Shipping from Dubai
to Somalia.
We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to Somalia every week, by sea and by air. Dubai has been the main supply market for the Somali coast for a long time, and the sailing is short. We ship business and personal cargo, we check every booking carefully, and we tell you clearly at the start what we can carry.
Overview
Sea and air freight
to Somalia.
Shipping from Dubai to Somalia takes about 5 to 14 days by sea to Berbera and Bosaso, which are just inside the Gulf of Aden, and 7 to 18 days to Mogadishu and Kismayo further round the coast. Air into Mogadishu or Hargeisa is 1 to 4 days. One thing matters more than anything else here: Somalia does not have a single customs service. Berbera, Bosaso, Mogadishu and Kismayo are each run by a different authority, with different rules and different costs. So we need your delivery city before we can price anything properly. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Somalia route, door to door. Tell us what you are sending and where it is going and we will come back quickly.
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. Somalia has four sea ports we use and three 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.
- BerberaSOBBOSea port · Gulf of AdenSomaliland, Hargeisa, and the corridor inland toward Ethiopia
How cargo reaches Berbera
Shipping from Dubai to Berbera can use an accepted Gulf of Aden container booking after live Upper Gulf and piracy risk checks. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Bosaso is the Puntland alternative, while Berbera provides the road corridor toward Hargeisa and Ethiopia. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Berbera - BosasoSea port · Gulf of AdenPuntland and the northeast
How cargo reaches Bosaso
Shipping from Dubai to Bosaso can use a confirmed feeder or specialist booking after live vessel, piracy risk and port acceptance checks. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Berbera is the northwest alternative, while Mogadishu is better placed for central and southern Somalia. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Bosaso - MogadishuSea port · Indian OceanThe capital, the south and the centre
How cargo reaches Mogadishu
Shipping from Dubai to Mogadishu can use a confirmed container or general cargo booking after live vessel, piracy risk and port security checks. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Kismayo is the southern alternative, while Mogadishu is closer to the capital and central markets. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Mogadishu - KismayoSea port · Indian OceanJubaland and the Lower Juba region
How cargo reaches Kismayo
Shipping from Dubai to Kismayo can use a confirmed feeder or specialist booking after live vessel, piracy risk and local security checks. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Mogadishu is the alternative for broader cargo handling, while Kismayo is closer to Lower Juba. The quote combines ocean freight, any relay, port handling, customs transit, security checks and inland delivery. Get a rate for Kismayo - Aden Adde International, MogadishuMGQAirportThe capital and onward domestic traffic
How cargo reaches Aden Adde International, Mogadishu
Air freight from Dubai to Aden Adde International can use an approved regional connection, with cargo, customs and security acceptance confirmed before dispatch. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Hargeisa is the northwest alternative, while Aden Adde is closer to the capital and southern connections. The quote combines air freight, security screening, handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Aden Adde International, Mogadishu - HargeisaAirportSomaliland and the northwest
How cargo reaches Hargeisa
Air freight from Dubai to Hargeisa can use an approved regional connection, with Somaliland cargo, customs and security acceptance confirmed before dispatch. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Aden Adde is the southern alternative, while Hargeisa is closer to Somaliland and the Berbera corridor. The quote combines air freight, security screening, handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Hargeisa - BosasoAirportPuntland and the northeast
How cargo reaches Bosaso
Air freight from Dubai to Bosaso can use an approved regional connection, with Puntland cargo, customs and security acceptance confirmed before dispatch. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Hargeisa is the northwest alternative, while Bosaso is closer to Puntland and the northeast. The quote combines air freight, security screening, handling, clearance and final delivery. Get a rate for Bosaso - Wajaale land portLand borderThe Ethiopia border on the Berbera corridor
How cargo reaches Wajaale land port
Shipping from Dubai to Wajaale land port can enter through Berbera, then continue on the approved corridor through Wajaale into Ethiopia. Border and convoy times vary, so we confirm the days when we quote. Doraleh through Galafi is the alternative when the Djibouti corridor offers better customs or inland access. The quote combines the international leg, trucking, transit guarantees, border handling, clearance, insurance and final delivery. Get a rate for Wajaale land port
- BerberaSOBBOSea port · Gulf of AdenSomaliland, Hargeisa, and the corridor inland toward Ethiopia
Before you ship
Import rules
for Somalia.
Somalia is different from our other routes in one important way. There is no single customs service. Berbera is run by Somaliland, Bosaso by Puntland, Kismayo by Jubaland, and Mogadishu by the federal government. Each has its own rules, its own paperwork and its own charges, so the same container costs different amounts depending on where it lands. That is why we ask for your delivery city first, not your preferred port. Your buyer also needs a trading licence from the right authority. We check the goods and the parties on every booking, and if we cannot carry something we say so at the start.
Documentation
Documents you need
for Somalia.
These 7 cover most shipments to Somalia. 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 trading licence from the relevant authority
- 07Import declaration at the port where the goods clear
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 Somalia
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 Somalia.
- 01
Tell us the delivery city
Not just the port. Where the goods are going decides which authority clears them, which changes the rules and the cost.
- 02
We check and price
We check the goods and the buyer, work out the right port, and send you a written price.
- 03
We book and clear
We collect the goods in Dubai, load them, and handle the paperwork at the port that suits you.
- 04
We deliver
We track the shipment and keep you updated all the way, then bring the goods to your door.
Questions
Cargo to Somalia
questions, answered.
The 14 we are asked most on the Dubai to Somalia route. If yours is not here, send it with the commodity and we will answer it directly.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Somalia take?
About 5 to 14 days by sea to Berbera or Bosaso, and 7 to 18 days to Mogadishu, with Kismayo a bit longer. By air into Mogadishu it is 1 to 4 days. The range is wide because it depends on how often a ship calls, not on the distance.
How much does shipping from Dubai to Somalia cost?
It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in Somalia it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to Somalia is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to Somalia 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.
Does Somalia have one customs service?
No, and this is the most important thing to know. Berbera is run by Somaliland, Bosaso by Puntland, Kismayo by Jubaland and Mogadishu by the federal government. Each has its own rules and charges, so the same container costs different amounts depending on where it lands.
Which Somali port should my cargo go to?
Work back from your delivery address. Berbera for Hargeisa and the northwest, and it has the most ships. Bosaso for Puntland and the northeast. Mogadishu for the capital and the south. Kismayo for Lower Juba.
Which cities do you deliver to?
Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Bosaso, Berbera, Kismayo, Garowe, Galkayo, Baidoa and others. Tell us the city and we will pick the right port and quote the road leg.
Do you deliver door to door?
Yes. We handle freight forwarding to Somalia 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 Berbera. 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 is the transit range so wide for such a short distance?
Because it depends on how often a ship calls at the port you need, not how far it is. The Gulf of Aden is only a few days from Dubai. Berbera has the most sailings, Kismayo the fewest. A week of flexibility on dates is worth more than anything you can negotiate on price.
Do you check shipments before accepting them?
Yes, every booking. We check the goods, the buyer and the intended use. Most cargo is fine. If we cannot carry something we tell you at the start rather than after you have paid for anything.
Is air freight worth it to Somalia?
Sometimes, and more often than you would expect. Dubai is the main origin for Somali air cargo and there are decent flights into Mogadishu. Because the sea route is already short, air here is about urgency rather than saving weeks.
Do you handle customs clearance in Somalia?
Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in Somalia. 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 Berbera in one container.
Can you deliver inland, away from the ports?
Yes, to Hargeisa, Garowe, Galkayo, Baidoa and other inland cities. We price the road leg on the actual route and conditions rather than just the distance, and we set it out separately so you can see it.
Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to Somalia?
Yes. We move project cargo to Somalia as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship into Berbera. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.
Ready to ship from Dubai
to Somalia?
Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what Somalia 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
