Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
Feb 19th 2007, 3:35 pm
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Cheltenham, UK
Posts: 304
Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
I have found a killer deal in the USA that absolutey trumps a price from my local VW dealership in Dubai for a set of alloy wheels for my new car.
The only thing that could scupper the deal is any import duty.
Does anyone knpow if there is any import duty for personal imports of such goods into Dubai?
The only thing that could scupper the deal is any import duty.
Does anyone knpow if there is any import duty for personal imports of such goods into Dubai?
Feb 19th 2007, 4:04 pm
#2
Pog mo thoin
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,103
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
Have a look at Fedex - you should find the info there.
http://www.fedex.com/us/internationa....html?gtmcc=us
Not sure if you need to have a trade licence to import stuff. I was importing stuff from the UK which came in via Jebel Ali FZ and Fedex required sight of the Trade Licence of the company.
http://www.fedex.com/us/internationa....html?gtmcc=us
Not sure if you need to have a trade licence to import stuff. I was importing stuff from the UK which came in via Jebel Ali FZ and Fedex required sight of the Trade Licence of the company.
Feb 20th 2007, 4:09 am
#3
Get Up Offa That Thing
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Dood-bhai
Posts: 48
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
i had a bit of a nightmare late last year.. i got my brother to post my laptop from the uk. it was bought when i was out there and i had been using it for a couple of months.
he sent it out to me via UPS but because the lappy is quite expensive, he put insurance on it to cover 2 grand. as it turns out, when it arrived here, customs wanted me to pay import duty on it :@ i was furious!
they just wouldnt accept the fact that the lappy was my personal belonging. after many days and countless phonecalls, it was clear my words were landing on death ears
if i were you, id call up customs/fedex and ask them before the package leaves..
he sent it out to me via UPS but because the lappy is quite expensive, he put insurance on it to cover 2 grand. as it turns out, when it arrived here, customs wanted me to pay import duty on it :@ i was furious!
they just wouldnt accept the fact that the lappy was my personal belonging. after many days and countless phonecalls, it was clear my words were landing on death ears
if i were you, id call up customs/fedex and ask them before the package leaves..
Feb 20th 2007, 6:19 am
#4
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Cheltenham, UK
Posts: 304
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
i had a bit of a nightmare late last year.. i got my brother to post my laptop from the uk. it was bought when i was out there and i had been using it for a couple of months.
he sent it out to me via UPS but because the lappy is quite expensive, he put insurance on it to cover 2 grand. as it turns out, when it arrived here, customs wanted me to pay import duty on it :@ i was furious!
they just wouldnt accept the fact that the lappy was my personal belonging. after many days and countless phonecalls, it was clear my words were landing on death ears
if i were you, id call up customs/fedex and ask them before the package leaves..
he sent it out to me via UPS but because the lappy is quite expensive, he put insurance on it to cover 2 grand. as it turns out, when it arrived here, customs wanted me to pay import duty on it :@ i was furious!
they just wouldnt accept the fact that the lappy was my personal belonging. after many days and countless phonecalls, it was clear my words were landing on death ears
if i were you, id call up customs/fedex and ask them before the package leaves..
Feb 20th 2007, 6:24 am
#5
Get Up Offa That Thing
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Dood-bhai
Posts: 48
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
i had a bit of a nightmare late last year.. i got my brother to post my laptop from the uk. it was bought when i was out there and i had been using it for a couple of months.
he sent it out to me via UPS but because the lappy is quite expensive, he put insurance on it to cover 2 grand. as it turns out, when it arrived here, customs wanted me to pay import duty on it :@ i was furious!
they just wouldnt accept the fact that the lappy was my personal belonging. after many days and countless phonecalls, it was clear my words were landing on death ears
if i were you, id call up customs/fedex and ask them before the package leaves..
he sent it out to me via UPS but because the lappy is quite expensive, he put insurance on it to cover 2 grand. as it turns out, when it arrived here, customs wanted me to pay import duty on it :@ i was furious!
they just wouldnt accept the fact that the lappy was my personal belonging. after many days and countless phonecalls, it was clear my words were landing on death ears
if i were you, id call up customs/fedex and ask them before the package leaves..
bah! 'deaf ears' and not 'death ears'
Feb 20th 2007, 11:54 am
#7
Soupy twist
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,271
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
Officially, there is no duty on personal belongings (i.e. things you purchased while living outside the UAE), but if you buy something outside the UAE by internet/mail order and have it shipped here, it can be liable to import duty - *if* they catch it when it comes through the Dubai post office.
I've bought a lot of DVDs and books by mail order, and most of them arrived unmolested, but I did get stung for import duty on some of them. On the whole, it seems that if the packaging screams "this was bought from an online shop" (such as Amazon logos plastered all over it), it's much more likely to be held at Customs - in which case you have to go down to the Karama post office, they open and inspect the package in front of you and then charge you duty. It's not a lot - only about 4% or 7% of the value stated on the invoice, something like that.
I've never been hit for duty on an item that arrived in plain packaging with no telltale company logos on it... but I also have to say that I've never ordered anything as large, heavy and conspicuous as a set of alloy wheels
I've bought a lot of DVDs and books by mail order, and most of them arrived unmolested, but I did get stung for import duty on some of them. On the whole, it seems that if the packaging screams "this was bought from an online shop" (such as Amazon logos plastered all over it), it's much more likely to be held at Customs - in which case you have to go down to the Karama post office, they open and inspect the package in front of you and then charge you duty. It's not a lot - only about 4% or 7% of the value stated on the invoice, something like that.
I've never been hit for duty on an item that arrived in plain packaging with no telltale company logos on it... but I also have to say that I've never ordered anything as large, heavy and conspicuous as a set of alloy wheels
Feb 20th 2007, 1:56 pm
#8
Concierge
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29,625
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
Officially, there is no duty on personal belongings (i.e. things you purchased while living outside the UAE), but if you buy something outside the UAE by internet/mail order and have it shipped here, it can be liable to import duty - *if* they catch it when it comes through the Dubai post office.
I've bought a lot of DVDs and books by mail order, and most of them arrived unmolested, but I did get stung for import duty on some of them. On the whole, it seems that if the packaging screams "this was bought from an online shop" (such as Amazon logos plastered all over it), it's much more likely to be held at Customs - in which case you have to go down to the Karama post office, they open and inspect the package in front of you and then charge you duty. It's not a lot - only about 4% or 7% of the value stated on the invoice, something like that.
I've never been hit for duty on an item that arrived in plain packaging with no telltale company logos on it... but I also have to say that I've never ordered anything as large, heavy and conspicuous as a set of alloy wheels
I've bought a lot of DVDs and books by mail order, and most of them arrived unmolested, but I did get stung for import duty on some of them. On the whole, it seems that if the packaging screams "this was bought from an online shop" (such as Amazon logos plastered all over it), it's much more likely to be held at Customs - in which case you have to go down to the Karama post office, they open and inspect the package in front of you and then charge you duty. It's not a lot - only about 4% or 7% of the value stated on the invoice, something like that.
I've never been hit for duty on an item that arrived in plain packaging with no telltale company logos on it... but I also have to say that I've never ordered anything as large, heavy and conspicuous as a set of alloy wheels
BC
Feb 20th 2007, 3:21 pm
#9
Pog mo thoin
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,103
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
I know someone who has a garage in Sharjah and specialises in customising cars. I am sure he could tell you where to get alloys at a more reasonable price. Let me know if you want his details and I will send them to you via PM tomorrow.
Feb 20th 2007, 6:24 pm
#10
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Cheltenham, UK
Posts: 304
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
But if you ever need a lift
LOL 
Feb 20th 2007, 6:33 pm
#11
Pog mo thoin
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,103
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
Do you want to send me a PM with any relevant details of the design and I can forward it to him and he can get in touch with you or I will let you know what he says. He may know of places other than VW
He has a good name in the business. He customises lots of cars, not just sports cars.
He has a good name in the business. He customises lots of cars, not just sports cars.
Feb 26th 2007, 12:37 pm
#12
Diarist
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Dubai
Posts: 184
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
I have found a killer deal in the USA that absolutey trumps a price from my local VW dealership in Dubai for a set of alloy wheels for my new car.
The only thing that could scupper the deal is any import duty.
Does anyone knpow if there is any import duty for personal imports of such goods into Dubai?
The only thing that could scupper the deal is any import duty.
Does anyone knpow if there is any import duty for personal imports of such goods into Dubai?
My recommendation with Amazon is to get an Aramex Shop & Ship locker - it's a one off charge of about $30 (may have gone up) and there is no further rental on that, you just get charged regular air freight charges if/when something arrives in your locker and they courier it over here. Also the locker has a UK or US (you get a locker in both countries for no extra charge) address, which means you can also order things that etailers won't otherwise ship overseas.
Incidentally I don't work for Aramex, but I plug them because (a) it has been such a life saver of a service for me, especially for computer games, and (b) because they do such woeful bloody job of promoting Shop & Ship themselves. Hardly anyone knows about it.
By contrast, my experience with the UAE postal service:
(1) Notification of parcels with "delayed pick up fees" because they have held them for over a month, because they never notified me they were there in the first place
(2) Strange "taxes" (=bribes) on items for personal use - eg a pair of trousers mailed from overseas, worth a couple of hundred dirhams, we had to pay about three separate charges on. I've ordered thousands of dirhams worth of goods, including electronic items, via Aramex, and never had to pay a fils.
(3) Parcels arriving massively delayed, compared to courier which is as quick as it can be
(4) Parcels clearly opened with and fiddled with. In the last 15 Aramex Amazon deliveries, only one has been noticeably opened/checked. Also with Aramex, sometimes they don't bother opened the Amazon box inside, just opening the Aramex envelope is enough for them, though they rarely do this either.
(5) Having to drive to some obscure, distant post office and queue during inconvenient hours to get your parcel. With a courier service, they deliver to your door/office. Plus you can track things step by step over the courier company's website. And there is usually some kind of 24 hour service (or at least longer hours than Empost, and far more clued up staff if/when you do ring).
Feb 26th 2007, 12:54 pm
#13
Excess Baggage
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 5,479
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
My recommendation is to air freight everything in (though obviously this won't work for massive items) - never, ever use the postal service. Quite apart from the fact it is excruciatingly unreliable and slow, they are far more likely to tamper with posted packages, or lose them, or delay them, or charge you "taxes" (=bribes) on them.
My recommendation with Amazon is to get an Aramex Shop & Ship locker - it's a one off charge of about $30 (may have gone up) and there is no further rental on that, you just get charged regular air freight charges if/when something arrives in your locker and they courier it over here. Also the locker has a UK or US (you get a locker in both countries for no extra charge) address, which means you can also order things that etailers won't otherwise ship overseas.
Incidentally I don't work for Aramex, but I plug them because (a) it has been such a life saver of a service for me, especially for computer games, and (b) because they do such woeful bloody job of promoting Shop & Ship themselves. Hardly anyone knows about it.
By contrast, my experience with the UAE postal service:
(1) Notification of parcels with "delayed pick up fees" because they have held them for over a month, because they never notified me they were there in the first place
(2) Strange "taxes" (=bribes) on items for personal use - eg a pair of trousers mailed from overseas, worth a couple of hundred dirhams, we had to pay about three separate charges on. I've ordered thousands of dirhams worth of goods, including electronic items, via Aramex, and never had to pay a fils.
(3) Parcels arriving massively delayed, compared to courier which is as quick as it can be
(4) Parcels clearly opened with and fiddled with. In the last 15 Aramex Amazon deliveries, only one has been noticeably opened/checked. Also with Aramex, sometimes they don't bother opened the Amazon box inside, just opening the Aramex envelope is enough for them, though they rarely do this either.
(5) Having to drive to some obscure, distant post office and queue during inconvenient hours to get your parcel. With a courier service, they deliver to your door/office. Plus you can track things step by step over the courier company's website. And there is usually some kind of 24 hour service (or at least longer hours than Empost, and far more clued up staff if/when you do ring).
My recommendation with Amazon is to get an Aramex Shop & Ship locker - it's a one off charge of about $30 (may have gone up) and there is no further rental on that, you just get charged regular air freight charges if/when something arrives in your locker and they courier it over here. Also the locker has a UK or US (you get a locker in both countries for no extra charge) address, which means you can also order things that etailers won't otherwise ship overseas.
Incidentally I don't work for Aramex, but I plug them because (a) it has been such a life saver of a service for me, especially for computer games, and (b) because they do such woeful bloody job of promoting Shop & Ship themselves. Hardly anyone knows about it.
By contrast, my experience with the UAE postal service:
(1) Notification of parcels with "delayed pick up fees" because they have held them for over a month, because they never notified me they were there in the first place
(2) Strange "taxes" (=bribes) on items for personal use - eg a pair of trousers mailed from overseas, worth a couple of hundred dirhams, we had to pay about three separate charges on. I've ordered thousands of dirhams worth of goods, including electronic items, via Aramex, and never had to pay a fils.
(3) Parcels arriving massively delayed, compared to courier which is as quick as it can be
(4) Parcels clearly opened with and fiddled with. In the last 15 Aramex Amazon deliveries, only one has been noticeably opened/checked. Also with Aramex, sometimes they don't bother opened the Amazon box inside, just opening the Aramex envelope is enough for them, though they rarely do this either.
(5) Having to drive to some obscure, distant post office and queue during inconvenient hours to get your parcel. With a courier service, they deliver to your door/office. Plus you can track things step by step over the courier company's website. And there is usually some kind of 24 hour service (or at least longer hours than Empost, and far more clued up staff if/when you do ring).
Feb 26th 2007, 1:52 pm
#14
Powered by cows
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: currently Dubai, ex UK
Posts: 4,582
Re: Is there any import duty (for personal imports) in Dubai?
hmmm... i take it this will also include insurance? Suddenly that Canon 400D camera that is 4,000dhs here and 2,829dhs on amazon.com looks appealing...
