Shipping times and costs from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to London, United Kingdom

Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
9 - 11 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £7,566 - £8,362
Shipping costs by sea £3,972 - £4,390

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £6,111 - £6,754

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £9,167 - £10,130

Please note: the prices listed here are meant as an estimate only. The best way to get a comprehensive, tailored quote is to fill out our form and be matched with a supplier.

Shipping Container Costs to United Kingdom

London is a true “world city”. The UK capital has one of the most multicultural populations on Earth, with 8.8 million people speaking over 300 languages between them. Situated in southeastern England beside the River Thames, London offers a brilliant mixture of old and new. Beautiful historic buildings stand beside 21st-century skyscrapers, from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben to the glassy Shard. The city itself is extremely diverse, comprising dozens of unique districts. What’s more, there’s certainly no shortage of woodlands and parks to escape to; 47% of London is green space. To top it off, the world famous Underground tube network makes getting around the city quick and easy, so there’s no need to bring a car. Before you can begin your new life in London, there’s some practical information you should know about.

Different shipping options

If you’re thinking of moving to London then you’ve probably got a few belongings that you’d like to take with you. There are two options when it comes to moving things abroad: air freight or sea freight.

Air freight will get your stuff to London quickly; a cargo plane can go to London from anywhere in the world in just one or two days. This means it’s great for last-minute moves, but it’s also very expensive.

On the other hand, sea freight is much more affordable. Your belongings will go inside a shipping container and be transported across the ocean. Container ships are naturally slower than cargo planes, but you’ll save a lot more money in the process.

Depending on the amount of stuff you’re bringing, you’ll either be using a 20ft container or a 40ft container. If the volume of your cargo is less than about 15 cubic metres, it will share a container with other people’s cargo (known as Less Than Container Load, or LCL). Most of our shipping suppliers offer a door-to-door delivery service, which is more expensive than port-to-port but it’s way more convenient.

Major shipping routes

Your container will probably sail into one of two ports in London, either the Port of Tilbury or the newer London Gateway. Both are situated along the Thames and are capable of dealing with big container ships. After that, your container will pass through customs and be delivered by truck or train to your new home in London.

UK customs

Dealing with customs sounds like a lot of effort and paperwork, but your shipping company will help you through the process. You must create an inventory that lists everything you’re bringing into the country, being as specific and detailed as possible. Keep an eye on the items that are either restricted or prohibited at the UK border (see below for a better idea). If you’re coming from within the EU, you won’t usually have to pay any tax or customs duty on your personal belongings. However, if you’re coming from outside the EU then you’ll have to pay up unless you meet certain requirements. Your household goods must be used, you must have owned them for at least six months and you must intend to use them in your new residence in the UK. If all this is ok, you can import your household goods duty-free. For more information, check out the UK customs official website.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
33 Cubic Meters
5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £6,111 - £6,754

Get a quote for a 20ft container
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  • Boxes
    16 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedrooms
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

40Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
67 Cubic Meters
12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £11,611 - £12,832

Get a quote for a 40ft container
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  • Boxes
    28 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedroom
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x car, 1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

Car shipped by sea freight

Max Dimensions: 5.75m x 2.2m x 2.2m (l x w x h)

Base Price: £1,892 - £2,090

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £8,211 - £12,004

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Unusual Restricted Items

Illegal Drugs
All illegal drugs are banned.
Offensive Weapons
All offensive weapons e.g. flick knives are banned.
Self-defence Sprays
Self-defence sprays e.g. pepper spray and CS gas are banned.
Products from Protected Species
Endangered animal and plant species are prohibited.
Rough Diamonds
Rough diamonds are banned.
Indecent and Obscene Material
All indecent and obscene materials are banned.