Shipping from Dubai
to Djibouti.
We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to Djibouti every week, by sea and by air. We carry business and personal cargo. It is one of the shortest sea routes we run. Djibouti is also the way into Ethiopia, so the first thing we ask is whether your goods are staying in Djibouti or carrying on inland, because the two are handled quite differently.
Overview
Sea and air freight
to Djibouti.
Shipping from Dubai to Djibouti takes about 4 to 12 days by sea, and 1 to 4 days by air. Djibouti sits at the mouth of the Red Sea, so it is a short sail and it is well served. Containers come into the Doraleh terminal, and the older Port of Djibouti handles breakbulk, bulk and machinery. The one question that changes everything is where the goods are really going. If they are staying in Djibouti they clear here and you pay Djiboutian duty. If they are heading to Ethiopia they travel through under transit and pay nothing here, with the Ethiopian duty paid inland instead. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Djibouti route, door to door. Tell us the final address and we will set out the right route.
Ports and gateways
Sea ports and airports
we ship to from Dubai.
Every bill of lading carries two ports: where the cargo loads, and where it discharges. We load at Jebel Ali or another UAE port. Djibouti has two sea ports we use and one airport. They suit different cargo and different inland legs, so the loading port and the discharge port are worth choosing separately.
POLPort of loading
We collect anywhere in the UAE, free zones included, and load at whichever of these eight suits the cargo.
- Jebel AliAEJEA
- Port RashidAEPRA
- Khalifa PortAEKHL
- Zayed PortAEAUH
- Port KhalidAESHJ
- Khor FakkanAEKLF
- Port of FujairahAEFJR
- Ajman PortAEAJM
PODPort of discharge
The right one is whichever leaves the shortest inland leg to your delivery address. On a long lane that leg is a shipment in its own right, so it is planned rather than assumed.
- Port of DjiboutiDJJIBSea port · Gulf of TadjouraDjibouti City. Breakbulk, bulk, machinery and general cargo
How cargo reaches Port of Djibouti
Shipping from Dubai to the Port of Djibouti can use an accepted Gulf of Aden general cargo or specialist booking after current maritime security checks. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Doraleh is the alternative for containers, while the Port of Djibouti better suits approved breakbulk and machinery. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Port of Djibouti - Doraleh Container TerminalSea port · Gulf of TadjouraDjibouti and the road and rail route into Ethiopia. The main container gateway
How cargo reaches Doraleh Container Terminal
Shipping from Dubai to the Doraleh Container Terminal can use an accepted Gulf of Aden container booking after current maritime security checks. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. The Port of Djibouti is the alternative for breakbulk, while Doraleh provides the main container and Ethiopia corridor connection. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Doraleh Container Terminal - Djibouti-Ambouli InternationalJIBAirportThe whole country, and regional logistics and humanitarian traffic
How cargo reaches Djibouti-Ambouli International
Air freight from Dubai to Djibouti-Ambouli International can use accepted nonstop or connecting belly capacity, with any humanitarian or specialist cargo approval confirmed before dispatch. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Addis Ababa is the regional alternative for wider connections, while Djibouti-Ambouli avoids an Ethiopia corridor transfer. The quote combines air freight, security screening, handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Djibouti-Ambouli International - Djibouti International Free Trade ZoneFree zoneTransit and re-export cargo, with both Djiboutian and Ethiopian customs on site
How cargo reaches Djibouti International Free Trade Zone
Shipping from Dubai to the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone can use an accepted booking into Doraleh or another confirmed terminal, followed by an approved transfer into the free trade zone. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Doraleh to Ethiopia transit is the alternative when storage or re-export activity in the free zone adds no value. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Djibouti International Free Trade Zone - Galafi land portLand borderThe main Ethiopian road corridor west
How cargo reaches Galafi land port
Shipping from Dubai to Galafi land port can enter through Doraleh, then continue under approved customs transit through Galafi toward Ethiopia. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. The Djibouti to Addis railway through Dewele is the alternative when a rail slot is available. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, clearance, insurance and final delivery. Get a rate for Galafi land port - Loyada land portLand borderThe Somaliland border southeast of the capital
How cargo reaches Loyada land port
Shipping from Dubai to Loyada land port can enter through a Djibouti port, then continue by approved road movement through Loyada into Somaliland. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. Berbera sea entry is the alternative when direct Somaliland delivery avoids the Djibouti border. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, clearance, insurance and final delivery. Get a rate for Loyada land port
- Port of DjiboutiDJJIBSea port · Gulf of TadjouraDjibouti City. Breakbulk, bulk, machinery and general cargo
Before you ship
Import rules
for Djibouti.
Djibouti has one question that decides everything about your shipment, and it is not about the goods. It is where they are really going. If your cargo is staying in Djibouti, it clears here and Djiboutian duty and tax apply as normal. If it is heading to Ethiopia or another inland country, it moves through under a transit arrangement and no Djiboutian VAT is charged at that stage. The duty is paid instead when it reaches the destination. These are different documents, different guarantees and a different cost, and it is decided when you book rather than when the ship arrives. Tell us the final delivery address, not the port.
Documentation
Documents you need
for Djibouti.
These 7 cover most shipments to Djibouti. The exact list depends on the commodity and its HS code, so send us both and we confirm what applies before the cargo is booked.
- 01Invoice showing what you paid for the goods
- 02Packing list showing what is inside
- 03Certificate of origin showing where the goods were made
- 04Bill of lading or air waybill, which is the shipping ticket
- 05Dubai export paper, which we do for you
- 06Your buyer import registration, for a Djibouti import
- 07Transit papers and guarantee, for cargo going inland
Get the paperwork right in Dubai and clearance at destination is routine. Fixing a document after arrival is slow, and storage accrues the whole time it takes.
How it works
Dubai to Djibouti
shipping, step by step.
Send the cargo details: what it is, where it is going, rough weight and dimensions. We come back with the routes that suit it, sea against air, and a written rate with a validity date on it. You pick one, we book it, and one coordinator stays with the shipment until it is delivered in Djibouti.
- 01
Tell us the final address
Djibouti itself, or Ethiopia and beyond. This decides the paperwork and the cost, so it comes first.
- 02
Get a price
We send you a price in writing, with every charge shown. No surprises later.
- 03
We book and clear
We collect the goods, load them, and either clear them into Djibouti or open the transit for the inland leg.
- 04
We deliver
We track the shipment and keep you updated all the way, then bring the goods to your door.
Questions
Cargo to Djibouti
questions, answered.
The 13 we are asked most on the Dubai to Djibouti route. If yours is not here, send it with the commodity and we will answer it directly.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Djibouti take?
About 4 to 12 days by sea, and 1 to 4 days by air. It is one of the shortest sea routes we run because Djibouti sits at the mouth of the Red Sea. If the cargo carries on to Ethiopia, that inland leg is separate and we quote it separately.
How much does shipping from Dubai to Djibouti cost?
It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in Djibouti it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to Djibouti is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to Djibouti is priced on weight or size, whichever is greater. Send us the details and we send you a price in writing, usually the same day.
What is the difference between importing into Djibouti and passing through?
They are different processes with different costs. Goods staying in Djibouti clear here and pay Djiboutian duty. Goods going to Ethiopia travel through under transit and pay nothing here, with the duty paid inland instead. We decide which at booking.
My goods are for Ethiopia. What should I do?
Tell us at the start. It is a transit shipment, not a Djibouti import, and it needs different paperwork plus a guarantee. Your Ethiopian buyer also needs the permissions to close it at their end, and we check that before booking.
Which terminal will my container arrive at?
Almost certainly Doraleh, which handles most containers and is where the road and rail to Ethiopia start. The older Port of Djibouti handles breakbulk, bulk and machinery, so it suits oversized cargo.
Which cities do you deliver to?
Djibouti City, Ali Sabieh, Dikhil, Tadjoura and Obock. For cargo going on to Ethiopia we deliver to Addis Ababa and beyond, quoted as a separate stage.
Do you deliver door to door?
Yes. We handle freight forwarding to Djibouti door to door. We collect the goods in Dubai, move them, clear them through customs, and bring them to your address. You deal with one company for the whole journey.
Can I send a small shipment, or do I need a full container?
You can send as little as one box or one pallet. We put small shipments from different customers into one shared container. This is called LCL, or less than container load. Your goods load at Jebel Ali and come into Port of Djibouti. When you have more goods, you move up to your own full container, which is called FCL. We will tell you which one is cheaper.
Is air freight worth it to Djibouti?
For urgent, light or valuable cargo, yes. But the sea route is already short, so air is about urgency rather than saving weeks. If your goods are ultimately for Addis Ababa, flying to Addis directly is usually better than flying to Djibouti and trucking up.
Does Red Sea disruption affect this route?
Yes, more than ports further south, because Djibouti sits right at the entrance to the Red Sea. Schedules move with conditions, so we quote against the ship you are actually booked on rather than a published timetable.
Do you handle customs clearance in Djibouti?
Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in Djibouti. You do not need to find your own clearing agent.
Can you collect the goods from my supplier in Dubai?
Yes. We collect anywhere in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE. We can also hold your goods in warehousing and storage in Dubai until you are ready to ship. That helps when you are buying from several suppliers and want everything to travel to Port of Djibouti in one container.
Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to Djibouti?
Yes. We move project cargo to Djibouti as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship into Port of Djibouti. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.
Ready to ship from Dubai
to Djibouti?
Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what Djibouti checks before you ship, then the routing options, then a written rate with a validity date on it.
- Written rates
- One coordinator
- Customs handled in house
- UAE-wide collection
