Sokhna port shipping usually means containers through the DP World Sokhna terminal, but the port also handles dry bulk, liquid bulk, general cargo and Ro-Ro. It sits in Ain Sokhna, inside Egypt's SCZONE economic zone, and Cairo International Airport is about 105 km away. This guide covers the terminals, berths and depths, what cargo the port takes, the customs rules that apply, and how we ship your cargo to Sokhna from Dubai. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Sokhna, and from Sokhna to Dubai with clearance on arrival in the UAE.
Sokhna port guide: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Ain Sokhna Port |
| UN/LOCODE | EGSOK |
| Economic zone | Part of SCZONE, created under Law No. 83 of 2002 |
| Main operator | DP World Sokhna, for Basins 1 and 2 |
| Port area | About 23 km² (SCZONE); land area 22.3 km² (Maritime Transport Sector) |
| DP World container berths | Berth 1: 750 m; Berth 2: 1,350 m; 17 m depth alongside |
| Container terminal potential | 1.1 million TEU a year (first terminal) and 1.8 million TEU a year (second terminal) |
| Newest container terminal | Commissioned 15 January 2026, about 2,600 m of berths, 18 m draft, run by a Hutchison Ports, COSCO Shipping Ports and CMA CGM consortium |
| Reefer points | 584 at Berth 1 and 320 at Berth 2 |
| Dry bulk and general cargo | Three berths, 20 million tonnes a year capacity |
| Liquid bulk | Jetties of 412 m, each for two vessels; LPG, ammonia, gas oil |
| Pilotage | Compulsory |
| Working hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Nearest major airport | Cairo International (CAI), about 105 km |
| Customs | Egyptian Customs Authority, with Advance Cargo Information (ACI) through Nafeza |
| Import VAT | 14% standard rate |
| Sokhna to Dubai (import) | Egyptian export declaration by the shipper or its broker; Dubai Customs declaration, 5% duty on CIF for most goods, 5% import VAT |
What is Sokhna port and who runs it?
Ain Sokhna Port is in the Suez Governorate. The Maritime Transport Sector describes it as a multipurpose hub port built under a BOT (build, operate, transfer) model, handling general cargo, bulk and containers. It is part of SCZONE, Egypt's economic zone authority, and sits next to an industrial area with steel, sugar and cement plants that import through the port.
DP World is the main operator for Basins 1 and 2, where the container berths are. A second group, Hutchison Ports with COSCO Shipping Ports and CMA CGM, runs the newest container terminal, which Egypt commissioned on 15 January 2026. A general cargo and dry bulk terminal began trial operations in September 2026. The berth on your booking decides which operator handles your cargo.
A simple rule: Sokhna suits consignees in Greater Cairo, the industrial cities around it and the economic zone itself. For Alexandria and the western Delta, compare the truck cost against a north coast port.
Which terminals and berths does Sokhna port have?
Container terminals
| Terminal | Operator | Quay | Depth | Potential capacity | Yard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Container Terminal 1 (Berth 1) | DP World | 750 m | 17 m | 1.1 million TEU a year | 500,000 m² |
| Container Terminal 2 (Berth 2) | DP World | 1,350 m | 17 m | 1.8 million TEU a year | 640,000 m² |
| New container terminal | Hutchison Ports, COSCO Shipping Ports, CMA CGM | About 2,600 m | 18 m draft | Not published on the pages we opened | Not published |
SCZONE gives the capacity and yard figures, DP World the berth lengths and depth, and Ecofin the figures for the new terminal. DP World lists a full yard capacity of 38,424 TEU and describes automated equipment in the yard, including 60 automated stacking cranes and 40 straddle carriers.
Bulk, liquid and general cargo berths
| Facility | Detail | Typical cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Dry bulk and general cargo | Three berths on the eastern side of Basin 1, 20 million tonnes a year, four mobile harbour cranes | Raw sugar, coal, iron ore, clinker, slag |
| Liquid bulk | Two jetties in the master plan, 412 m each, two vessels per jetty, tank farms alongside | LPG, ammonia, gas oil |
| New general cargo and dry bulk terminal | Phase one in trial operation from September 2026 | General cargo, dry bulk |
| Ro-Ro | Two Ro-Ro berths of 200 m listed by the Maritime Transport Sector | Vehicles, rolling equipment |
DP World lists heavy quayside cranes for non-container cargo: two Gottwald cranes of 100 tonnes, two of 80 tonnes and two Liebherr mobile harbour cranes of 140 tonnes safe working load under the hook.
Planned expansion
SCZONE's master plan adds container terminals in Basins 2 and 4, a Ro-Ro terminal and a cruise terminal in Basin 2, liquid and dry bulk terminals in Basin 3, a general cargo terminal in Basin 4, and a dangerous cargo terminal and a multipurpose terminal in Basin 5. These are plans, so check what is open when you book.
What cargo can you ship through Sokhna port?
Fluent Cargo lists container, reefer, general cargo, bulk, tanker, gas, Ro-Ro and passenger traffic at Sokhna. Here is how each cargo type usually moves.
| Cargo type | Where it moves | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| General goods in containers | DP World terminal or the new container terminal | Terminal on the booking, ACID on documents, free time |
| Chilled and frozen food | Reefer points at the container berths | Set temperature, health certificates, quick clearance |
| Steel, machinery, project pieces | General cargo berths, heavy mobile cranes | Crane capacity, lashing, piece-by-piece packing list |
| Sugar, coal, iron ore, clinker | Dry bulk berths with hoppers and conveyors | Discharge rate, receiver's plant, surveys |
| LPG, ammonia, gas oil | Liquid bulk jetties | Tank farm booking, product approvals |
| Vehicles and rolling cargo | Ro-Ro berths | Vehicle documents, high duty rates on cars |
| Chemicals and other DG in containers | Container terminals, subject to carrier and terminal acceptance | IMDG paperwork, SDS, product approvals |
FCL and LCL shipping to Sokhna port
- FCL (full container load). You book a whole 20ft or 40ft box for one consignee and one ACID. It suits heavy goods and anything close to a full container.
- LCL (less than container load). Your cargo shares a box and is unpacked at a container freight station. The UN Logistics Cluster lists a 4,000 m² CFS warehouse at the port. Release depends on every file in the box clearing.
Under Egypt's ACI rules each shipment needs its own ACID, and a consolidation also needs a master ACID on the consolidator's bill of lading. Our guide to FCL vs LCL costs shows where the break-even usually sits.
Inland: road and rail to Cairo
Most containers leave Sokhna by truck. The UN Logistics Cluster also reports daily rail trips from the port to the 6th of October and 10th of Ramadan industrial areas near Cairo, with up to 60 TEU per trip. If your consignee is in one of those cities, ask the carrier or the consignee's agent whether rail is an option for your boxes.
Breakbulk and project cargo at Sokhna
Sokhna's general cargo berths and heavy mobile cranes make it a candidate for machinery, steel and project cargo bound for sites around Cairo and the economic zone. When you ship project cargo to Sokhna with us, we plan it in this order:
- Collect drawings, dimensions, weights and centre of gravity for each piece.
- Choose the vessel type: flat rack on a container service, or conventional breakbulk or heavy-lift tonnage.
- Check the heaviest lift against the cranes available at the berth, or plan to use ship's gear.
- List every piece on the packing list and in the ACI file so customs can match cargo to documents.
- Line up clearance and the road move so the cargo leaves the quay quickly.
A useful decision rule: if a piece fits a 40ft flat rack by size and weight, a container service usually gives you more sailings. If not, the breakbulk vessel date drives the plan. Read about flat rack, open top and out-of-gauge cargo or see our break bulk and project cargo service.
Dangerous goods to Sokhna port
A dedicated dangerous cargo terminal is in SCZONE's plan for Basin 5, but we did not find published port rules on DG storage times or class limits that we could cite. For containerised DG, acceptance is decided by the carrier and confirmed with the terminal for each booking. For any DG shipment we need:
- UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group.
- A Safety Data Sheet for each product, which also goes into the ACI file.
- A signed dangerous goods declaration.
- UN-approved packaging, labels and placards.
- Any Egyptian approval the product needs, confirmed by the consignee before loading.
Our dangerous goods shipping team checks acceptance before you commit to a sailing.
Customs clearance at Sokhna port: ACI, documents and duty
Customs at Sokhna follows Egypt's national rules under Customs Law No. 207 of 2020. The Maritime Transport Sector notes that the port uses an electronic customs and control system for cargo release.
ACI and the ACID number
Every shipment to Sokhna must be registered before it ships. The Egyptian importer registers the shipment on Nafeza and gets an ACID number, and the exporter sends the documents through CargoX. Nafeza asks for the cargo data at least 48 hours before the cargo ships from the export country. Shipments without an ACID are refused entry and must be re-exported at the shipper's expense.
Which documents do you need?
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | PDF and the Nafeza Excel template, showing the ACID |
| Packing list | Matches the invoice weights and piece counts |
| Bill of lading | Copy uploaded to ACI, never the original; ACID on the bill |
| Certificate of origin | Shows the real country of manufacture |
| Extra documents by cargo | Health, phytosanitary or veterinary certificate, fumigation, halal, MSDS, insurance certificate |
Inspection, duty and VAT
After discharge, a joint port committee inspects selected shipments and customs releases the cargo. Green-lane shipments skip physical inspection. Some consumer products also need the foreign factory registered with GOEIC before release. Duty depends on the HS code; PwC reports most rates between 0% and 60% of CIF value, and import VAT is 14%. The importer or its licensed customs broker pays in Egyptian pounds. We prepare the UAE side and work with your consignee's clearing agent.
How to ship from Dubai to Sokhna port: step by step
- Tell us about the cargo. Commodity, HS code, weight, volume or dimensions, and the Incoterm.
- Get the ACID. Your Egyptian buyer registers the shipment on Nafeza and sends you the ACID.
- Check the exporter set-up. The exporter needs a verified CargoX account; we register as the forwarder.
- Book space. We book a sailing from Jebel Ali Port to Sokhna and confirm which terminal the service uses.
- Prepare documents. Invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading instructions, all with the ACID.
- File the ACI documents through CargoX at least 48 hours before the cargo ships.
- Export from Dubai. We arrange trucking, stuffing, the UAE export or re-export declaration and gate-in before the cut-off.
- Arrival and clearance. The consignee's broker pays duty and VAT, inspection happens if selected, and the cargo is released for delivery by truck or rail.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we use from Jebel Ali to Sokhna, which Sokhna terminal they call, and our typical port-to-port days]
See our sea freight service from Dubai for FCL and LCL bookings.
How to ship from Sokhna port to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Sokhna to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The Egyptian export papers stay with the shipper or its Egyptian agent.
The Egypt export side
- Who files. Under Customs Law No. 207 of 2020 and its executive regulation, the owner of the goods or its agent can deal with customs directly, and a licensed customs broker can file for others. The shipper or its broker lodges the export declaration.
- Nafeza and the UCR. According to a July 2026 Nafeza clarification reported by Nowlun, Egypt's developed export system runs at Ain Sokhna first, and the exporter registers the shipment and gets a UCR number on Nafeza, then files the export declaration carrying that number.
- Exporter register and inspection. GOEIC runs the register of exporters and inspects some goods before export under ministerial decrees, for example marble, leather and furniture.
- Certificate of origin. GOEIC issues certificates of origin for goods under trade agreements, including the Arab League form. Chambers of commerce issue them for other shipments.
The UAE import side
On arrival, the declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and any permit for restricted goods. The importer needs a Dubai Customs business code, or a licensed clearing agent with the owner's authorisation files for it. Customs duty in Dubai is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, charged on the customs value including freight and insurance. A VAT-registered importer that has linked its customs registration number with the Federal Tax Authority accounts for it on its VAT return instead of paying at the border.
- Send us the shipper's details in Egypt, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space from Sokhna and send the booking and cut-off to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker delivers the stuffed box to the Sokhna terminal before the cut-off.
- The shipper or its Egyptian broker files the export declaration, with the UCR where required, and gets the certificate of origin.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and the certificate of origin.
- We file the UAE declaration before the vessel arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order.
- We truck the cargo to your site in the UAE.
- We return the empty container inside the carrier's free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Sokhna to Jebel Ali/Khalifa/Sharjah and our real transit days in this direction]
Free time and demurrage at Sokhna
Shipping lines give free days on their containers, then charge demurrage in port and detention outside it. Carriers publish Egypt import tariffs for these charges and update them, so read the numbers on your quote and arrival notice. Get the ACID and any GOEIC registration sorted before loading, and book delivery before free time starts. Our article on demurrage and detention explains how the charges add up.
Checklist before you ship to Sokhna
- ACID received from the Egyptian buyer and shown on every document.
- Exporter account on CargoX open and verified.
- Invoice matches the Nafeza data and is in the Nafeza Excel template.
- Terminal confirmed: DP World or the new container terminal.
- Products checked against the GOEIC factory registration list.
- Certificates ready for food, plants, animal products or chemicals.
- HS code, duty and 14% VAT agreed with the buyer.
- For DG: SDS, DG declaration, packaging and carrier acceptance.
- For project cargo: drawings, weights and the lift checked against berth cranes.
- Inland plan agreed: truck or rail to the final site.
Common mistakes at Sokhna port
- Loading without an ACID. The cargo is refused entry and sent back at the shipper's cost.
- Assuming one terminal. Sokhna now has more than one container operator, so the truck must go to the right gate.
- Uploading the original bill of lading to CargoX. Nafeza asks for a copy only.
- Data mismatches between the invoice, packing list and Nafeza entry.
- Planning on a terminal that is still in the master plan rather than in operation.
- Arranging certificates after arrival, while storage and demurrage run.
Frequently asked questions
Who operates Sokhna port?
DP World Sokhna is the main operator for Basins 1 and 2, including the two existing container berths. A newer container terminal, commissioned in January 2026, is run by Hutchison Ports with COSCO Shipping Ports and CMA CGM.
What is the port code for Sokhna?
The UN/LOCODE for Sokhna is EGSOK. Do not confuse it with EGAIS, which some databases use for the separate Ain Sukhna offshore oil terminal.
How deep is Sokhna port?
DP World gives 17 m depth alongside its two container berths. The new container terminal has an 18 m draft.
How big are the container berths at Sokhna?
DP World's Berth 1 is 750 m and Berth 2 is 1,350 m. The new container terminal adds about 2,600 m of berths.
Can I ship reefer containers to Sokhna?
Yes. DP World lists 584 reefer points at Berth 1 and 320 at Berth 2. Food also needs the right health certificates in the ACI file.
Is there rail from Sokhna port to Cairo?
The UN Logistics Cluster reports daily rail trips to the 6th of October and 10th of Ramadan industrial areas, up to 60 TEU per trip. Most cargo still moves by truck.
Do I need an ACID to ship to Sokhna?
Yes. Every shipment to Egypt needs an ACID issued to the importer through Nafeza and shown on every document. Cargo without one is refused entry.
Can you handle shipping from Sokhna to Dubai?
Yes. We book the space with the carrier, the shipper or its Egyptian broker files the export declaration, and we clear the cargo through Dubai Customs and deliver it in the UAE. Most goods pay 5% duty on the CIF value plus 5% import VAT.
Does Sokhna handle bulk and liquid cargo?
Yes. SCZONE lists three dry bulk and general cargo berths with 20 million tonnes a year of capacity, and 412 m liquid jetties for LPG, ammonia and gas oil.
Get a quote for Sokhna port shipping
Send us your cargo details and we will come back with a routing and a price for shipping from Dubai to Sokhna. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a project, reefer or DG shipment. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- DP World: Sokhna infrastructure and facts (berths, depth, reefer points, cranes, yard)
- SCZONE: Sokhna Port (area, operators, terminals, capacities, master plan)
- Egypt Maritime Transport Sector: Sokhna port (description, area, berths, pilotage, customs system)
- UN Logistics Cluster: Egypt Port of Al Sokhna (CFS, rail, working hours)
- Ecofin Agency: New Ain Sokhna container terminal commissioned (January 2026)
- Logistics Update Africa: Sokhna general cargo and dry bulk terminal trial operations (September 2026)
- Fluent Cargo: Sokhna (EGSOK) port profile (LOCODE, cargo types, airport distance)
- Cogoport: Ain Sukhna (EGAIS) offshore terminal profile
- Nafeza: Advance Cargo Information system
- Nafeza: Documents required to create an ACI file
- US International Trade Administration: Egypt import requirements and documentation
- US International Trade Administration: Egypt customs regulations
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Egypt, other taxes
- WTO TFA Database: Egypt, use of customs brokers (Law 207 of 2020, Regulation 430 of 2021)
- Nowlun: Nafeza clarifies the developed export system and UCR number (July 2026)
- GOEIC: Exports and origin (export inspection, certificates of origin)
- GOEIC: Home (registration of exporters)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (documents)
- Dubai Customs: FAQ (5% of CIF, business code, clearing agents)
- UAE Government portal: Customs duty (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide (import VAT at 5%, deferral for registered importers)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026