Umm Qasr Port Shipping Guide: Terminals, CoC and Customs

Container vessel being worked at a terminal in the Port of Umm Qasr, Iraq — Anil Darya

Umm Qasr port shipping covers most of the sea cargo entering Iraq: containers, breakbulk, project cargo for the oil and gas sector, Ro-Ro trailers and vehicles. The port is owned by the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI), and its container terminals are run by private operators in two areas, North Port and South Port. This guide covers the terminals, draft limits, the certificate of conformity, customs and how we ship your cargo there from Dubai. We ship both from Dubai to Umm Qasr and from Umm Qasr to Dubai.

Umm Qasr port guide: key facts at a glance

Item	Detail
Port owner	General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI), state-owned
UN/LOCODE	IQUQR
Location	Umm Qasr, Basra Governorate, western edge of the al-Faw peninsula
Port areas	North Port and South Port, each with its own terminals
Main container terminals	Basra Gateway Terminal (ICTSI), Iraq Container Terminal (Gulftainer), Basra Multipurpose Terminal, CMA CGM terminal (South Port)
Deepest container berths	Berths 25 and 26 (BGT), 14 m design depth, for ships up to 14,000 TEU (ICTSI, 2019)
Maximum draft at berth (carrier data, 2025)	9.5 m to 10.6 m depending on terminal
Pilot station to berth	About 5.5 hours
Cargo types	Containers (dry and reefer), general cargo, breakbulk and heavy lift, Ro-Ro, oil and gas project cargo, dry bulk
Customs system	ASYCUDA, run by Iraq's General Commission of Customs
Product conformity	Certificate of Conformity and Release Note for regulated goods (COSQC)
Rail link	To Basra and Baghdad
Umm Qasr to Dubai	Export declared in ASYCUDA by the shipper or its Iraqi agent; UAE duty 5% of CIF and VAT 5%

Where is Umm Qasr port and how is it laid out?

The Port of Umm Qasr is in the town of Umm Qasr in Basra Governorate, on the western edge of the al-Faw peninsula at the head of the Gulf. Ships reach the berths through a dredged channel. Emirates Line puts the time from the pilot station to the berth at about 5.5 hours.

The port has two main areas. South Port is the older part, with berths 1 to 9. North Port holds most of the container and project cargo capacity, with berths 11 to 27. Each area has its own administration and several terminal operators working under GCPI.

The terminal on your booking decides where the Iraqi truck goes and which tariff applies. Check it before you book delivery.

Which terminals operate at Umm Qasr?

This table is based on the Umm Qasr port and terminal information that Emirates Line published in 2025. Berth use changes, so treat it as a planning guide.

Area	Berths	Terminal or user	Max draft at berth
North Port	11A, 11B	Iraq Container Terminal (ICT), Gulftainer	10.5 m
North Port	12 to 15, 22 to 24	Basra Multipurpose Terminal (BMT)	10.6 m (berths 14 and 15)
North Port	16	Martrade terminal	Not published
North Port	19 to 21, 25 to 27	Basra Gateway Terminal (BGT), ICTSI	10.5 m (berths 20 and 27)
South Port	5	CMA CGM terminal	9.5 m
South Port	1 to 4, 6 to 9	Coast guard, port authority, bulk and other users	Not published

The same source lists maximum ship lengths of 340 m at ICT, BMT and BGT berth 20, 290 m at BGT berth 27 and 200 m at the CMA CGM berth. All terminals work 24 hours, and berthing is first come, first served unless a berthing window is agreed between the terminal and the line.

Basra Gateway Terminal (ICTSI)

ICTSI signed a contract with GCPI in 2014 to run and expand terminal facilities in North Port. In October 2019 it opened berths 25 and 26, next to berth 27, giving 600 m of continuous quay with a design depth of 14 m. ICTSI said the berths could take container ships of up to 14,000 TEU and added three gantry cranes with 56 m outreach. BGT handles containers, general cargo, Ro-Ro and project cargo for the oil and gas sector, and offers reefer handling and export container stuffing.

Iraq Container Terminal (Gulftainer)

Gulftainer's ICT has 2 berths and 375 m of quay on a 35-hectare site, commissioned in 2010. Gulftainer lists a maximum draft alongside of 11.5 m, but the port limit is 10.5 m because of the channel, and deeper drafts need harbour master permission. Equipment includes 2 Panamax gantry cranes and 2 mobile harbour cranes, an on-site X-ray scanner and a weighbridge. Services include stuffing and stripping, customs clearance, a container freight station and warehousing.

The logistics centre north of the port

Gulftainer runs the Umm Qasr Logistics Centre just north of the port, opened in 2014. It works as a bonded inland container depot, with Iraqi Customs, the Iraqi Port Authority and the Iraqi Land Transport Company offices on site.

What cargo can you ship through Umm Qasr?

Cargo type	How it moves	What to plan
General goods in containers	FCL or LCL to BGT, ICT, BMT or the CMA CGM berth	Terminal, CoC, free time
Chilled and frozen food	Reefer containers	CoC for food, halal certificate for meat
Palletised cargo on trailers	DP World Ro-Ro service from Jebel Ali or Port Rashid	Trailer type, return of the trailer
Oil and gas equipment, steel, pipes	Breakbulk or project cargo, often at BGT or BMT	Lift plan, low-bed trailers, road permits
Vehicles	Ro-Ro or in containers	Vehicle documents, CoC for spare parts and tyres
Dangerous goods	IMDG containers, direct delivery	Carrier acceptance, labels, clearance before arrival
Dry bulk	Bulk berths and storage	Discharge plan, surveys

Container shipping at Umm Qasr: FCL, LCL and reefer

Most general cargo reaches Umm Qasr in containers, on feeders from Jebel Ali and other hub ports or on larger ships calling at BGT. With FCL your box stays sealed until clearance, which helps when the border office checks the goods against the CoC. With LCL your cargo is unpacked from a shared box, so its release also depends on the other shippers' documents. Our FCL vs LCL guide helps you decide, and our sea freight service books both.

Reefer cargo is handled at BGT, which lists reefer facilities. Food needs a CoC under the COSQC programme unless it is fresh meat, fish, fruit or vegetables.

Breakbulk, project and Ro-Ro cargo at Umm Qasr

Project cargo for the oil and gas fields of southern Iraq is a large part of the port's non-container work. BGT handles steel pipes, land rigs and other oil and gas cargo. ShipNext port data lists BMT berths 12 and 13 for steel, plywood, oil and gas cargo and heavy lift, with two mobile harbour cranes.

For cargo from Dubai there are two main ways to move heavy or oversized pieces:

Breakbulk or flat rack on a vessel to Umm Qasr. The terminal discharges with ship or shore cranes and the piece leaves on a low-bed trailer.
DP World's Ro-Ro trailer service. You load a low-bed or heavy-axle UAE-plated trailer in the UAE, it crosses to Umm Qasr in about 36 hours, and the same trailer comes back.

Oil and gas project cargo being discharged at the Port of Umm Qasr — Anil Darya

We plan project moves in this order: drawings and weights for each piece, vessel or trailer choice, lifting and lashing agreed with the carrier and terminal, then the road route from the quay. Our project cargo process guide explains each step, and our break bulk and project cargo team handles the planning in Dubai.

Dangerous goods at Umm Qasr

Umm Qasr accepts IMDG cargo, but the port expects it to leave the quay at once. An Emirates Line notice says imports of UN classes 1 to 9 are allowed subject to direct delivery, and IMO labels must be on all four sides of the container, with a fine per tonne if they are missing. ShipNext port data lists Class 1 explosives as allowed only for the Ministry of Defence with authority approval.

For any DG booking you need a correct UN number and class, an SDS, a signed DG declaration, UN packaging and labels, and carrier acceptance. Clearance must be ready before the ship arrives. Our dangerous goods shipping team checks all of this before you commit to a sailing.

Customs clearance at Umm Qasr: CoC, documents and duty

Certificate of conformity and release note

Regulated goods entering Iraq need a Certificate of Conformity issued before shipment by a body approved by the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC), such as Bureau Veritas or Intertek. At the port, the body's entry point office checks that the CoC matches the documents, containers and goods, then issues a Release Note. The CoC and Release Note go to customs together. Regulated groups include toys, electrical goods, vehicle parts and tyres, construction products, food, cosmetics, kitchenware, chemicals and textiles.

Bureau Veritas states that destination inspection is not allowed in place of the CoC. The check at the port only authenticates the certificate and confirms the container has not been altered. If the CoC is missing, a carrier advisory warns of severe delays, penalties or return of the shipment.

Customs declaration in ASYCUDA

Iraq's General Commission of Customs runs ASYCUDA at all 22 federal border crossings, including the southern ports, and started an electronic pre-customs declaration on 1 December 2025. Under Council of Ministers Decision No. 957 of 2025, the old fixed fee per 20ft or 40ft container at Umm Qasr was replaced by duty assessed per item and HS code. Customs can value goods from your invoice or from its own reference values. We do not quote duty rates here because we could not open an official Iraqi rate table.

Documents for clearance at Umm Qasr

Document	What to watch
Commercial invoice	Detailed description and HS code per item, signed by hand. Iraqi Customs does not recognise digital signatures
Certificate of origin	Stamped by the Iraqi embassy at origin with the invoice and import licence, per a February 2023 carrier notice
Packing list	Matches the invoice and bill of lading
Bill of lading and manifest	Consignee and notify party with full name, address, mobile and commercial licence number. "General cargo" is not accepted, and no amendment is allowed after the import manifest is filed
Delivery order	From the shipping line's agent after local charges are paid
CoC and Release Note	For regulated goods
DG documents	SDS, DG declaration, direct delivery arrangement

A 2009 carrier notice on Iraqi Port Authority penalties also lists fines per tonne when the manifest does not show package counts, a specific description, carton marks and seal numbers.

Shipping documents and certificate of conformity prepared for clearance at Umm Qasr port — Anil Darya

Shipping from Dubai to Umm Qasr: services and transit

Service	From	Published transit	Source date
DP World Ro-Ro, unaccompanied trailers	Jebel Ali	About 36 hours	May 2023
DP World Ro-Ro, up to 145 trailers per trip	Port Rashid	Under 36 hours	December 2025
Milaha UGX container feeder, weekly, to BGT berth 20	Jebel Ali, via Hamad and Shuwaikh	5 days	February 2023

Containers for Iraq usually sail from Jebel Ali, which our Jebel Ali port guide covers in detail. Schedules change, so we confirm the current service, terminal and cut-off at booking.

[AMIR-FACT: the carriers or Ro-Ro service we actually use from Dubai to Umm Qasr, which Umm Qasr terminal they call, and our real port-to-port transit time]

How to ship from Dubai to Umm Qasr port step by step

Send us the cargo details: commodity, HS codes, weights, dimensions, consignee and final city in Iraq.
Confirm the CoC. If the goods are regulated, the exporter applies to a COSQC-approved body and the inspection is booked before loading.
Pick the service. Container, Ro-Ro trailer or breakbulk, and the Umm Qasr terminal the carrier calls.
Legalise documents. Invoice, certificate of origin and import licence stamped at origin.
Load and declare in the UAE. We truck the cargo to the port, file the export declaration and gate in before the cut-off.
Check the bill of lading. Consignee details and a specific description before release.
Clear at Umm Qasr. The consignee's clearing agent files in ASYCUDA, presents the CoC and Release Note, pays duty and collects the delivery order.
Deliver and return the empty. The agent trucks the cargo inland and returns the container within free time.

We do not have an office or agent of our own in Iraq. We work with your consignee's clearing agent, or a destination agent you approve.

How to ship from Umm Qasr port to Dubai

We also handle the other direction: shipping from Umm Qasr to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space and run the UAE side. The Iraqi export papers stay with the shipper or its Iraqi agent.

The Iraq export side

The shipper or its Iraqi agent files the export declaration with Iraq's General Authority for Customs, which runs electronic declarations in ASYCUDA, now in use at the southern ports.
Any licence or approval the goods need for export is the shipper's job, and it should be in hand before the booking is confirmed.
The shipper or its trucker delivers the box to the North Port or South Port terminal named in the booking, inside the receiving window.

The UAE import side

On arrival, the declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, the packing list, the certificate of origin and any permit for restricted goods. For sea cargo the GCC customs guide also lists the bill of lading and the delivery order. 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%. A VAT-registered importer accounts for it on its VAT return, while an importer that is not registered pays it before Customs releases the goods.

Send us the shipper's details in Iraq, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
We book space and send the booking and cut-off to the shipper.
The shipper or its trucker loads the container and delivers it to the terminal.
The shipper or its Iraqi agent files the export declaration in ASYCUDA.
We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list.
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 and return the empty container inside free time.

[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Umm Qasr to Jebel Ali, Khalifa or Sharjah and our real transit days in this direction]

Checklist before you ship to Umm Qasr

Terminal and berth on the booking.
CoC issued before loading for regulated goods.
Arabic labels and origin marks on the products.
Invoice and certificate of origin legalised, invoice signed by hand.
Full consignee details and a specific cargo description on the bill of lading.
DG labels on four sides and a direct delivery plan.
Free time agreed and a clearing agent ready in Iraq.

Common mistakes at Umm Qasr

Arriving without a CoC. The cargo can be held, fined or returned.
Wrong draft assumptions. Large ships are limited by the channel, so check the terminal's limit before you charter.
Vague manifest descriptions. They cannot be amended after filing and can lead to fines.
Budgeting duty per container. Duty is now assessed per item.
Late DG clearance. Dangerous goods must be delivered directly from the quay.
Ignoring free time. Clearance delays quickly turn into demurrage. Our article on demurrage and detention explains the charges.

Frequently asked questions

Who operates Umm Qasr port?

The port is owned by the state-owned General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI). Terminals are run by operators including ICTSI (Basra Gateway Terminal), Gulftainer (Iraq Container Terminal), Basra Multipurpose Terminal and CMA CGM.

What is the port code for Umm Qasr?

The UN/LOCODE for Umm Qasr is IQUQR. You will see it on bookings, bills of lading and tracking systems.

How deep is Umm Qasr port?

ICTSI built berths 25 and 26 at Basra Gateway Terminal with a 14 m design depth. Carrier data from 2025 gives maximum drafts at berth of 9.5 m to 10.6 m, and Gulftainer says drafts over 10.5 m need harbour master permission.

What is the difference between Umm Qasr North Port and South Port?

South Port is the older area with berths 1 to 9, including a CMA CGM container berth. North Port has berths 11 to 27 and holds the main container terminals, BGT, ICT and BMT.

Do I need a certificate of conformity for cargo to Umm Qasr?

Yes, for regulated goods. A COSQC-approved body issues the CoC before shipment, and its office at the port issues a Release Note after checking the goods.

How long does shipping from Dubai to Umm Qasr take?

DP World's Ro-Ro trailer services take about 36 hours from Jebel Ali or Port Rashid. A published weekly container feeder takes 5 days from Jebel Ali.

Can Umm Qasr handle project cargo?

Yes. Basra Gateway Terminal handles oil and gas project cargo such as pipes and rigs, and BMT lists heavy lift. Low-bed trailers can also cross from the UAE on DP World's Ro-Ro service.

Are dangerous goods allowed at Umm Qasr?

Yes, with conditions. A carrier notice says DG imports need direct delivery and labels on all four sides of the container, and explosives are limited to the Ministry of Defence with approval.

How do I ship from Umm Qasr to Dubai?

The shipper or its Iraqi agent files the export declaration with Iraqi Customs and delivers the box to the terminal. We book the space, file the Dubai Customs declaration before arrival, arrange payment of the 5% duty on the CIF value and the 5% import VAT, and deliver.

Get a quote for Umm Qasr port shipping

Send us your cargo details and the final city in Iraq, and we will come back with a routing to Umm Qasr and a price. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a project, DG or Ro-Ro shipment. You can also read about our Dubai freight forwarding team.

Sources

Reviewed: 10 November 2026

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Umm Qasr port shipping: terminals, customs and how to ship from Dubai