Typical Costs to Ship a Car to the Middle East
Shipping a car from New Jersey to Jebel Ali in Dubai costs $1,350 by shared ocean container, with 65 to 70 days in transit, on our calculator rates for October 2026. Add pickup, insurance and the Jebel Ali port charge, and an $11,500 car comes to $2,650 before UAE duty and VAT:
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Freight Costs: $1,350 for a shared ocean container from New Jersey.
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Inland Transportation: $330 for open trailer pickup in northern New Jersey (ZIP 070).
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Insurance: $220 on an $11,500 car.
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Destination Fees: $750 for port handling at Jebel Ali.
Additional charges may apply depending on import duties and VAT in the destination country. For more details on the shipping process, visit our definitive guide.
Why Cost Is a Primary Concern
Gulf buyers want American SUVs, muscle cars and classics, and the freight bill depends mostly on where the car leaves the US. To Jebel Ali, our container rate is $1,350 from New Jersey, $1,775 from California and $4,850 from Texas. By air, a small car flies from New Jersey to Dubai World Central for $16,500 in 10 to 14 days. Pickup, insurance, the port charge, duty and VAT come on top.
For a complete overview of shipping processes and requirements for the Middle East, visit our definitive guide.
Breakdown of Shipping Costs
Shipping a car internationally involves multiple cost components. Here’s what you can expect when transporting your vehicle from the USA to the Middle East:
1. Freight Costs
Freight charges are the base cost of transporting your vehicle across international waters. These depend on:
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Shipping Method: Container shipping is typically more expensive than Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) due to added security and protection.
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Distance: Longer routes require higher freight charges.
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Vehicle Type: Larger or heavier vehicles like SUVs incur higher costs.
On our calculator today, a car in a shared ocean container to Jebel Ali costs $1,350 from New Jersey and $1,775 from California, both 65 to 70 days, or $4,850 from Texas, 34 days. Four cars in one container from Florida cost $4,100, or $1,025 a car, 67 to 73 days.
2. Port Charges
The destination port charges a handling fee to unload and release the car. At Jebel Ali it is $750 per car on the New Jersey and California lanes, and $1,550 on the Texas and Florida lanes. Your calculator quote lists the charges for your lane.
3. Insurance Costs
Marine cargo insurance is essential for protecting your vehicle during transit. Insurance is calculated as 2% of the vehicle’s value above $500, with a minimum charge of $200. For example:
4. Inland Transportation Costs
If your car isn’t located near a departure port, additional costs apply for ground transport. Open trailer pickup in northern New Jersey (ZIP 070) costs $330 on our calculator, and an enclosed trailer costs 1.75 times the open price.
5. Import Duties & Taxes
Middle Eastern countries impose import duties based on the vehicle’s value:
For example:
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A car valued at $11,500, shipped from New Jersey with $1,350 freight and $220 insurance, has a CIF value of $13,070, so Dubai customs duty comes to about $654. VAT at 5% is due on top when the car clears.
6. Destination Charges
Upon arrival at Jebel Ali port:
Factors Affecting Price
Several factors influence the total cost of shipping a car internationally:
1. Vehicle Type
The size and weight of your vehicle directly impact shipping costs:
2. Shipping Method
Our calculator quotes two ways to Dubai, by ocean container and by air:
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Shared ocean container: $1,350 from New Jersey to Jebel Ali, 65 to 70 days.
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Air: $16,500 for a small car from New Jersey to Dubai World Central, 10 to 14 days.
3. Distance
The farther your pick-up location is from departure ports or destination cities, the higher your inland transport charges will be.
4. Timing
Peak seasons can increase shipping rates due to high demand. Scheduling shipments during off-peak periods can reduce costs significantly.
Rates to Dubai by US Departure Point
Our calculator rates per car to Dubai, October 2026:
| From |
Method |
Rate |
Transit |
| New Jersey |
Shared ocean container to Jebel Ali |
$1,350 |
65-70 days |
| California |
Shared ocean container to Jebel Ali |
$1,775 |
65-70 days |
| Texas |
Shared ocean container to Jebel Ali |
$4,850 |
34 days |
| Florida |
Container with 4 cars to Jebel Ali |
$4,100 ($1,025 per car) |
67-73 days |
| New Jersey |
Small car by air to Dubai World Central |
$16,500 |
10-14 days |
| California |
Small car by air to Dubai World Central |
$19,800 |
10-14 days |
These rates cover freight only. Add pickup, insurance ($220 on an $11,500 car), the destination charge ($750 at Jebel Ali from New Jersey or California, $1,550 from Texas or Florida), then duty and VAT. Get your own total on our car shipping calculator.
Cost-Saving Tips
While international shipping involves significant expenses, there are ways to reduce costs without compromising quality:
1. Consolidated Shipping
Sharing a container cuts the freight per car. Four cars in one container from Florida to Jebel Ali cost $4,100, which works out to $1,025 a car.
2. Off-Peak Scheduling
Shipping during off-season months avoids peak demand surcharges. Winter months often provide lower rates compared to summer or holiday seasons.
3. Choosing Cost-Effective Departure Ports
The departure point moves the price more than anything else. To Jebel Ali, New Jersey is $1,350, California $1,775 and Texas $4,850. Our own warehouses in California, Florida and New Jersey cover all of the US for exports, so your car can leave from the lane that costs least.
4. One Team From Pickup to Port
Our own team loads every car and handles every document, so one quote covers pickup, the warehouse, loading and the ocean or air booking.
Rates to every Gulf port are on our Middle East shipping page.
Conclusion
The cost to ship a car to Dubai comes down to a few numbers: freight from your departure point, pickup, insurance and the Jebel Ali port charge, plus 5% duty on the CIF value and 5% VAT. New Jersey is our lowest lane today at $1,350, and four cars sharing a container from Florida run $1,025 each. Duty-free options are in our UAE car import tax guide.
For documents and customs procedures in each Gulf country, see our definitive guide.
Bought a car at a US auction, or at an event abroad? We ship it door to door to Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi by ocean or air. Get instant rates on our Middle East shipping page or contact our team.
It's your dream car. Let's bring her home.
