Shipping from Dubai
to Gambia.
We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to the Gambia by sea and by air. We carry business and personal cargo. Banjul is the country's only port and it is small, so on some sailings the better answer is to land at Dakar in Senegal and bring the goods the short distance overland. We price both and tell you which works out better.
Overview
Sea and air freight
to Gambia.
Shipping from Dubai to Gambia takes about 18 to 34 days by sea to Banjul, and 3 to 8 days by air. Banjul is a small port with fewer ships calling, so the wait for a sailing is often the longest part. The alternative is landing at Dakar in Senegal, which is much better served, and trucking the short distance across. That needs a second tracking note and a border crossing, so it is not always cheaper, but on the right sailing it is quicker. We deliver everywhere, including Banjul, Serekunda, Brikama, Farafenni and Basse. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Gambia route, door to door. Tell us what you are sending and how firm your date is, and we will price both routes.
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. Sea cargo to the Gambia discharges at Banjul, the only sea port in the country, so there is no discharge port to choose. What is worth choosing is the mode, and where the cargo clears.
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.
- BanjulSea port · Gambia river estuaryBanjul, Serekunda, Brikama and the whole country. The only commercial port
How cargo reaches Banjul
Shipping from Dubai to Banjul can use a confirmed suitable vessel booking, normally with a West African relay after live Upper Gulf and vessel checks. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Dakar in Senegal is the practical alternative when terminal capability, congestion or the final inland destination changes the route. The quote combines ocean freight, relay charges, terminal handling, customs formalities, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Banjul - Banjul InternationalBJLAirportBanjul and the whole country. The air cargo gateway
How cargo reaches Banjul International
Air freight from Dubai to Banjul International can use accepted connecting capacity, with direct uplift confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, security and local cargo handling approval. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Banjul port is the sea alternative when the booked flight or destination handling cannot accept the shipment. The quote combines air freight, security screening, handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Banjul International - Dakar, SenegalTranshipment portThe alternative discharge point, a modest road distance away
How cargo reaches Dakar, Senegal
Shipping from Dubai to Dakar can use a confirmed West African container booking, followed by approved road transit through Senegal into The Gambia. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Banjul is the direct national alternative when its vessel call and terminal plan are suitable. The quote combines ocean freight, relay charges, terminal handling, customs formalities, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Dakar, Senegal - Farafenni crossingLand borderThe Senegal border upriver, on the north–south route
How cargo reaches Farafenni crossing
Shipping from Dubai to the Farafenni crossing can enter through Banjul, then continue under a confirmed customs transit and road security plan to the border. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. The Karang crossing is the alternative when border status, congestion, security or the final destination changes the corridor. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, security, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Farafenni crossing - Karang crossingLand borderThe Senegal border on the road from Dakar
How cargo reaches Karang crossing
Shipping from Dubai to the Karang crossing can enter through Dakar, then continue under a confirmed customs transit and road security plan to the border. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. The Amdalai crossing is the alternative when border status, congestion, security or the final destination changes the corridor. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, security, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Karang crossing - Amdalai crossingLand borderThe northern route toward Senegal
How cargo reaches Amdalai crossing
Shipping from Dubai to the Amdalai crossing can enter through Dakar, then continue under a confirmed customs transit and road security plan to the border. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. The Farafenni crossing is the alternative when border status, congestion, security or the final destination changes the corridor. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, security, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Amdalai crossing
- BanjulSea port · Gambia river estuaryBanjul, Serekunda, Brikama and the whole country. The only commercial port
Before you ship
Import rules
for the Gambia.
One document decides whether your shipment goes smoothly, and we arrange it for you. It is a cargo tracking note. It has to be obtained here in Dubai and approved before the ship leaves, not when the goods arrive. Its whole purpose is to tell customs what is coming before it gets there, so it cannot be done afterwards. Cargo turning up without one is held while storage runs. The other question here is the route. Banjul is small and fewer ships call, while Dakar in Senegal is much better served and only a short drive away. On some sailings landing at Dakar and coming overland is quicker. It is not automatically cheaper, because it needs a Senegalese tracking note as well as a Gambian one plus a border crossing, so it is a real comparison rather than an obvious choice. We price both against what is actually sailing. We start it as soon as we have your draft shipping papers, which is the simplest way to avoid the problem completely.
Documentation
Documents you need
for the Gambia.
These 9 cover most shipments to the Gambia. 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
- 06Cargo tracking note, arranged before the ship leaves
- 07The Senegalese tracking note, if the cargo routes through Dakar
- 08Transit papers for the overland leg, on a Dakar routing
- 09Your buyer import registration and licence
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 Gambia
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 the Gambia.
- 01
Tell us the details and your date
What you are sending, where in the Gambia it is going, and how firm your delivery date needs to be.
- 02
We price both routes
Banjul direct, and Dakar with the overland leg. We show you both rather than picking for you.
- 03
We arrange the notes and ship
We get the tracking notes approved before the ship leaves, then collect, load and clear.
- 04
We deliver
We track the shipment and keep you updated all the way, then bring the goods to your door.
Questions
Cargo to Gambia
questions, answered.
The 15 we are asked most on the Dubai to Gambia 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 Gambia?
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 Gambia take?
About 18 to 34 days by sea to Banjul, and 3 to 8 days by air. Going through Dakar and overland can be quicker on some sailings because Dakar has far more ships calling. We price both and tell you which works out better.
How much does shipping from Dubai to Gambia cost?
It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in the Gambia it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to the Gambia is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to the Gambia 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.
Should my cargo go to Banjul or through Dakar?
It depends on the sailing rather than a fixed rule. Banjul is small with fewer ships. Dakar is much better served and a short drive away, but it needs a second tracking note and a border crossing. We price both against what is actually available.
Which cities do you deliver to?
Banjul, Serekunda, Brikama, Farafenni, Basse and elsewhere. The Gambia follows its river inland, so eastern towns are a longer drive than the size of the country suggests, sometimes with a river crossing.
What is a cargo tracking note?
It is a document that tells customs what is coming before the ship arrives. It has to be arranged here in Dubai and approved before the vessel leaves. It cannot be done after the goods land, so we start it as soon as we have your draft shipping papers.
Is the overland leg from Dakar complicated?
The driving is short, but the paperwork is different. It needs a transit arrangement and a Senegalese tracking note as well as the Gambian one. We handle all of it as one shipment from your side.
Do you deliver door to door?
Yes. We handle freight to the Gambia 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 Banjul. 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.
Why does Banjul have so few ships?
It is a small port serving a small market, and services follow volume. That is exactly why the Dakar option exists and is worth pricing. On this route, flexibility on dates is worth more than most rate negotiations.
Can you deliver upriver, to Farafenni or Basse?
Yes. The country follows its river, so eastern deliveries are a longer drive than the map suggests and may involve a river crossing. We quote the inland leg on the actual route rather than the straight line distance.
Do you handle customs clearance in the Gambia?
Yes, at both ends. We do the export papers in Dubai and clear the goods in the Gambia. 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 Banjul in one container.
Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to the Gambia?
Yes. We move project cargo to the Gambia as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship into Banjul. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.
Can you move my household goods to the Gambia?
Yes. We move full house moves and part loads to the Gambia, including Banjul, Serekunda and Brikama. 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 Gambia?
Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what the Gambia 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
