Shipping from Dubai
to France.
We move cargo to France from Dubai every week, by sea and by air. We ship business and personal cargo. Send a few boxes, a pallet, a full container, or a whole house move. We collect anywhere in the UAE, do the customs paperwork at both ends, and deliver to your address in France.
Overview
Sea and air freight
to France.
Shipping from Dubai to France takes about 14 to 26 days by sea to Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille, and about 22 to 38 days to Le Havre. The difference is real: Fos is on the Mediterranean, so a ship coming through the Suez Canal arrives there without carrying on around Spain. Air into Paris takes 2 to 5 days. We deliver everywhere, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lille, Strasbourg, Le Havre and Rennes. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to France route, door to door. Tell us what you are sending, how heavy it is, and where it is going, and we will tell you which port and which way is cheaper.
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. France has eight sea ports we use and five airports. 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.
- Le HavreFRLEHSea port · English ChannelLe Havre, Rouen, Paris, Normandy and western France. The main container gateway
How cargo reaches Le Havre
Shipping from Dubai to Le Havre can use an accepted North Europe mainline or relay service into Le Havre. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Le Havre suits Paris, Normandy and western France; Fos is better placed for the south. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay or feeder leg, terminal handling, clearance and inland delivery. Get a rate for Le Havre - Fos-sur-Mer (Marseille)FRFOSSea port · Gulf of LionSouthern France and the Rhône corridor
How cargo reaches Fos-sur-Mer (Marseille)
Shipping from Dubai to Fos-sur-Mer can use an accepted Mediterranean container service into the Fos terminals. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Fos suits containers for southern France and the Rhone corridor; Marseille handles more short sea and city cargo. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay or feeder leg, terminal handling, clearance and inland delivery. Get a rate for Fos-sur-Mer (Marseille) - MarseilleFRMRSSea port · MediterraneanProvence, and Mediterranean short-sea traffic
How cargo reaches Marseille
Shipping from Dubai to Marseille can connect through Malta before a short sea or specialist cargo call at Marseille. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Marseille suits Provence and short sea cargo; Fos is the nearby deep sea container alternative. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay or feeder leg, terminal handling, clearance and inland delivery. Get a rate for Marseille - DunkirkFRDKKSea port · North SeaThe north, steel and bulk
How cargo reaches Dunkirk
Shipping from Dubai to Dunkirk can use an accepted North Europe booking into Dunkirk or relay through Rotterdam. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Dunkirk suits northern France and bulk cargo; Le Havre is the main container alternative for Paris. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay or feeder leg, terminal handling, clearance and inland delivery. Get a rate for Dunkirk - RouenFRUROSea port · River SeineNormandy and the Seine valley, by river from Le Havre
How cargo reaches Rouen
Shipping from Dubai to Rouen can land at Le Havre, then travel up the Seine by barge to Rouen. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Rouen suits Normandy and the Seine valley; Le Havre avoids the river leg for coastal collection. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay or feeder leg, terminal handling, clearance and inland delivery. Get a rate for Rouen - Nantes Saint-NazaireFRNTESea port · AtlanticThe Loire estuary and western France
How cargo reaches Nantes Saint-Nazaire
Shipping from Dubai to Nantes Saint-Nazaire needs an accepted direct or European hub relay booking into the Loire estuary port. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Nantes Saint-Nazaire suits western France and mixed cargo; Le Havre offers broader container connections. The quote combines vessel space, specialist handling, clearance and inland delivery. Get a rate for Nantes Saint-Nazaire - BordeauxFRBODSea port · GirondeAquitaine and the southwest
How cargo reaches Bordeaux
Shipping from Dubai to Bordeaux needs an accepted feeder or specialist vessel call into the Gironde port system. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Bordeaux suits Aquitaine and the southwest; Nantes Saint-Nazaire is closer to western France farther north. The quote combines vessel space, specialist handling, clearance and inland delivery. Get a rate for Bordeaux - La RochelleFRLRHSea port · AtlanticPoitou and the central Atlantic coast
How cargo reaches La Rochelle
Shipping from Dubai to La Rochelle needs an agreed feeder or specialist cargo call at La Rochelle. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. La Rochelle suits the central Atlantic coast; Bordeaux is closer to Aquitaine. The quote combines vessel space, specialist handling, clearance and inland delivery. Get a rate for La Rochelle - Paris Charles de GaulleCDGAirportParis and the whole country. The biggest air cargo airport in western Europe
How cargo reaches Paris Charles de Gaulle
Air freight from Dubai to Paris Charles de Gaulle can fly nonstop into the main Paris cargo airport before road distribution. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Charles de Gaulle suits nationwide air cargo; Orly is mainly useful when a specific belly cargo booking is available. Air freight is priced by chargeable weight, with handling, clearance and final trucking added. Get a rate for Paris Charles de Gaulle - Paris OrlyORYAirportParis, for belly cargo and regional traffic
How cargo reaches Paris Orly
Air freight from Dubai to Paris Orly needs a specific belly cargo booking into Orly, otherwise cargo should use Charles de Gaulle. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Orly can suit southern Paris; Charles de Gaulle is the established full cargo alternative. Air freight is priced by chargeable weight, with handling, clearance and final trucking added. Get a rate for Paris Orly - Lyon Saint-ExupéryLYSAirportThe Rhône-Alpes industrial belt
How cargo reaches Lyon Saint-Exupéry
Air freight from Dubai to Lyon Saint-Exupéry can fly nonstop into Lyon before road delivery across the Rhone-Alpes industrial belt. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Lyon suits southeast France; Paris Charles de Gaulle offers wider national connections. Air freight is priced by chargeable weight, with handling, clearance and final trucking added. Get a rate for Lyon Saint-Exupéry - Marseille ProvenceMRSAirportThe south
How cargo reaches Marseille Provence
Air freight from Dubai to Marseille Provence needs a confirmed connection into Marseille, or a Paris arrival followed by domestic road or air transfer. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Marseille serves Provence; Lyon is closer to the Rhone industrial corridor. Air freight is priced by chargeable weight, with handling, clearance and final trucking added. Get a rate for Marseille Provence - Toulouse BlagnacTLSAirportThe southwest and the aerospace cluster
How cargo reaches Toulouse Blagnac
Air freight from Dubai to Toulouse Blagnac needs a confirmed connection into Toulouse, often through a European hub. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Toulouse suits aerospace cargo in the southwest; Paris Charles de Gaulle offers broader general cargo capacity. Air freight is priced by chargeable weight, with handling, clearance and final trucking added. Get a rate for Toulouse Blagnac - Paris Terminal (Gennevilliers)Inland portGreater Paris, by barge up the Seine from Le Havre
How cargo reaches Paris Terminal (Gennevilliers)
Shipping from Dubai to Paris Terminal at Gennevilliers can land at Le Havre, then travel up the Seine by container barge to Gennevilliers. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Gennevilliers brings containers close to Paris; Rouen is better placed for Normandy. The quote combines ocean freight, inland transport, terminal handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Paris Terminal (Gennevilliers) - Lyon Edouard HerriotInland portThe Rhône corridor, by barge from Fos-sur-Mer
How cargo reaches Lyon Edouard Herriot
Shipping from Dubai to Lyon Edouard Herriot can land at Fos-sur-Mer, then move by river barge up the Rhone to Lyon. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Edouard Herriot serves Lyon and nearby industry; Fos is the coastal alternative for southern deliveries. The quote combines ocean freight, inland transport, terminal handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Lyon Edouard Herriot - Dourges Delta 3Dry portThe Nord region, and the rail interchange toward Benelux
How cargo reaches Dourges Delta 3
Shipping from Dubai to Dourges Delta 3 can land at Dunkirk, then travel by truck to the Dourges rail and road interchange. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Dourges suits Nord region distribution and onward rail moves; Gennevilliers is closer to Paris. The quote combines ocean freight, inland transport, terminal handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Dourges Delta 3
- Le HavreFRLEHSea port · English ChannelLe Havre, Rouen, Paris, Normandy and western France. The main container gateway
Before you ship
Import rules
for France.
France handles import VAT in a helpful way, but there is a condition. You do not pay VAT at the border. It goes straight onto the importer's French VAT return, where it is claimed back at the same time, so it costs nothing in cash. The catch is that this only works through a French VAT return, so every importer needs a French VAT number, including companies not based in France. That takes time to get, so it needs doing before your first shipment rather than after. Your buyer also needs an EORI number, and a safety filing goes in before the ship loads. We handle those two.
Documentation
Documents you need
for France.
These 9 cover most shipments to France. 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
- 06EORI number of the person importing in France
- 07Safety filing before loading, which we do for you
- 08CE mark and declaration, if your product needs one
- 09French VAT number of the importer
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 France
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 France.
- 01
Send the details
Tell us what you are sending, how heavy it is, how big it is, and where in France it goes.
- 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, do the safety filing before loading, and handle customs at both ends.
- 04
We deliver
We track the shipment and keep you updated all the way, then bring the goods to your door.
Questions
Cargo to France
questions, answered.
The 16 we are asked most on the Dubai to France route. If yours is not here, send it with the commodity and we will answer it directly.
Do you offer movers and packers for a house move from Dubai to France?
Yes. Our movers and packers do the packing, wrapping and listing in Dubai, then we ship your furniture and household goods in a full container, or share one if you have less to send. The item by item list matters, because customs clear personal effects against it. Fuel, gas cylinders, paint, aerosols and loose batteries cannot travel, and we give you the full list before packing day.
How long does shipping from Dubai to France take?
It depends which port. Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille is about 14 to 26 days, and Le Havre is about 22 to 38 days. Fos is on the Mediterranean so the ship gets there sooner. Air into Paris is 2 to 5 days. We give you a date in writing when we quote.
How much does shipping from Dubai to France cost?
It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in France it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to France is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to France 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.
Which French cities do you deliver to?
All of them. Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lille, Strasbourg, Le Havre, Rennes and Montpellier. Just give us the address and we bring it to the door.
Should my cargo go to Le Havre or Fos-sur-Mer?
Start with where it is going. Le Havre for Paris and the west, Fos for Marseille, Lyon and the south. Then check the routing, because on a Suez sailing Fos arrives about a week earlier. For somewhere in the middle of the country it is worth pricing both.
Which French ports do you ship to?
Le Havre on the Channel and Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille handle almost all containers. Dunkirk suits the north, and Nantes and Bordeaux serve the Atlantic coast. We pick the one that suits your city and the sailing.
Do I need a French VAT number?
Yes, and it catches people out. Import VAT goes onto your French VAT return rather than being paid at the border, so you need a French VAT number to use it. That applies even if your company is not based in France, and it takes time to get.
Do I pay import VAT at the border in France?
No. It goes onto the importer's French VAT return and is claimed back on the same return, so it costs nothing in cash. Customs duty is still payable in the normal way.
Do you deliver door to door?
Yes. We handle freight forwarding to France 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 Le Havre. 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.
Can I move the container inland by barge or train?
Yes, on both routes. Barges run up the Seine from Le Havre into Paris, and up the Rhone from Fos to Lyon. For those cities it is often cheaper than a truck and more reliable. Ask for it, because a standard quote assumes trucking.
What is an EORI number?
It is a free trading number used across the European Union. Whoever imports the goods needs one. It is quick to get online, but nothing clears without it, so we check it before we load.
Do you handle customs clearance in France?
Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in France. 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 Le Havre in one container.
Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to France?
Yes. We move project cargo to France as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship into Le Havre. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.
Can you move my household goods to France?
Yes. We move full house moves and part loads to France, including Paris and the Île-de-France, Marseille and Provence and Lyon and the Rhône-Alpes. We pack, collect, move and deliver, and we handle the customs clearance so your things are not waiting on paperwork.
Ready to ship from Dubai
to France?
Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what France 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
