Shipping from Dubai
to Sierra Leone.
We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to Sierra Leone by sea and by air. We carry business and personal cargo. Freetown has one of the largest natural harbours in the world, so the port itself is excellent. The thing to plan around is how often ships call, which is less often than at the bigger West African ports. We handle the paperwork and deliver to your address.
Overview
Sea and air freight
to Sierra Leone.
Shipping from Dubai to Sierra Leone takes about 20 to 36 days by sea to Freetown, and 3 to 8 days by air. Freetown sits on a deep natural harbour with no river bar or tide to work around, so once a ship calls there is nothing holding it up. The catch is that fewer ships call than at Abidjan or Tema, so the wait for a sailing is the biggest part of the transit. Flexible dates help more than negotiating the rate here. We deliver everywhere, including Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Koidu and Port Loko. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Sierra Leone route, door to door. Tell us what you are sending and where it is going and we will find the next suitable ship.
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. Sierra Leone has three 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.
- Queen Elizabeth II Quay, FreetownSea port · Sierra Leone River estuaryFreetown and the whole country. The container terminal on a deep natural harbour
How cargo reaches Queen Elizabeth II Quay, Freetown
Shipping from Dubai to Queen Elizabeth II Quay 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. Pepel 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 Queen Elizabeth II Quay, Freetown - PepelSea port · Sierra Leone RiverIron ore export, upriver from Freetown
How cargo reaches Pepel
Shipping from Dubai to Pepel needs a specialist vessel and terminal booking, because dependable inbound container service is not established for this gateway. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Queen Elizabeth II Quay is the practical alternative for routine containers, while Pepel may suit approved bulk, industrial or coastal cargo. The quote combines ocean freight, relay charges, terminal handling, customs formalities, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Pepel - NittiSea port · Sherbro RiverMineral and bulk traffic in the south
How cargo reaches Nitti
Shipping from Dubai to Nitti needs a specialist vessel and terminal booking, because dependable inbound container service is not established for this gateway. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Queen Elizabeth II Quay is the practical alternative for routine containers, while Nitti may suit approved bulk, industrial or coastal cargo. The quote combines ocean freight, relay charges, terminal handling, customs formalities, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Nitti - Lungi InternationalFNAAirportThe whole country, though it sits across the estuary from Freetown
How cargo reaches Lungi International
Air freight from Dubai to Lungi 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. Queen Elizabeth II Quay 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 Lungi International - Gbalamuya crossingLand borderThe Guinea border in the north
How cargo reaches Gbalamuya crossing
Shipping from Dubai to the Gbalamuya crossing can enter through Freetown, 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 Jendema 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 Gbalamuya crossing - Jendema crossingLand borderThe Liberia border in the southeast
How cargo reaches Jendema crossing
Shipping from Dubai to the Jendema crossing can enter through Freetown, 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 Gbalamuya 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 Jendema crossing
- Queen Elizabeth II Quay, FreetownSea port · Sierra Leone River estuaryFreetown and the whole country. The container terminal on a deep natural harbour
Before you ship
Import rules
for Sierra Leone.
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. One local detail worth knowing: the airport at Lungi is on the other side of the estuary from Freetown, so air cargo still has a water crossing or a long drive around before it reaches the city. We build that into the plan rather than treating touchdown as arrival. 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 Sierra Leone.
These 7 cover most shipments to Sierra Leone. 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
- 07Your 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 Sierra Leone
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 Sierra Leone.
- 01
Send the details
Tell us what you are sending, how heavy it is, how big it is, and where in Sierra Leone it goes.
- 02
Get a price
We send you a price in writing, with every charge shown. No surprises later.
- 03
We arrange the note and ship
We get the tracking note 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 Sierra Leone
questions, answered.
The 15 we are asked most on the Dubai to Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone?
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 Sierra Leone take?
About 20 to 36 days by sea to Freetown, and 3 to 8 days by air. The top of that range is about waiting for a ship rather than the sailing itself. We give you a date in writing when we quote.
How much does shipping from Dubai to Sierra Leone cost?
It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in Sierra Leone it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to Sierra Leone is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to Sierra Leone 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 do you deliver to?
Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Koidu and Port Loko. Inland roads take a few hours to most of a day depending on the town, and we quote that separately.
Is Freetown a good port?
The harbour genuinely is. It is one of the largest natural harbours in the world with deep water and no bar or tidal window to work around. The limit is how many ships call, not what the port can handle.
Why is the transit range so wide?
Because it depends on ship frequency rather than distance. Sierra Leone is a smaller market at the far end of a long route, so the wait for a suitable sailing is the widest part. Being flexible on dates helps more than anything else.
My cargo is flying into Lungi. Is that Freetown?
No, and it catches people out. Lungi is across the estuary from the city, so there is a water crossing or a long drive around before your goods reach Freetown. We arrange that and include it in the quote rather than leaving it to you.
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.
Do you deliver door to door?
Yes. We handle freight forwarding to Sierra Leone 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 Queen Elizabeth II Quay, Freetown. 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.
How can I get my cargo there faster?
Be flexible on dates, because the wait for a ship is the main variable. Get the tracking note in early. Keep your documents consistent. And for anything genuinely urgent, price the air option, because sea is four to five weeks door to door.
Do you handle customs clearance in Sierra Leone?
Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in Sierra Leone. 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 Queen Elizabeth II Quay, Freetown in one container.
Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to Sierra Leone?
Yes. We move project cargo to Sierra Leone as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship into Queen Elizabeth II Quay, Freetown. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.
Can you move my household goods to Sierra Leone?
Yes. We move full house moves and part loads to Sierra Leone, including Freetown, Bo and Kenema. 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 Sierra Leone?
Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what Sierra Leone 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
