South Africans living in UAE (mostly Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
Air freight delivery time (Cape Town to Dubai)
Sea freight delivery time (via Cape or Suez route)
SA Nationals Relocating to the Gulf: Moving personal effects, furniture, and art collections from Cape Town to Dubai homes or commercial projects. JLog packs, crates, clears customs in both countries, and delivers to your address.
Galleries & Art Dealers: Shipping artworks for exhibition at Art Dubai, DIFC Art Fair, or private sales. We ensure artwork is properly packed, exported from South Africa, imported into UAE customs, and delivered to galleries without damage.
Interior Designers & Architects: Fulfilling luxury renovation projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and across the UAE with bespoke South African furniture, textiles, and décor items. We coordinate timing, manage customs, and ensure delivery aligns with project schedules.
Luxury Goods Traders: Importing antiques and designer pieces into the UAE for resale. We handle export documentation, freight, UAE import compliance, and delivery to your retail or warehouse location.
| Shipping Method | Transit Time | Cost Range (per kg) | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Freight | 2–3 days door-to-door | On request | Artwork, time-sensitive goods, small shipments (≤ 500kg) | Fast, insurable, temperature-controlled. Higher cost; ideal for valuable items or tight deadlines. |
| Sea Freight | 18–22 days door-to-door | R8–R15 per kg (or flat container rate) | Large furniture, bulk shipments, relocations (500kg–10 tonnes) | Cost-effective for volume. Longer transit means better for non-urgent moves. Requires crating for protection. |
Most sea freight from Cape Town follows two main routes:
We advise on route selection based on your shipment size, timeline, and budget.
We collect goods from your location in Cape Town. Our team inspects items, assess value and fragility, and advise on packing and crating. For artwork or high-value goods, we recommend professional crating to protect during transit.
We prepare South African export customs documentation. Most goods exit South Africa duty-free (export is encouraged), but we lodge the export declaration with SARS for compliance. We also verify if any goods are restricted (e.g., artwork with CITES requirements, certain antiques). For art, we may need export permits confirming the artwork is not a national heritage item.
We book freight (air or sea) with a reliable carrier. For air, goods are picked up within 24 hours. For sea freight, we consolidate (combine your shipment with others to reduce cost) or arrange a full container if volume justifies it. We provide you with tracking details and estimated delivery dates.
Goods move via Dubai airport or Jebel Ali port. We coordinate with our UAE partners to track arrival and prepare for import clearance. Most air freight arrives within 2–3 calendar days; sea freight within 18–22 days.
Upon arrival in Dubai, goods enter UAE customs. Our local agent in Dubai handles the import declaration, paying any applicable duties and VAT (UAE VAT is 5%, significantly lower than South Africa’s 15%). Goods are scanned and released.
We coordinate final delivery to your address in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any UAE emirate. For fragile items (artwork, furniture), we use professional delivery teams who handle unpacking and placement if required.
Delivery team confirms receipt, provides signed proof of delivery, and hands over all customs documentation. You have a complete record of the shipment’s journey.
JLog Review: We screen your shipment for prohibited items before export and advise on any permits needed. This prevents delays and ensures smooth clearance in Dubai.
White-Glove Handling: Artwork, antiques, and designer goods deserve professional packing and crating. Our team ensures items arrive in perfect condition.
Transparent Pricing: We itemise costs: freight, export customs, import customs, crating, and delivery. No surprises at the end.
UAE Partner Network: We have trusted agents in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates. This means faster customs clearance and reliable local delivery.
Compliance & Documentation: We ensure all export permits, customs declarations, and import documentation are correct and complete.
Air freight: R30–R60 per kg (for 50–200kg shipments; larger shipments may be cheaper per kg). Sea freight: R8–R15 per kg or a flat 20ft container rate of R18,000–R25,000. Plus customs clearance in both countries (~R2,000–R5,000) and crating (~R1,500–R5,000). Total for artwork: R8,000–R20,000 via air; R20,000–R35,000 via sea (depending on weight/volume). We provide a detailed quote once you describe the goods.
Collection in Cape Town: 24–48 hours. Transit to Dubai: 2–3 calendar days. UAE customs clearance: usually same-day or next-day. Final delivery: 2–3 days after release. Total: 5–7 days door-to-door from collection to delivery in Dubai.
Consolidation & export clearance: 3–5 days. Transit to Dubai: 18–22 days depending on route (Suez: 18 days; Cape Route: 22 days). UAE customs: 1–2 days. Final delivery: 2–3 days. Total: 25–30 days from collection to delivery.
Yes. UAE levies Value-Added Tax (VAT) at 5% on imported goods. It’s calculated on the landed value (invoice + freight + insurance). For a R100,000 shipment with R50,000 freight, you’d pay VAT on R150,000 = R7,500. UAE VAT is significantly lower than South Africa’s 15%, so overall costs are often competitive.
Yes. We provide tracking details immediately after booking. For air freight, you’ll have a full tracking number from the airline; for sea freight, a bill of lading number. You can monitor progress online, and we provide updates at each milestone (departure, customs clearance, delivery).
All shipments should be insured. Transit insurance (typically 1–2% of value) covers damage or loss. If goods arrive damaged, we document it, lodge a claim with the carrier, and coordinate compensation. For high-value artwork, insurance is essential—we can arrange it as part of the service.
Generally, no—unless the artwork contains endangered materials (ivory, tortoiseshell) requiring a CITES permit, or is designated as South African cultural heritage. We verify before export. Most contemporary and modern art clears without permits. Antiques may require a heritage assessment; if heritage status is confirmed, export approval is needed (process: 2–4 weeks).
Yes. Personal effects and household goods are permitted under UAE import law. You’ll pay 5% VAT on the landed value. If goods are your own (not commercial inventory), customs often waives or reduces inspections. We prepare the documentation to confirm personal-effects status and coordinate hassle-free clearance and delivery to your new home.