Shipping from Dubai
to Spain.

We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to Spain by sea and by air. Valencia and Barcelona take most of it, but the port that suits you depends on whether your goods are going to Madrid, Catalonia, the south or the north. We ship business and personal cargo, handle the EU paperwork, and deliver to your address.

Overview

Sea and air freight
to Spain.

Shipping from Dubai to Spain takes about 16 to 30 days by sea, and 1 to 4 days by air. The sea range is wide because rotations differ a great deal: some commercial services run at around 16 to 20 days while other current Valencia schedules sit closer to 27. Valencia is the main gateway and serves Madrid and Zaragoza inland as well as the east coast. Barcelona serves Catalonia and the north east. Algeciras on the Strait of Gibraltar is a major transhipment hub and the sensible landing point for Andalusia and the south. Bilbao serves the Basque Country and the north. Air cargo flies into Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El Prat. We deliver everywhere, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Malaga, Murcia, Palma, Las Palmas, Bilbao and Alicante. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Spain 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 Spain shipping lane: on the left the Dubai skyline with the Burj Khalifa and the UAE flag, on the right the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and the Spanish flag, joined by a dotted route across a pale world map with a container ship below and an aircraft above
DubaiJebel Ali · DXBSea 16 to 30 days to Valencia · Air 1 to 4 days to Madrid or BarcelonaSpainPort of Valencia · MAD

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. Spain has four sea ports we use and two airports. 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 of ValenciaESVLCSea port, Mediterranean SeaValencia, Madrid, Zaragoza and eastern and central Spain
      How cargo reaches Port of Valencia Shipping from Dubai to Valencia is the default for Spain, and the reason is inland reach rather than the coast: Valencia is the working port for Madrid and Zaragoza as well as the east. Current services range from about 16 to 20 days on some rotations to closer to 27 on others, so the carrier matters. Sea freight is priced per container on a full load and per cubic metre on a shared one. Get a rate for Port of Valencia
    • Port of BarcelonaESBCNSea port, Mediterranean SeaBarcelona, Catalonia and north-eastern Spain
      How cargo reaches Port of Barcelona Shipping from Dubai to Barcelona can use a confirmed suitable vessel booking, often direct because Mediterranean services from the Gulf call here. It serves Catalonia, Aragon and southern France by road. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Algeciras is the alternative when service choice matters more than the delivery leg. The quote separates ocean freight, transshipment, carrier surcharges, terminal handling, customs, import VAT and final delivery. Get a rate for Port of Barcelona
    • Port of AlgecirasESALGSea port, Strait of GibraltarAndalusia, southern Spain and onward transhipment networks
      How cargo reaches Port of Algeciras Shipping from Dubai to Algeciras can use a confirmed suitable vessel booking, and as one of Europe's largest transshipment hubs on the Strait of Gibraltar it sees the most mainline calls of any Spanish port, so a direct sailing is likeliest here. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Barcelona is the alternative for the north east. The quote separates ocean freight, transshipment, carrier surcharges, terminal handling, customs, import VAT and final delivery. Get a rate for Port of Algeciras
    • Port of BilbaoESBIOSea port, Bay of BiscayBilbao, the Basque Country and northern Spain
      How cargo reaches Port of Bilbao Bilbao is on the Atlantic coast and serves the north. Cargo from Dubai may need a European relay to reach it rather than a direct Mediterranean sailing, so the transit is less predictable. For a northern consignee it still often beats landing in Valencia and driving north. Get a rate for Port of Bilbao
    • Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas AirportMADAirportMadrid and central Spain
      How cargo reaches Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport Air freight from Dubai to Madrid Barajas can use accepted belly or freighter capacity, with the routing confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, screening and local cargo handling approval. It is Spain's largest air cargo gateway and sits inland, which suits national distribution. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Barcelona El Prat is the alternative for Catalonia. The quote separates uplift, connection, screening, terminal, customs, import VAT and final delivery. Get a rate for Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport
    • Barcelona-El Prat AirportBCNAirportBarcelona and north-eastern Spain
      How cargo reaches Barcelona-El Prat Airport Air freight from Dubai to Barcelona El Prat can use accepted belly or freighter capacity, with the routing confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, screening and local cargo handling approval. It serves Catalonia and sits beside the port, which helps when a shipment splits between air and sea. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Madrid Barajas is the alternative. The quote separates uplift, connection, screening, terminal, customs, import VAT and final delivery. Get a rate for Barcelona-El Prat Airport

Before you ship

Import rules
for Spain.

Spain runs on the two EU rules and we handle both. First, whoever imports needs an EORI number. It is a free trading number and nothing clears without it, so we confirm it before we book. Second, a safety filing called an Entry Summary Declaration has to reach EU customs before the goods arrive in Europe, under the system known as ICS2. The carrier files it and we supply the data. There is a wrinkle worth knowing on this lane: a lot of Spanish cargo comes through Algeciras, and where a shipment transhipments the filing responsibility follows the first point of entry into the EU rather than the final port. We keep track of that so nothing falls between the two. Regulated goods need their own permit, and preferential duty needs proof of origin. Tell us the product and the HS code and we will confirm what applies.

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

Documentation

Documents you need
for Spain.

These 11 cover most shipments to Spain. 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 importer in Spain
  • 07EU customs import declaration
  • 08ICS2 Entry Summary Declaration data, filed before arrival in the EU
  • 09Import licence or product approval, where the commodity is controlled
  • 10Sanitary, veterinary or plant health documentation, where the product needs it
  • 11Proof of origin, where you are claiming preferential duty

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 Spain
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 Spain.

  1. 01

    Send the details

    Tell us what you are sending, the HS code, how heavy it is, and where in Spain 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 the EORI, pick the port that keeps the road leg short, supply the ICS2 data, 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 Spain
questions, answered.

The 15 we are asked most on the Dubai to Spain route. If yours is not here, send it with the commodity and we will answer it directly.

How long does shipping from Dubai to Spain take?

Sea freight to Spain takes about 16 to 30 days, and air freight to Spain takes 1 to 4 days. The sea range is wide because carrier rotations differ a lot: some services run around 16 to 20 days while other current schedules into Valencia sit closer to 27. We confirm the live routing and give you a date in writing when we quote.

How much does shipping from Dubai to Spain cost?

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

All of them. Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Malaga, Murcia, Palma, Las Palmas, Bilbao, Alicante, Cordoba, Valladolid, Vigo, Gijon and A Coruna. Just give us the address and we bring it to the door.

Which ports in Spain do you ship to?

Valencia is the main gateway and serves Madrid and Zaragoza inland as well as the east coast. Barcelona serves Catalonia. Algeciras on the Strait of Gibraltar serves Andalusia and the south. Bilbao serves the Basque Country and the north. For air cargo we fly into Madrid Barajas or Barcelona El Prat.

Which port should I use for Madrid?

Valencia. Madrid is inland and has no port of its own, and Valencia is the working gateway for it, along with Zaragoza. It is not the closest port on a map but it has the inland connection, which is what actually matters.

What is an EORI number?

It is a free trading number used across the European Union. Whoever imports the goods needs one and nothing clears without it. It is quick to get online, and we confirm it before we load rather than after.

What is ICS2?

It is the EU safety and security system. A filing called an Entry Summary Declaration has to reach EU customs before the goods arrive in Europe. The carrier files it and we supply the data. On Spanish cargo that transhipments through Algeciras, the filing follows the first point of entry into the EU rather than the final port, which we keep track of.

Do you deliver door to door?

Yes. We handle freight forwarding to Spain 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 Valencia. 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 you deliver to the Canary Islands or the Balearics?

Yes. Las Palmas and Palma both need a sea leg after the mainland arrival, and the Canaries have their own tax arrangements that differ from mainland Spain. That second leg is worth quoting separately. Tell us the island and we will price the whole journey.

Can you ship a car from Dubai to Spain?

Yes. We do car shipping to Spain, and vehicles can be imported from outside the EU subject to customs clearance, conformity and Spanish registration. We could not confirm any general maximum age. Send us the make, model, year and chassis number and we will check before you buy.

Do you handle customs clearance in Spain?

Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in Spain. 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 Valencia in one container.

Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to Spain?

Yes. We move project cargo to Spain as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship. Valencia, Barcelona and Algeciras all handle general and heavy cargo. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.

I am moving to Spain. Do I get relief on my belongings?

You may. Spain allows duty and tax relief on qualifying personal goods for people transferring their normal residence from outside the EU. The usual conditions are at least twelve consecutive months of previous residence outside the EU, and at least six months of prior possession and use of the goods and of any vehicle. The six month rule on the car is the one people trip over. Tell us your situation and we will explain what to expect.

Ready to ship from Dubai
to Spain?

Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what Spain 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!

Get a Quote
Fast response No obligation100% confidential