Shipping from Germany to Dubai and the UAE: auction purchases, art and parts, door to door.
Collectors and companies in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah buy at German auctions and from German suppliers every week. We collect in northwest Germany, pack for the climate and the distance, prepare the export documents and ship insured by express in two to three working days. On arrival you pay 5 % customs duty and 5 % VAT, collected by the carrier.
Shipping to the UAE: what to expect.
2 to 3 working days door to door with DHL Express, UPS or FedEx, plus clearance.
5 % of the CIF value (goods plus freight and insurance) on most goods, including art and antiques. No exemption for chapter 97.
5 % on the CIF value plus duty, collected at import. VAT-registered companies account for it through their return; private buyers pay the carrier.
Dubai Customs exempts e-commerce consignments up to AED 1,000 CIF from duty since August 2026; VAT still applies. Other emirates and non-e-commerce shipments: no general threshold.
Private buyers: a copy of the Emirates ID or passport for the carrier. Companies: a customs business code linked to the trade licence, and the TRN for VAT recovery.
A European antique is not an antiquity under UAE federal law, but Dubai's 2026 antiquities law requires Dubai Culture approval for foreign artefacts imported without proof of lawful ownership. The auction invoice is that proof, and we attach it.
Facts checked October 2026. Rates and thresholds are set by Emirati authorities and can change; your quote states what applies on the day.
From the hammer or the supplier to your door in the UAE.
Auction purchases
Paintings, prints, sculptures, porcelain, glass, clocks, watches, coins, books and collectors' items from German auction houses. We collect with your authorisation, photograph the condition and pack each piece for its own risk.
Antiques and furniture
Chests, chairs, mirrors, small furniture and decorative objects up to about 1.3 m and a few hundred kilograms, in made-to-measure wooden crates from our workshop. Larger pieces we route to a specialist forwarder and tell you so in advance.
Spare parts and industrial goods
Machine parts, components, samples and small equipment from German suppliers, collected, consolidated, export-packed and shipped with commercial invoice, packing list and the origin statement where a trade agreement saves you duty.
Four steps from Germany to the UAE.
- You write to us
Auction house and lot number, or supplier and order, plus your delivery address in the UAE. We reply within one working day with a quote that covers collection, packing, export documents and transport.
- We collect
With your authorisation at the auction house, or at the supplier, across northwest Germany. Items are photographed on arrival in Hannover.
- We pack and declare
Made-to-measure packing or a wooden crate, export declaration with EU exit confirmation, commercial invoice with the right HS codes for Emirati customs. You pay our invoice after packing, by card or PayPal.
- Delivery to your door
DHL Express, UPS or FedEx with tracking, insured on request for the value you name. Import duty and tax are collected by the carrier on arrival; this page tells you what to expect.
Importing into the UAE: duties, VAT and rules.
General information for buyers and importers, not tax or legal advice. Duties and taxes are assessed by the customs authority of the UAE on the day of import and collected by the carrier; we prepare the documents so that assessment goes smoothly. Checked October 2026; sources at the end of this page.
Duty and VAT on arrival
The UAE applies the GCC common tariff of 5 % on the CIF value of most goods, and that includes paintings, sculptures, collectors' items and antiques; there is no chapter 97 exemption as in Europe or North America. On top comes 5 % VAT on the value including duty. Both are collected before delivery: private buyers pay the carrier, VAT-registered companies with a customs code linked to their TRN account for the VAT in their return. Imports into designated free zones are outside the VAT scope until the goods leave the zone.
Thresholds
Dubai Customs raised the duty exemption for e-commerce consignments from AED 300 to AED 1,000 CIF with effect from 3 August 2026, excluding tobacco, alcohol and nicotine products. The exemption covers duty, not VAT, and is tied to registered e-commerce operators, so for an auction purchase shipped by us you should expect duty and VAT on the full value. Cash, precious metals and stones over AED 60,000 must be declared.
Art, antiques and cultural goods
Permanent imports of artworks and antiques are dutiable at 5 % plus VAT. UAE federal law on antiquities covers objects made or found in the Emirates, so a European painting or clock is not an antiquity in that sense. Dubai's Law No. 11 of 2026 does, however, require prior approval from Dubai Culture for foreign artefacts imported without proof of lawful ownership and for auction or exhibition use. The auction invoice and our export declaration are that proof, and we attach them to the shipment. Books, prints and other printed or visual media are released only after inspection by the information authority. We ask about all of this before you bid, and we put a precise description and the correct HS code on the invoice.
Spare parts and industrial goods
Machine parts and equipment carry the standard 5 % duty plus 5 % VAT. Companies importing commercially need a customs business code (registered online in one to three days against the trade licence) and should link it to their tax registration number so the import VAT is recoverable. We issue the commercial invoice and packing list in the format UAE customs expects, with HS codes, origin and values per line.
German VAT refund and restricted items
Our export declaration with the EU exit confirmation lets the German auction house or supplier refund the German VAT to you. We do not ship alcohol, weapons, militaria or items containing ivory to the UAE.
Frequently asked questions.
What do I pay on arrival in Dubai for a painting bought in Germany?
5 % customs duty on the value plus freight and insurance, and 5 % VAT on that total including duty. The carrier collects both before delivery.
Is there a duty-free limit?
Dubai exempts registered e-commerce consignments up to AED 1,000 from duty since August 2026, VAT still applies. Auction purchases shipped by a logistics company do not fall under it, so plan for duty and VAT on the full value.
How long does express from Hannover to Dubai take?
2 to 3 working days door to door after dispatch, plus clearance. Clearance in Dubai is usually fast when the invoice is complete, which is our job.
Do I need a customs code as a private buyer?
No. Individuals cannot obtain one; the carrier clears the shipment with a copy of your Emirates ID or passport. Companies need a customs business code tied to their trade licence.
Can you ship antiques or old books to the UAE?
Yes, with preparation. Foreign antiques need proof of lawful ownership for Dubai Culture, which the auction invoice provides, and printed media is inspected on arrival. Tell us what you intend to bid on and we check first.
Can I get the German VAT back?
Yes, if the seller agrees to the export procedure. We supply the export declaration with the EU exit confirmation and the seller refunds the German VAT to you.
Question not listed?
Ask us directlySources and date checked
- Dubai Customs, Circular 16/2026 on the AED 1,000 e-commerce exemption
- Dubai Customs, FAQ on duties and restricted goods
- UAE Federal Tax Authority, VAT guide for importers
- UAE Ministry of Culture, Federal Law No. 11 of 2017 on Antiquities
- Dubai Media Office, Dubai Law No. 11 of 2026 on antiquities and archaeological sites
- UAE government portal, clearing customs and paying customs duty
- Gulf Today, Dubai Customs exempts e-commerce shipments up to AED 1,000
Shipping from Germany, question by question
Practical answers for companies buying in Hannover and northwest Germany: spare parts, suppliers who do not export, packing, customs, trade fairs, industrial auctions.
Other destinations
Country pages with the same facts for the other countries we ship to.
Something to ship from Germany?
Tell us what needs shipping, where it is now and where it is going. A photo or a catalogue link helps. You receive a personal quote by email from the person who will handle your shipment.
Thank you, we have your request.
We will reply by email within one working day.
Or message us directly on Telegram:
BFF Logistics is the international shipping service of BFF Business Services GmbH (HRB 209217, Amtsgericht Hannover). We run Mail Boxes Etc. centre 0051 in Hannover, which is why our email address ends in @mbe.de.
Your contact: Michael Leikine, Managing Director. We reply within one working day, in your language: write to us in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Arabic.
Günther-Wagner-Allee 13-17, 30177 Hannover, Germany.