybrid that is harder to source cheaply in the UAE
It may not make sense when:
- Your car is a standard everyday vehicle worth less than £10,000 — the combined shipping, conversion, duties, and registration costs could exceed the car’s value
- Your vehicle cannot be converted to LHD at a reasonable cost
- The same model is readily available in the UAE at a competitive price
The calculation changes significantly for high-value or rare vehicles. A £80,000 Range Rover, a limited-edition sports car, or a classic Land Rover Defender commands a premium in the UAE market that often makes the full shipping and conversion cost worthwhile.
Step-by-Step: How to Ship a Car to Dubai from the UK
- Get a quote — Contact Ascope Shipping for a door to port quote to Jebel Ali, specifying your vehicle and collection postcode.
- Arrange LHD conversion — Book a specialist converter in the UK before the car is shipped. The car must arrive in Dubai as LHD to be registered.
- Prepare documents — V5C, passport, commercial invoice, and LHD conversion certificate.
- Book the sailing — Confirm method (RoRo or container), departure port, and sailing date. The UK–Dubai route has regular weekly sailings.
- Vehicle collection — Ascope Shipping collects from your UK address and delivers to the departure port.
- Sea voyage — 2–3 weeks to Jebel Ali via the Suez Canal.
- UAE customs clearance — Pay 5% duty + 5% VAT, or claim your returning resident exemption.
- RTA registration — Vehicle inspection, insurance, and number plate issuance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to Dubai?
RoRo shipping to Jebel Ali starts from around £450 for a small car. Medium cars (BMW, Mercedes) typically cost £550–£750 by RoRo or £950–£1,200 by groupage container. Large SUVs run to £700–£950 RoRo. These sea freight costs do not include LHD conversion (£1,500–£5,000+), UAE import duty (5%), VAT (5%), or RTA registration fees.
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to Dubai?
The sea voyage takes 2–3 weeks via the Suez Canal. Including UK port processing and UAE customs clearance, allow 3–4 weeks total from UK collection to your car being available at Jebel Ali.
Do I need to convert my UK car to left-hand drive for Dubai?
Yes. The UAE drives on the right, so a UK right-hand drive car must be converted to left-hand drive before it can be registered for road use in Dubai. This costs £1,500–£5,000+ depending on vehicle type and should be arranged in the UK before shipping.
What import duty do I pay on a car imported to Dubai?
The UAE charges 5% customs duty on the CIF value of imported vehicles, plus 5% VAT on top. UAE residents returning from abroad who have owned the vehicle for 6+ months may qualify for a duty exemption. Total tax is typically around 10% of the car’s value.
Which port does my car arrive at in Dubai?
All vehicle imports into Dubai arrive at Jebel Ali Port, operated by DP World and located 35km south-west of central Dubai. It is one of the world’s busiest container and vehicle ports, with efficient customs processing and direct UAE road access.
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Ready to ship your car to Dubai? Ascope Shipping handles the full process — UK collection, export documentation, sea freight to Jebel Ali, and guidance on LHD conversion specialists. Get your free quote today and our team will respond within 24 hours.
