Shipping from Dubai to Jordan is done three ways: by container ship from Jebel Ali to the Port of Aqaba, by truck across Saudi Arabia to the Al Omari border, or by air to Amman. Whatever the mode, the goods are cleared by Jordan Customs on the ASYCUDA World system, and regulated products are checked by the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) before release. UAE-origin goods can enter duty-free under the UAE-Jordan CEPA, but the 16% general sales tax still applies.
Shipping from Dubai to Jordan at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| UAE origin points | Jebel Ali Port (sea), Dubai airports (air), your site or warehouse (road) |
| Jordan's seaport | Port of Aqaba, the country's only seaport; containers go through Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) |
| Road route | Al Ghuwaifat (UAE) to Al Batha (Saudi Arabia), transit across Saudi Arabia, Al Haditha (Saudi Arabia) to Al Omari (Jordan) |
| Main airports | Queen Alia International Airport (Amman) and King Hussein International Airport (Aqaba) |
| Customs authority | Jordan Customs Department |
| Declaration system | ASYCUDA World, with green, yellow and red lanes |
| Who files | A licensed clearing agent in Jordan acting for a registered Jordanian importer |
| Product conformity | JSMO checks goods covered by Jordanian technical regulations; samples are tested in approved labs in Jordan |
| Duty on UAE-origin goods | UAE-Jordan CEPA in force since 15 May 2025, covering more than 98% of tariff lines |
| Sales tax at import | General sales tax of 16% (some goods 4% or zero) |
| Bill of lading rule | Consignee and notify party need a full Jordanian address and a 9-digit Jordanian tax number |
| Aqaba Special Economic Zone | No customs fees on goods entering the zone |
Which way should you ship from Dubai to Jordan?
Use this table as a first filter, then ask us to price the two best options side by side.
| Your cargo | Best first option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Full containers of general goods | Sea FCL, Jebel Ali to Aqaba | Lowest cost per unit for full loads; clearance at the port |
| A few pallets or cartons | Sea LCL or a shared truck (LTL) | You pay for the space you use |
| A full truckload for Amman or the north | Road FTL through Saudi Arabia | Door to door, no port handling at either end |
| Urgent spares, samples, documents | Air cargo to Amman | Fastest, but priced on chargeable weight |
| Machinery or pieces too big for a box | Flat rack, open top or breakbulk to Aqaba | ACT handles out-of-gauge and breakbulk with prior approval |
| Chemicals and other dangerous goods | Sea, with carrier and port approval first | Some classes need special approvals or direct delivery at Aqaba |
Sea freight from Dubai to Jordan: Jebel Ali to Aqaba
Most containers leave from Jebel Ali Port in Dubai and discharge at Aqaba Container Terminal. ACT is run by APM Terminals with the Aqaba Development Corporation, has 1,000 m of berths and 800 reefer plugs, and handled 472,680 TEU in the first half of 2026.
APM Terminals lists more than 20 lines calling ACT, including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO, ONE, Evergreen, Emirates Shipping Line, Global Feeder Shipping and X-Press Feeders.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers or feeder services we actually book from Jebel Ali to Aqaba, direct or transshipped, with typical port-to-port days]
FCL or LCL?
FCL gives you a sealed 20ft or 40ft box for your cargo alone. LCL shares a box with other shippers, so it suits small volumes, but your release in Aqaba also depends on the consolidator's paperwork for the whole box. Our guide to FCL vs LCL costs shows where the break-even point usually sits.
What the Aqaba bill of lading must show
Maersk's published rules for Jordan imports show what lines expect:
- Full name and address of consignee and notify party, with phone, email and a valid Jordanian tax number of 9 digits. Without it, the container cannot be manifested and may be retained on board.
- Place of delivery that includes the word "Jordan".
- Cargo bound for a free zone (for example the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, Zarqa Free Zone or Sahab Free Zone) must show Aqaba as the discharge port and name the zone in the cargo description field, not in marks and numbers.
- The consignee must be a local party. If not, the notify party must be the Jordanian broker or clearing company collecting the delivery order.
- "To order" bills need originals surrendered in Jordan. Telex release and sea waybills are not allowed against to-order consignments.
- The full manifest goes to customs 4 days before the vessel arrives. Amendments after that need customs approval and carry fees.
A wrong tax number or missing zone name is far cheaper to fix in Dubai than in Aqaba, so check the draft bill before sailing.
Road freight from Dubai to Jordan through Saudi Arabia
Trucks reach Jordan by crossing Saudi Arabia in transit. The goods are not imported into Saudi Arabia; they are declared for transit and cleared into Jordan at the northern border.
| Point | Country | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Al Ghuwaifat | UAE | UAE exit on an advance customs declaration and truck crossing permit |
| Al Batha | Saudi Arabia | Entry into Saudi Arabia on a transit declaration filed in Fasah |
| Saudi highway network | Saudi Arabia | Transit under customs control, no unloading for sale |
| Al Haditha | Saudi Arabia | Exit from Saudi Arabia |
| Al Omari | Jordan | Jordan Customs declaration on ASYCUDA, JSMO and other agency checks, release |
The UAE side: pre-arrival at Ghuwaifat
Since 18 September 2023, trucks leaving through Ghuwaifat need an advance customs declaration and a truck crossing permit issued before arrival. The application carries the declaration number, the Saudi Fasah details and the expected arrival date. We prepare this before loading.
The Saudi side: transit declaration
Saudi customs (ZATCA) lets customs brokers file a transit declaration on the Fasah platform. Al Batha is the only land port between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Al Haditha, in Al Qurayyat Governorate, faces Jordan's Al Omari border port.
The Jordan side: Al Omari
Al Omari has a Jordan Customs single window office and a JSMO office. The clearing agent files on ASYCUDA, and the truck is released once every agency clears it. Road suits full truckloads for Amman, Zarqa and the north.
[AMIR-FACT: our typical door-to-door road transit days from Dubai to Amman (FTL and LTL), and how often we load trucks to Jordan]
Air cargo from Dubai to Jordan
Air shipments land at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, where Jordan Customs and JSMO both have offices, or at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba. Use air for urgent spares, samples and high-value goods. It is priced on chargeable weight, so light bulky cargo usually goes cheaper by sea or truck. Customs and JSMO steps are the same as for sea, and DG by air needs IATA DGR packing. See our air cargo service from Dubai for what we handle.
Breakbulk, project cargo and dangerous goods to Jordan
Out-of-gauge and breakbulk
ACT has a specialist team for out-of-gauge cargo (too wide, tall or long for a standard box but still on a flat rack or open top) and breakbulk (non-unitised cargo such as industrial machines). Requests to handle these need ACT approval in advance. ACT's 2025 tariff gives breakbulk no free storage days: storage is charged from the day of discharge, so the road move from the quay must be ready before the vessel arrives.
Our guide to flat racks, open tops and breakbulk helps you choose the equipment, and our break bulk and project cargo team plans the sailing and lashing.
Dangerous goods
On top of the usual UN number, SDS, DG declaration and IMDG packing, Jordan adds local approvals:
- Some IMO cargo is approved only after the port confirms it, and may require direct delivery from the quay. If direct delivery does not happen, the charges fall on the customer.
- Gas lighters and fireworks are accepted at Aqaba only under special approvals the consignee obtains from the authorities.
- Calcium nitrate (UN 1454, Class 5.1) needs an import licence and Ministry of Environment approval before shipping.
- ACT gives dangerous goods containers only 3 free storage days.
Our dangerous goods shipping team confirms carrier acceptance and the consignee's approvals before you commit to a sailing.
Jordan customs clearance: ASYCUDA, documents and lanes
Who can import into Jordan?
Jordan requires importers of commercial goods to be registered traders or companies. Trading companies either hold an importer's card from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply or pay a customs bond equal to 5% of the value of the goods. Only an authorised clearing agent in Jordan can process the customs declaration. As a Dubai forwarder, we prepare the UAE side and the documents and work with the consignee's clearing agent or a destination clearing agent.
Which documents do you need to ship to Jordan?
| Document | Who provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Shipper | Need not be in Arabic, but the importer must provide an Arabic translation |
| Packing list | Shipper | Weights and package counts must match the invoice and bill of lading |
| Bill of lading, air waybill or road transport document | Carrier or forwarder | Must meet the manifest rules above |
| Certificate of origin | Shipper, through the issuing authority | Needed to claim CEPA duty exemption; JSMO also checks it |
| Clearing agent authorisation | Importer | Mandate letter for the agent filing on ASYCUDA |
| Company registration and importer's card | Importer | Or a 5% customs bond |
| Import licence or pre-approval | Importer | For example telecoms and security equipment, some foods (Ministry of Health) |
| Health or agricultural certificates | Shipper | Food, plants and animal products |
| Conformity lab result | JSMO-approved lab in Jordan | Only if the shipment is put in JSMO's red lane |
How ASYCUDA lanes work
The clearing agent opens and fills the declaration on ASYCUDA, and the system routes it to a lane. The International Trade Centre's guide to Jordanian procedures describes three:
- Green: release without inspection.
- Yellow: goods checked against the documents for type and quantity.
- Red: physical inspection, and samples tested in a lab where needed.
Each agency on the single window (customs, JSMO, agriculture, health) sets its own lane, so a shipment can be green for customs and red for JSMO. Goods are released when every agency is green, or earlier against a guarantee.
JSMO conformity rules: what happens to regulated products
JSMO writes and publishes Jordan's standards and technical regulations. Mandatory technical regulations cover products such as food, chemical detergents, electrical equipment, textiles and clothing, and personal safety equipment. Imported goods covered by mandatory standards are verified by laboratory testing in Jordan. JSMO's Borders Control Department inspects imported goods at the borders and customs centres, with offices at Al Omari, Queen Alia airport, Amman and other centres, and its Southern Region Branch covers Aqaba.
Jordan Customs' trade portal sets out the JSMO step like this:
- The JSMO officer at the customs centre checks the declaration, the certificate of origin and the invoice, matching the tariff number with the goods.
- The goods are inspected against the invoice and labels are checked, often together with the customs inspection.
- If JSMO's lane is red, samples go to an approved lab in Jordan for testing against the Jordanian standard or technical regulation.
- While tests run, goods can usually leave under a customs pledge not to dispose of them, or against a financial guarantee.
- If the result conforms, JSMO turns its lane green.
- If it does not, the goods may not enter. They are re-exported or destroyed, and the importer may ask for a retest within one month of the first test.
The legal basis includes Standards and Metrology Law No. 22 of 2000 and technical rule No. 119/2008 on labels for industrial products, so check labels before the goods leave Dubai. Food and medicines also go to the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), which tests and approves them before sale.
Customs duty and sales tax when you ship from Dubai to Jordan
UAE-origin goods: the CEPA
The UAE-Jordan CEPA (economic partnership agreement) came into force on 15 May 2025. The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism says it liberalises more than 98% of tariff lines, covering more than 99.5% of UAE exports to Jordan; about 2% stay excluded for health, religious, environmental and security reasons. Goods produced in either country, including free zones, benefit if they meet the rules of origin and Jordan's technical requirements.
Abu Dhabi Customs' guide notes that the CEPA has its own certificate of origin template, different from the GAFTA one, and that goods must ship directly. Transit through a third country is allowed only under customs control there, with no more than unloading, reloading, storage or labelling.
Goods made outside the UAE
Goods made in China, India or Europe and re-exported from Dubai do not gain CEPA origin by shipping from Dubai. Jordan Customs charges them under its integrated tariff by HS code, so check the rate before you price the deal. Our Incoterms guide helps you agree who pays duty and tax.
General sales tax at 16%
Jordan's Income and Sales Tax Department applies a general rate of 16% to taxable goods, with 4% on a group of goods set by the Council of Ministers and a zero rate on goods in a set table. The tax applies to imported goods and is due on import whether the importer is registered or not. Duty-free origin under the CEPA does not remove sales tax.
Shipping into the Aqaba Special Economic Zone
The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) exempts imports into the zone from customs duty, except vehicles. The general sales tax is not applied in the zone, apart from a 7% sales tax on 12 goods and some services. Goods moved on into the rest of Jordan pay normal duty and tax. If your consignee is in the zone, put the zone name in the bill of lading cargo description.
Restricted and prohibited items
Jordan bans some goods and limits others to licensed importers. The ITC guide to Jordanian import procedures (2019) and the official sources above list, among others:
| Status | Examples |
|---|---|
| Prohibited | Plastic waste, khat, coral, laser pens, toy guns firing beads, certain fireworks, cars with tinted glass, hidden cameras and recording devices |
| Restricted to named importers | Raw leather, crude oil and household gas cylinders, cement, explosives, used tyres |
| Licence or pre-approval needed | Arms and ammunition, telecoms and security equipment, some foods (Ministry of Health) |
| Special approvals at Aqaba | Gas lighters, fireworks, calcium nitrate (UN 1454) |
| Conformity checks | Products under mandatory technical regulations (JSMO), food and medicines (JFDA) |
Lists change by government decision, so ask the clearing agent to confirm your HS code before you ship.
What does shipping from Dubai to Jordan cost?
Prices move with carrier rates, so we quote each shipment. These items make up your total:
| Cost item | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Origin trucking and export clearance in the UAE | Pickup location, cargo type, declaration type |
| Ocean freight or truck freight | Box size, weight, routing, season, number of carriers on the lane |
| Air freight | Chargeable weight, airline, dangerous goods surcharge |
| Saudi transit costs (road) | Transit declaration, broker fees, waiting time at borders |
| Destination port and terminal charges at Aqaba | Terminal handling, documentation fee, storage after free days |
| Jordan clearance | Clearing agent fee, JSMO and lab fees, inspection |
| Duty and sales tax | Origin, HS code, customs value |
| Demurrage and detention | Days the container is kept beyond the line's free time |
Free time is short on this lane. Maersk's published Jordan import tariff gives 6 combined demurrage and detention days for dry containers and 3 days for reefer, flat rack, open top and IMO units. Plan clearance and delivery before the vessel arrives. Our article on demurrage and detention explains how the charges build up.
How to ship from Dubai to Jordan: step by step
- Send us the cargo details: commodity, HS code, weight, volume or dimensions, pickup point, delivery city in Jordan and the Incoterm you agreed.
- Confirm the importer. The consignee must be a registered Jordanian importer with a 9-digit tax number and a clearing agent ready to file.
- Check conformity and permits. Find out if the product falls under a JSMO technical regulation, JFDA control or an import licence, and apply for anything needed before shipping.
- Choose the mode and book. We compare sea, road and air and book space; for DG, reefer or out-of-gauge cargo we get carrier and port acceptance first.
- Prepare documents. Invoice, packing list, certificate of origin (CEPA form for UAE goods), and the bill of lading or road transport document, all with matching weights, counts and names.
- Clear export in the UAE. We file the export or re-export declaration and, for road, the advance declaration and truck permit for Ghuwaifat.
- Clear in Jordan. The clearing agent files on ASYCUDA; customs, JSMO and other agencies set their lanes; duty and sales tax are paid.
- Deliver and close. The delivery order is collected, the cargo goes to the consignee and the empty container is returned within free time.
[AMIR-FACT: one real Dubai to Jordan shipment we handled (cargo, mode, route, how long it took, any problem solved)]
Checklist before you ship to Jordan
- Consignee is a registered Jordanian importer with an importer's card or a customs bond.
- 9-digit Jordanian tax number and full address of consignee and notify party on the booking.
- HS code confirmed, and duty and sales tax checked for that code.
- CEPA certificate of origin ready if you claim UAE origin.
- JSMO, JFDA or licence requirements checked, and labels compliant.
- Free zone or Aqaba Special Economic Zone destination written in the cargo description.
- For DG: SDS, DG declaration, packing and labels, carrier acceptance and any Jordanian approval.
- Free time and delivery plan agreed before arrival.
Common mistakes on the Dubai to Jordan lane
- Missing or wrong tax number on the bill of lading. Maersk warns the container may be retained on board, with charges of USD 1,000 per 20ft and USD 1,500 per 40ft if the delivery order is not collected.
- Claiming CEPA on re-exported goods. Goods made elsewhere and stored in Dubai pay Jordan's normal tariff.
- Forgetting sales tax. A duty-free shipment still pays 16% general sales tax unless the goods are exempt or zero-rated.
- Non-compliant labels. JSMO checks labels against the technical rule, and failed goods may have to be re-exported or destroyed.
- No delivery plan for breakbulk. Storage at ACT starts the day breakbulk is discharged.
Frequently asked questions
How do you ship from Dubai to Jordan?
By container from Jebel Ali to Aqaba, by truck across Saudi Arabia to the Al Omari border, or by air to Amman or Aqaba. Sea suits full containers, road suits truckloads and air suits urgent cargo.
Which port in Jordan receives sea freight from Dubai?
The Port of Aqaba, Jordan's only seaport. Containers go through Aqaba Container Terminal.
Can trucks drive from Dubai to Jordan?
Yes. Trucks leave the UAE at Al Ghuwaifat, cross Saudi Arabia on a Fasah transit declaration and enter Jordan at Al Omari.
Is there customs duty on goods shipped from Dubai to Jordan?
Goods of UAE origin that meet the rules of origin can enter duty-free under the UAE-Jordan CEPA, in force since 15 May 2025. Goods made elsewhere pay Jordan's tariff rate for their HS code.
What is the sales tax on imports into Jordan?
The general sales tax rate is 16%, with 4% or zero on some goods. It is due on import whether or not the importer is registered.
What does ASYCUDA mean for Jordan imports?
ASYCUDA World is Jordan Customs' electronic declaration system. A licensed clearing agent files on it, and each agency routes the declaration to a green, yellow or red lane.
Do I need a JSMO certificate to ship to Jordan?
If your product falls under a mandatory Jordanian technical regulation, JSMO checks it at the border and may test samples in a Jordanian lab before release.
Who can receive commercial cargo in Jordan?
A registered Jordanian trader or company with an importer's card or a 5% customs bond, shown on the bill of lading with a valid tax number.
Get a quote for shipping from Dubai to Jordan
Send us your cargo details and we will come back with a routing and a price by sea, road or air. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a DG, breakbulk or project shipment first. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team and our sea freight service.
Sources
- Maersk: Jordan import information (bill of lading rules, manifest timing, free time, DG approvals)
- APM Terminals: Aqaba Container Terminal, our terminal (berths, depth, reefer plugs, ownership)
- APM Terminals: Aqaba Container Terminal home (shipping lines calling)
- APM Terminals: ACT performance in H1 2026
- APM Terminals: ACT breakbulk and OOG
- Aqaba Container Terminal: service charges 2025 (storage free days)
- US International Trade Administration: Jordan import requirements and documentation
- US International Trade Administration: Jordan trade standards (JSMO, JFDA)
- US International Trade Administration: Jordan import tariffs
- International Trade Centre: Jordan import and export procedures guide (ASYCUDA, lanes, prohibited goods)
- Jordan Customs trade portal: obtaining the approval of JSMO (archived copy)
- JSMO: Borders Control Department (archived copy)
- ASEZA: investment incentives (customs duty, 7% sales tax; archived copy, January 2026)
- Income and Sales Tax Department: general sales tax guide
- UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism: UAE-Jordan CEPA
- Abu Dhabi Customs: UAE-Jordan CEPA guide
- Abu Dhabi Customs: pre-arrival clearance at Ghuwaifat
- ZATCA: submit transit declaration
- Saudipedia: Al Batha port
- Saudipedia: Al Haditha border port
- Aqaba Development Corporation: why invest in Aqaba (duty-free imports into the zone)
- Aqaba Development Corporation: transport and logistics (ASYCUDA World)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026