LCL consolidation
Pay for the cubic metres you use. Best for part-loads roughly between 1 and 14 cbm.
UAE nationwide service
Sea Freight from the UAE
LCL part-loads and full 20ft, 40ft and 40ft high-cube containers out of every major UAE port, priced with the inland leg and terminal charges shown separately.
UAE-wide collectionSea, air & road freightCustoms documentation handledNamed coordinator per shipment
Sea freight from the UAE moves either as LCL — your cargo consolidated with others in a shared container, priced per cubic metre — or as FCL, a full container booked exclusively for you. Jebel Ali carries the widest sailing schedule, with Khalifa Port, Sharjah and Fujairah often better for Abu Dhabi, northern emirates and Indian Ocean routings.
Sea freight options
FCL 20ft
Around 28–30 cbm of usable space; usually the cheapest per cbm once you pass roughly 14 cbm.
FCL 40ft and 40ft HC
Around 58–68 cbm for volume cargo, furniture and light bulky goods.
Break bulk and out-of-gauge
Machinery, vehicles and cargo that will not fit a standard box, moved on flat racks or open tops.
Port-to-port or door-to-door
Take the container at the destination port, or let us handle clearance and final delivery.
Container stuffing supervision
Loading at your premises or our handling point, with photographs and a stuffing report.
How a sea shipment runs
- Volume confirmedDimensions and weights per package decide LCL versus FCL and the exact cubic metres you pay for.
- Sailing selectedWe book against a named vessel and cut-off, from the port that gives the best total cost.
- Collection and packingCargo collected, palletised or crated where required, and moved to the consolidation warehouse or your container.
- Export clearance and loadingDeclaration filed, container stuffed and sealed, bill of lading issued.
- Ocean transitDirect or transhipment routing, with any change of vessel notified.
- Arrival, clearance, deliveryImport clearance, container release or de-consolidation, then delivery to the final address.
What to know before you book
The LCL to FCL crossover matters more than the rate. Below roughly 14 cubic metres, LCL is usually cheaper. Above it, a 20ft container often costs less in total than the same volume as LCL — and it is handled less, which reduces damage risk. Ask for both prices whenever your cargo is anywhere near that line.
Volumetric rules catch people out. LCL is charged on the greater of one cubic metre or one tonne, so dense cargo such as tiles, machine parts or stone can be charged on weight rather than space. Irregular pieces are measured to their outer bounding box, which is why a badly packed pallet costs more than a well-packed one carrying the same goods.
Destination charges are part of the price. A cheap ocean rate can be more than offset by terminal handling, de-consolidation, documentation and detention at the far end. We quote them upfront so the comparison is honest, and we flag the free-time window on containers so you know how long you have to unload before detention starts.
What affects the price
- Cubic metres or container size — the base of every sea quote.
- Port of loading — Jebel Ali, Khalifa, Sharjah and Fujairah price and sail differently.
- Direct sailing or transhipment — direct is faster and usually dearer.
- Destination terminal charges and free time — often the difference between two similar quotes.
- Cargo density — heavy dense cargo can be charged on weight rather than volume.
- Packing standard — proper pallets and crates cut both measured volume and damage risk.
- Season — pre-holiday peaks and blank sailings tighten space and lift rates.
Who this service suits
- Importers and exporters with regular container volumes
- Businesses moving stock, furniture, fittings or machinery
- Free zone traders consolidating several suppliers into one container
- Families relocating a household by sea
- Anyone whose cargo is not urgent enough to justify air freight
Sea 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 LCL sea freight priced?
Per cubic metre, charged on the greater of volume or weight (one cubic metre or one tonne, whichever is larger). Volume is measured to the outer dimensions of each package, so overhang and irregular shapes are chargeable.
When does a full container become cheaper than LCL?
Usually somewhere around 13 to 15 cubic metres, depending on the lane and the season. We price both whenever your volume is close to that range.
How much fits in a 20ft and a 40ft container?
In practical loading terms, roughly 28 to 30 cubic metres in a 20ft, 58 to 60 in a 40ft, and 66 to 68 in a 40ft high cube. Usable volume is always less than the nominal internal capacity.
Which UAE port will my cargo sail from?
Whichever gives the best combination of rate, sailing date and inland trucking cost. Jebel Ali is the most common; Khalifa Port often wins for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain cargo, and Fujairah for routings that avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
Can you load the container at my warehouse?
Yes. For FCL we can place the container at your premises for loading, with a supervised stuffing report and photographs on request. Free loading time at your site is limited, so confirm your crew and equipment before the truck arrives.
Is marine insurance included?
No, it is quoted separately. Carrier liability under a bill of lading is limited by weight and is not the same as cargo insurance — for anything valuable, all-risks marine cover is worth the small premium.
What is detention and how do I avoid it?
Detention is the charge for keeping a carrier's container beyond its free time after arrival. Avoid it by having clearance documents ready before the vessel lands and unloading promptly after release.
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