For UAE brands, India is the shortest and cheapest lane: the India–UAE CEPA has removed duty on 97.4% of UAE tariff lines since May 2022, and Mundra to Jebel Ali is a few days’ sail. Chinese goods pay the GCC common tariff, usually 5%, and Vietnamese goods gained their own CEPA on 3 February 2026.
As of 28 September 2026. Checked against official sources.
The UAE applies the GCC common customs tariff: 5% on most goods, on a CIF-type value, with some goods exempt or charged more.
The India–UAE CEPA has applied since 1 May 2022: the UAE removed duty on 97.4% of its tariff lines, covering 99% of imports from India by value.
The UAE–Vietnam CEPA entered into force on 3 February 2026. China has no agreement with the UAE; GCC–China FTA talks are still open. Regulated products need an ECAS certificate from MoIAT.
As of 28 September 2026. Every rate depends on the product’s HS code, so treat this as the map and check your own codes before you order.
India–UAE CEPA in force since 1 May 2022. The UAE eliminated duties on 97.4% of its tariff lines, covering 99% of imports from India by value, including gems and jewellery, textiles and clothing, leather and footwear, and engineering goods.
No UAE–China or GCC–China free trade agreement is in force; Chinese goods pay the GCC common tariff, usually 5%.
GCC–China FTA negotiations continue; no conclusion had been announced as of September 2026.
UAE–Vietnam CEPA signed 28 October 2024 and in force since 3 February 2026. The UAE eliminates tariffs on 99% of Vietnamese-originating exports, with more than 95% of lines cut immediately.
Duty removed on 97.4% of UAE tariff lines; 99% of imports from India by value.
Tariffs removed on 99% of Vietnamese exports; most immediately.
Not concluded. Chinese goods pay the GCC common tariff.
Model it for your product: Find the HS code Compare landed cost
The UAE is open to trade, but regulated products need conformity certificates before sale.
Regulated products need an Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS) certificate before they are sold. The scheme covers electrical goods (including low-voltage products, lighting and RoHS requirements), mechanical goods such as tyres, PPE and child restraints, chemical products such as cosmetics, textiles, detergents and paints, and more. ECAS certificates are renewed each year.
An optional mark, valid for three years, for manufacturers with a proven quality management system and product testing.
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), established in July 2020, took over the standards and metrology functions of the former Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA). Older ESMA references now point to MoIAT.
Zero duty under the India or Vietnam CEPA needs a certificate of origin and goods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin.
FTA duty-saver auditIndicative port-to-port planning ranges, not a carrier schedule. Transhipment, blank sailings and routing change them; confirm with the carrier at booking.
Frequent direct services
Direct or via Colombo
Direct services
Routing in September 2026: carriers were returning Asia–Europe services to the Suez Canal gradually, service by service; sailings via the Cape of Good Hope take roughly 10 to 14 days longer.
Many UAE traders re-export across the Gulf and Africa. We check origin and certificates with re-export in mind.
Running both? Plan a China + 1 second source
Our teams in Bengaluru and Ningbo find, audit and inspect factories for UAE brands buying from India and China, and collect the evidence your market asks for.
Named manufacturers in India and China, checked by calls, matched to UAE requirements.
Factory price, freight, duty and taxes side by side, so you compare lanes, not quotes.
Find the likely HS code first; every duty rate on this page depends on it.
Rules of origin checked at the factory, up to 5 HS lines, so your zero-duty claim is defensible.
In-line, pre-shipment and loading inspections by our own team in India and China.
The UAE rules above turned into a supplier evidence list, collected at the factory.
Checked on 28 September 2026 and refreshed monthly. Official government, customs and EU sources first; commentary is named as such. This page explains the rules in plain English. For a view on your own products, ask our team or your customs broker.
Checked on 28 September 2026. We update this guide when duties or rules move.
[email protected]Under the India–UAE CEPA, in force since 1 May 2022, the UAE has eliminated duties on 97.4% of its tariff lines, covering 99% of imports from India by value. Goods need a certificate of origin and must meet the CEPA rules of origin; otherwise the GCC common tariff, usually 5%, applies.
Chinese goods pay the GCC common customs tariff, which is 5% on most goods, calculated on the CIF value, plus 5% VAT. There is no UAE–China or GCC–China free trade agreement in force.
Yes. It was signed on 28 October 2024 and entered into force on 3 February 2026. The UAE eliminates tariffs on 99% of Vietnamese-originating exports, with more than 95% of tariff lines cut immediately.
The Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme, run by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), which took over the former ESMA’s functions. Regulated products such as electrical goods, tyres, PPE, cosmetics and paints need an ECAS certificate before sale, renewed each year.
As a planning range, about 3 to 7 days from Mundra or Nhava Sheva to Jebel Ali on direct services, and 8 to 14 days from Chennai. From Ningbo or Shanghai, allow about 16 to 24 days.
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