Consolidated air freight
Lowest air rate, moving on the next available consolidation. Best when you need days, not hours.
UAE nationwide service
Air Freight from the UAE
When the cargo cannot wait: consolidated, direct and express air freight out of the UAE's four cargo airports, with the chargeable weight worked out before you commit.
UAE-wide collectionSea, air & road freightCustoms documentation handledNamed coordinator per shipment
Air freight from the UAE is priced on chargeable weight — the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000). Departures run from Dubai International (DXB), Al Maktoum (DWC), Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Sharjah (SHJ), giving frequent capacity to most of the world within one or two days of flying time.
Air freight service levels
Direct airport-to-airport
Booked on a named flight with a confirmed uplift date.
Express and priority
Guaranteed uplift for deadline cargo, spares and production stoppages.
Charter and outsize
Project and oversized pieces out of DWC where dimensions rule out a standard freighter pallet.
Perishables and pharma
Temperature-sensitive handling with cool-chain routing where the lane supports it.
Door-to-door air
Collection, uplift, clearance and delivery under one price and one contact.
From booking to delivery by air
- Chargeable weight calculatedWe measure and weigh, then quote on whichever is greater — actual or volumetric weight.
- Flight bookedAirline, routing and uplift date confirmed against your deadline, not just the cheapest rate.
- Collection and screeningCargo collected, security screened and built onto pallets or into ULDs.
- Air waybill and clearanceAWB issued, export declaration filed, and dangerous goods or battery declarations added where they apply.
- Uplift and trackingFlight departure confirmed with AWB tracking through to arrival.
- Import clearance and deliveryCleared at destination and delivered, usually within a day or two of landing.
What to know before you book
Volumetric weight decides most air quotes. Light bulky cargo — packaging, textiles, plastic goods, furniture parts — is almost always charged on volume rather than scale weight. A shipment of 40 kg actual weight occupying 0.6 cbm charges as 100 kg. Reducing box sizes and eliminating void space cuts the bill directly.
Batteries and dangerous goods change the plan, not just the price. Lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, adhesives, chemicals and cosmetics with alcohol content all need proper classification, packing to IATA standards and declared documentation. Undeclared dangerous goods are the fastest way to have a shipment offloaded and fined — tell us early and it is routine.
Airport choice is a real lever. DXB has the deepest network and the most frequency. DWC handles outsized and charter freight more comfortably. Abu Dhabi and Sharjah sometimes beat both on specific lanes, and for cargo originating in Abu Dhabi or the northern emirates the shorter road leg can offset a slightly higher air rate.
What affects the price
- Chargeable weight — the greater of actual and volumetric weight (÷6000 divisor).
- Service level — consolidation, direct or guaranteed express.
- Dimensions per piece — anything over standard pallet height or door size is priced differently.
- Commodity — dangerous goods, batteries, perishables and pharma each carry surcharges and handling requirements.
- Fuel and security surcharges — quoted separately and revised regularly by airlines.
- Airport pair and frequency — thin routes with few weekly flights cost more and offer less flexibility.
Who this service suits
- Businesses with production-critical spares and machine parts
- High-value, low-volume cargo where sea freight risk or tied-up capital costs more than air
- Perishables, samples and pre-launch stock with fixed dates
- Trade show and exhibition freight with immovable deadlines
- Anyone who has already missed a sailing cut-off
Air freight UAE by location
Collection and delivery across every emirate — each location page covers the ports, airports and industrial areas that apply there.
Frequently asked questions
How is air freight chargeable weight calculated?
Multiply length × width × height in centimetres and divide by 6000 to get volumetric weight in kilograms. You are charged on that figure or on the actual gross weight, whichever is higher.
How long does air freight take from the UAE?
Flying time is usually hours, but door-to-door is realistically two to five working days once collection, screening, uplift, customs clearance and delivery are included. Express services compress that; consolidations may add a day or two waiting for a build.
Can you ship lithium batteries or aerosols by air?
Often yes, with correct classification, IATA-compliant packing, labelling and a dangerous goods declaration. Some items are restricted to cargo aircraft only, and a few cannot fly at all. Tell us the exact item and we will confirm before booking.
Which UAE airport is best for air cargo?
DXB for network breadth and frequency, DWC for outsized and charter freight, and Abu Dhabi or Sharjah where the rate or the shorter road leg wins. We check all four rather than defaulting to one.
Is air freight ever cheaper than sea?
For very small shipments it can be close. Once LCL minimum charges, port fees and destination handling are added, a consignment under about half a cubic metre sometimes lands cheaper and far faster by air.
Do you handle door-to-door air freight?
Yes — collection anywhere in the UAE, uplift, destination clearance and final delivery under one quote and one coordinator.
Need air freight uae?
Send the cargo details and we will come back with an itemised quote covering collection, freight, documentation and delivery.
Request a free quote