Complete guide to shipping from Vietnam to Dubai, leveraging Jebel Ali as the Middle East's premier re-export hub with access to African, GCC, and CIS markets for Vietnamese textiles, footwear, and electronics.
The Vietnam to Dubai shipping route represents one of the fastest-growing trade corridors connecting Southeast Asian manufacturing with the Middle East's premier logistics and re-export hub. As Vietnam has emerged as a global manufacturing powerhouse - particularly for textiles, footwear, furniture, and electronics - Dubai has become a critical gateway for distributing Vietnamese goods across the Middle East, Africa, and CIS markets.
Dubai's strategic position at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa makes it an ideal destination for Vietnamese exporters seeking to reach diverse markets through a single logistics hub. The Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) and other Dubai free trade zones enable duty-free storage, value-added processing, and efficient re-distribution to over 2 billion consumers across more than 150 countries.
This route has gained particular importance as global supply chains diversify beyond China, with Vietnam becoming the preferred alternative manufacturing base for many international brands. Vietnamese exports of textiles, footwear, consumer electronics, and agricultural products like coffee and seafood find strong demand in Middle Eastern markets, while Dubai serves as the ideal platform for reaching secondary markets in Africa, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia.
Cat Lai Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest and busiest container port, handling over 5 million TEUs annually. Located along the Saigon River, it serves as the primary export gateway for the southern manufacturing regions including Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and the Greater Ho Chi Minh City industrial zones. The port offers direct services to Dubai with major carriers including Evergreen, COSCO, MSC, and CMA CGM.
Key export industries from this region include textiles and garments from Binh Duong, footwear from Dong Nai, furniture from Binh Duong and Long An, and electronics from Saigon Hi-Tech Park. The southern port cluster also includes Cai Mep-Thi Vai deep-water port, which can handle the largest container vessels for more competitive rates on longer routes.
Hai Phong is Vietnam's second-largest port and the primary gateway for northern Vietnam's manufacturing zones. The port has undergone significant expansion with the Lach Huyen deep-water terminal now capable of handling vessels up to 14,000 TEU. It serves industrial zones in Hai Phong, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, and Thai Nguyen provinces.
Northern Vietnam has become a major hub for electronics manufacturing, with Samsung, LG, and other technology companies operating large facilities. Textiles, machinery, and agricultural products also ship regularly from Hai Phong to Middle Eastern markets. Transit time to Dubai from Hai Phong is typically 1-2 days longer than from southern ports due to the additional distance.
Multiple carriers operate on the Vietnam to Dubai route, with most services transiting through Singapore or Port Klang. Direct services are less common but offer faster transit. Major shipping lines including Evergreen, COSCO, ONE, MSC, Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd provide regular weekly departures from both major Vietnamese port clusters.
Get competitive rates for your Vietnam to Dubai shipment.
Jebel Ali is the flagship port of DP World and the largest container port in the Middle East, North Africa, and Indian subcontinent region. With capacity exceeding 19 million TEUs and 67 berths spanning over 15 kilometers, it handles vessels up to 23,000 TEU capacity with state-of-the-art automation and 24/7 operations.
For Vietnamese exporters, Jebel Ali offers unparalleled access to regional markets. Approximately 60% of all cargo arriving at Jebel Ali is subsequently re-exported, making it the world's leading re-export hub. Goods from Vietnam can be stored, processed, relabeled, and redistributed to Africa (particularly East Africa), GCC countries, the Indian subcontinent, Iran, and Central Asian markets.
JAFZA is the world's largest free trade zone by volume, hosting over 9,000 companies from 140 countries. Key benefits for Vietnamese exporters include:
Port Rashid handles smaller vessels and general cargo, while Dubai Creek continues traditional dhow trading. For containerized cargo from Vietnam, Jebel Ali is the primary destination. However, some specialized shipments may utilize these facilities for specific market requirements.
Dubai's position as a re-export hub is particularly valuable for Vietnamese products destined for markets that are difficult to serve directly. Through Dubai, Vietnamese goods reach:
Most shipments from Vietnam to Dubai transit via the Strait of Malacca, with many services calling at Singapore or Port Klang for transshipment. The routing crosses the Indian Ocean before entering the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz. Direct services offer 12-14 day transits, while transshipment services may take 14-18 days depending on connection times.
Singapore and Port Klang are the primary transshipment hubs for Vietnam-Dubai cargo. While transshipment adds 2-4 days to transit time, it often provides more departure options and competitive pricing. For time-critical shipments, look for direct or minimal-transshipment services.
The Vietnam to Dubai trade experiences several seasonal patterns:
The Indian Ocean crossing is generally stable, though monsoon seasons (June-September) can cause minor delays. The Strait of Hormuz transit is strategically sensitive but rarely experiences commercial shipping disruptions. Carriers maintain contingency plans for any regional developments.
FCL is the preferred option for Vietnamese exporters shipping full container quantities. Standard equipment includes 20' (TEU), 40' standard, and 40' high cube containers. For textile and furniture shipments from Vietnam, 40' high cube containers maximize volume utilization. Refrigerated containers are available for seafood and food product exports.
FCL advantages for this route include:
LCL is ideal for smaller shipments, trial orders, or mixed-product consignments. Vietnam offers mature LCL consolidation services from both Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong. Deconsolidation in Dubai typically occurs at JAFZA facilities, providing seamless free zone benefits.
LCL is particularly suitable for:
Air freight from Vietnam to Dubai is highly competitive given both countries' aviation hub status. Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) and Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) offer daily cargo connections to Dubai via Emirates, Vietnam Airlines, and other carriers. Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) together form a major global cargo hub.
Air freight is recommended for:
A strategic option combining ocean freight to Dubai followed by air distribution to final destinations in Africa, Europe, or the CIS. This hybrid approach offers cost savings over pure air freight while maintaining faster delivery than full ocean routing to secondary markets.
The UAE maintains a streamlined customs process with standard documentation requirements. Dubai Customs operates under the Federal Customs Authority guidelines. Key documentation for Vietnamese exports includes:
The Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement provides preferential tariff treatment for many Vietnamese exports. To qualify, ensure:
Certain Vietnamese exports require additional certifications:
Cargo imported into JAFZA and other free zones for re-export benefits from:
The UAE imposes 5% VAT on most imports for local consumption. Goods imported into free zones for storage or re-export are generally exempt from VAT until they enter the UAE mainland market.
Key cost elements for Vietnam to Dubai shipping include:
Vietnamese exports often benefit from competitive production costs that offset slightly higher freight rates compared to Chinese alternatives. Key factors include:
Utilizing Dubai's free zones provides significant cost benefits:
Working with Cubic helps optimize your Vietnam to Dubai shipping costs through:
The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar at 3.67 AED/USD, providing stability for international trade. Freight rates are typically quoted in USD. The Vietnamese dong (VND) fluctuates against the dollar, so timing of payments may affect landed costs.
Full container load via major carriers with regular weekly sailings across the Indian Ocean
Less than container load with consolidation at origin and deconsolidation in Dubai free zones
Priority air freight with expedited customs clearance via Dubai's world-class cargo facilities
Regular air freight service via Emirates, Vietnam Airlines, and other carriers with daily departures
Transit times are estimates and may vary based on carrier schedules, port congestion, weather conditions, and customs clearance. Contact us for current transit times and availability.
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