Shipping from Dubai
to Malaysia.

We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to Malaysia every week, by sea and by air. Malaysia has four sea ports worth knowing about, and picking the right one is what saves you money on the inland leg. We ship business and personal cargo, do the paperwork at both ends, and deliver to your address anywhere in the country.

Overview

Sea and air freight
to Malaysia.

Shipping from Dubai to Malaysia takes about 11 to 17 days by sea, and 1 to 4 days by air. Port Klang is the main gateway and serves Kuala Lumpur, the Klang Valley and central Peninsular Malaysia. Tanjung Pelepas serves Johor Bahru and the south, and a published sailing from Jebel Ali reaches it in about 13 days. Penang Port serves the north, and Pasir Gudang takes industrial cargo in Johor. Air cargo flies into Kuala Lumpur International. Ipoh has an inland clearance depot, so cargo for Perak can clear there instead of at the coast. We deliver everywhere, including Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Klang, Malacca City, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Malaysia route, door to door. Tell us what you are sending and where it is going, and we will tell you which port is cheaper.

A wide pencil-style drawing of the Dubai to Malaysia shipping lane: on the left the Dubai skyline with the Burj Khalifa and the UAE flag, on the right the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian flag, joined by a dotted route across a pale world map with a container ship below and an aircraft above
DubaiJebel Ali · DXBSea 11 to 17 days to Port Klang · Air 1 to 4 days to Kuala LumpurMalaysiaPort Klang · KUL

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. Malaysia has four 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.

  1. 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
  2. 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 KlangMYPKGSea port, Strait of MalaccaKuala Lumpur, the Klang Valley, Selangor and central Peninsular Malaysia
      How cargo reaches Port Klang Shipping from Dubai to Port Klang is the default for anything going to Kuala Lumpur or the Klang Valley. Published rotations from Jebel Ali run about 11 to 17 days depending on the carrier and how many calls the service makes on the way. It is the busiest Malaysian gateway and has the widest choice of sailings, which matters when you need a specific week. Sea freight is priced per container on a full load and per cubic metre on a shared one. Get a rate for Port Klang
    • Port of Tanjung PelepasMYTPPSea port, Johor StraitJohor Bahru, Pasir Gudang and southern Peninsular Malaysia
      How cargo reaches Port of Tanjung Pelepas Shipping from Dubai to Tanjung Pelepas can use a confirmed suitable vessel booking. As a transshipment hub in the Johor Strait it sees more mainline calls than most Malaysian ports, so a direct call is likelier here. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Port Klang is the alternative when delivery is into the Klang Valley. The quote separates ocean freight, transshipment, carrier surcharges, terminal handling, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Port of Tanjung Pelepas
    • Penang PortMYPENSea port, Strait of MalaccaPenang, Kedah, Perak and northern Peninsular Malaysia
      How cargo reaches Penang Port Penang is the northern gateway and the sensible choice for George Town, Butterworth and the northern states. Routing from Dubai varies by carrier and may transfer at a regional hub rather than sailing direct, so the transit is less predictable than Port Klang. Tell us the delivery town and we will confirm what is running before you book. Get a rate for Penang Port
    • Pasir Gudang PortMYPGUSea port, JohorJohor industrial areas and southern Malaysia
      How cargo reaches Pasir Gudang Port Pasir Gudang handles industrial and conventional cargo in Johor. Routing from Dubai depends on the carrier and the cargo, and a regional relay is common. It suits shipments that are going to the Johor industrial estates and do not need a container terminal. Get a rate for Pasir Gudang Port
    • Kuala Lumpur International AirportKULAirportKuala Lumpur, Selangor and onward distribution nationally
      How cargo reaches Kuala Lumpur International Airport Air freight from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur International can use accepted belly or freighter capacity, with the routing confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, screening and local cargo handling approval. It is Malaysia's main air cargo gateway and serves the Klang Valley by road. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Changi is the alternative when uplift is short. The quote separates uplift, connection, screening, terminal, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Kuala Lumpur International Airport
    • Ipoh Inland Clearance DepotDry portIpoh and parts of Perak
      How cargo reaches Ipoh Inland Clearance Depot Shipping from Dubai to the Ipoh inland clearance depot discharges at Port Klang or Penang, then moves under customs transit by road or rail into Perak, where clearance happens inland rather than at the coast. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Penang Port is the alternative and is the closer of the two gateways. The quote separates ocean freight, port handling, transit bond, inland transfer, depot and clearance charges. Get a rate for Ipoh Inland Clearance Depot

Before you ship

Import rules
for Malaysia.

Malaysia does not have one number or permit that every shipment needs before it leaves Dubai, which makes it simpler than a lot of lanes. What it does have is a controlled goods list, and that is the part worth checking early. Vehicles, some iron and steel products, selected heavy machinery and various chemicals sit on it, and those need an Approved Permit or an approval from the agency that regulates them. Your buyer applies for that in Malaysia, usually through the online permit system. Most ordinary goods need nothing beyond normal customs paperwork. The reason to check at booking rather than later is that an Approved Permit is a condition of import, so cargo that needs one and does not have one cannot clear. Tell us the product and the HS code and we will confirm which side of the line it falls on.

A Navo Shipping coordinator with a clipboard: certify, label and clear, settled before a shipment loads

Documentation

Documents you need
for Malaysia.

These 8 cover most shipments to Malaysia. 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
  • 06Approved Permit, for goods on the controlled list
  • 07Permit or certificate from the regulating agency, where the product needs one
  • 08Inspection or conformity documents, where the product needs them

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.

A Navo Shipping coordinator pointing to the export paperwork: commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin

How it works

Dubai to Malaysia
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 Malaysia.

  1. 01

    Send the details

    Tell us what you are sending, how heavy it is, how big it is, and where in Malaysia it goes.

  2. 02

    Get a price

    We send you a price in writing, with every charge shown. No surprises later.

  3. 03

    We book and clear

    We check whether the goods need a permit, pick the right port, collect, load, and handle the papers at both ends.

  4. 04

    We deliver

    We track the shipment and keep you updated all the way, then bring the goods to your door.

Questions

Cargo to Malaysia
questions, answered.

The 17 we are asked most on the Dubai to Malaysia 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 Malaysia?

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 Malaysia take?

Sea freight to Malaysia takes about 11 to 17 days, and air freight to Malaysia takes 1 to 4 days. The sea range depends on the carrier and the arrival port. A published sailing reaches Tanjung Pelepas in about 13 days, which can beat Port Klang. We give you a date in writing when we quote.

How much does shipping from Dubai to Malaysia cost?

It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in Malaysia it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to Malaysia is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to Malaysia 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 cities in Malaysia do you deliver to?

All of them. Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Klang, Malacca City, Seremban, Kuantan, Alor Setar and Kota Bharu on the peninsula, and Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri and Sandakan in Sabah and Sarawak. Just give us the address and we bring it to the door.

Which ports in Malaysia do you ship to?

Port Klang for Kuala Lumpur and the centre. Tanjung Pelepas for Johor Bahru and the south. Penang Port for the north. Pasir Gudang for industrial cargo in Johor. For air cargo we fly into Kuala Lumpur International.

Which Malaysian port should my cargo go to?

Whichever is closest to the delivery address. Malaysia is long and narrow, so landing at the wrong end of the country can add several hundred kilometres of trucking, and that usually costs more than any difference in the sea rate. Tell us the delivery town and we will pick.

Can my goods clear inland instead of at the port?

For Perak, yes. Malaysian customs run an inland container terminal at Ipoh, so cargo can move up from the coast and clear there. That suits importers based inland. Tell us the delivery address and we will say whether it is worth it on your shipment.

Do you deliver door to door?

Yes. We handle freight forwarding to Malaysia 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 Klang. 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.

What is an Approved Permit?

It is a permit Malaysia requires for goods on its controlled list, and your buyer applies for it in Malaysia. Vehicles, some iron and steel products, selected heavy machinery and various chemicals are on that list. Most ordinary goods are not. Tell us the product and the HS code and we will check.

Can you ship a car from Dubai to Malaysia?

Yes. We do car shipping to Malaysia, but vehicles are controlled and need an Approved Permit. Used and reconditioned cars fall under an Open Approved Permit category covering vehicles between one and five years old. Whether your buyer can obtain and use a permit has to be checked before you buy. Send us the make, model, year and chassis number and we will look into it.

Do you handle customs clearance in Malaysia?

Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in Malaysia. 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 Klang in one container.

Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to Malaysia?

Yes. We move project cargo to Malaysia as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship. Pasir Gudang and Penang both handle conventional cargo. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.

Can you move my household goods to Malaysia?

Yes. We move full house moves and part loads to Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Penang. We pack, collect, move and deliver, and we handle the customs clearance so your things are not waiting on paperwork.

Do I pay duty on my household goods?

If you are genuinely moving to Malaysia, used household effects can qualify for relief. The goods generally need to have been owned and used for at least three months, and you should not dispose of them within three months of bringing them in. Tell us your situation and we will explain what to expect.

Can you deliver to Sabah and Sarawak?

Yes. Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri and Sandakan are all served. They sit across the sea from the peninsula, so cargo either flies in through Kuala Lumpur or takes a feeder leg after the main sailing. That extra leg is worth quoting separately, because it is often the bigger part of the cost.

Ready to ship from Dubai
to Malaysia?

Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what Malaysia 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
A Navo Shipping coordinator in a hard hat and hi-vis vest

Ready to ship your cargo?
Let us get it moving!

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