Shipping from Dubai to Taiwan usually means a container from Jebel Ali or an east-coast UAE port to Kaohsiung, Taichung or Keelung, with air cargo into Taoyuan for urgent goods. The importer in Taiwan files the customs declaration within 15 days of arrival, pays duty on the goods' value including freight and insurance, and pays a 5% business tax on top. This guide covers ports, modes, published transit data, documents, duty, controlled goods and each step from Dubai to your consignee.
Shipping from Dubai to Taiwan at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main UAE load port | Jebel Ali (AEJEA), with Khor Fakkan and Fujairah used by some services |
| Main Taiwan sea gateways | Kaohsiung (south), Taichung (central), Keelung and Taipei port (north) |
| Largest Taiwan container port | Kaohsiung, 8,885,855 TEU in 2025 |
| Modes | FCL, LCL, flat rack and breakbulk, dangerous goods, air cargo |
| Published sea transit (schedule data) | About 21 to 43 days, depending on load port and transshipment |
| Published air transit | About 7 hours 40 minutes, Al Maktoum (DWC) to Taoyuan (TPE), direct |
| Customs authority | Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Keelung, Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung customs offices) |
| Declaration deadline | Within 15 days of the vessel's arrival; NT$200 per day late fee after that |
| Duty rates | Column I of the Taiwan tariff for goods from WTO members, which includes the UAE |
| Trade agreement with the UAE | None listed by Taiwan Customs |
| Import tax | 5% business tax on duty-paid value plus duty and any commodity tax |
Which mode should you use from Dubai to Taiwan?
Most cargo from Dubai to Taiwan moves by sea in containers. Air cargo is for urgent, light or high-value goods. There is no road or rail option on this lane.
| Your cargo | Best mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A full container or more of general goods | FCL by sea | Lowest cost per unit, box stays sealed to Taiwan |
| A few pallets or cartons | LCL by sea | You pay for the space you use |
| Machinery, steel, plant parts, oversized pieces | Flat rack, open top or breakbulk | Fits cargo that does not go in a standard box |
| Chemicals, batteries, aerosols, paints | DG container or DG air | Needs carrier and port acceptance before booking |
| Samples, spare parts, urgent stock | Air cargo | Hours in the air instead of weeks at sea |
A quick decision rule: if the goods must be in Taiwan within two weeks, price air. If not, start with sea and compare FCL and LCL once you know the volume and weight.
Sea freight from Dubai to Taiwan: ports, FCL and LCL
Sea freight from Dubai to Taiwan normally loads at Jebel Ali. Our Jebel Ali port shipping guide covers the terminals, gate slots and export steps there. Some carriers' Taiwan services load at Khor Fakkan or Fujairah instead, which can change both the truck leg in the UAE and the transit time.
Which Taiwan port should your cargo go to?
Pick the port closest to your consignee. Taiwan is long from north to south, so a box landed at the wrong end adds a truck leg that can cost more than any freight saving.
| Port | Region | Best for consignees in |
|---|---|---|
| Kaohsiung | South-west coast, Taiwan's largest port | Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pingtung and southern industrial zones |
| Taichung | Central west coast | Taichung, Changhua and central manufacturing areas |
| Keelung | North coast | Taipei, New Taipei and the north-east |
| Taipei port | North-west coast, New Taipei City | Greater Taipei and Taoyuan, near Taoyuan airport for sea-air moves |
Kaohsiung is the main deep-sea gateway. Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) reports 9,228,422 TEU there in 2024 and 8,885,855 TEU in 2025, and it lists seven container terminals and a maximum container vessel size of 22,000 TEU.
FCL or LCL?
- FCL (full container load). You book a whole 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high cube. It suits larger volumes, heavy goods and cargo you do not want handled with other shipments.
- LCL (less than container load). Your cargo shares a box with other shippers. It is packed at a container freight station in the UAE and unpacked at one in Taiwan, so release can wait on the other cargo in the box.
For Taiwan the break-even is often lower than people expect. A full box can be landed at the port nearest your consignee, Kaohsiung, Taichung or Keelung, while LCL goes where the co-loaded box goes and is unpacked at a Taiwan container freight station before release. Our guide to FCL vs LCL costs shows how to compare them, and our sea freight service page explains what we book to Taiwan.
How long does sea freight from Dubai to Taiwan take?
There is no single answer, because most services relay through a hub on the way. Fluent Cargo's schedule data, checked on 10 November 2026, gives a wide spread:
| Route | Published transit | Frequency | Routing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khor Fakkan to Taichung | 20 days 17 hours | Every 1 to 2 weeks | 1 transfer |
| Fujairah to Kaohsiung | 25 days 1 hour | Every 2 to 4 weeks | 1 transfer |
| Khor Fakkan to Taipei port | 28 days 4 hours | Every 2 to 4 weeks | 1 transfer, 2 stops |
| Khor Fakkan to Keelung | 29 days 13 hours | Every 1 to 2 weeks | 1 transfer, 1 stop |
| Jebel Ali to Taichung | 39 days 23 hours | Every 2 to 4 weeks | 2 transfers, 4 stops |
| Jebel Ali to Kaohsiung | 43 days 11 hours | Every 2 to 4 weeks | 1 transfer, 5 stops |
These are snapshots of carrier schedules, not promises, and the same tool showed shorter Jebel Ali options on other days. Competitor guides quote anything from 10 to 50 days. Treat any single number with care and check the vessel schedule and estimated arrival on your booking before you promise a delivery date.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually book from Jebel Ali (or Khor Fakkan) to Kaohsiung, Taichung and Keelung, and our typical port-to-port days on each]
Breakbulk, project cargo and dangerous goods to Taiwan
Breakbulk and project cargo
Cargo that fits a container but is too tall or wide goes on flat racks or open tops. Cargo that does not fit a container at all moves as breakbulk on a general cargo or heavy-lift vessel. Kaohsiung lists 30 general cargo berths as well as dry bulk, liquid bulk and petrochemical berths, so most project cargo for southern Taiwan can land there.
A simple rule: if a piece fits a 40ft flat rack by size and weight, a container service usually gives you more sailings. If it does not, you need breakbulk tonnage, and that sailing date drives the whole plan. We collect drawings, weights and lifting points, agree lashing with the carrier and plan the UAE road move to the quay. See our break bulk and project cargo service.
Dangerous goods
DG cargo to Taiwan must be packed, marked and declared under the IMDG Code for sea or IATA rules for air. Taiwan ports use the same nine UN hazard classes, and at Kaohsiung, applications for dangerous cargo go to the port's Harbor Management Division. The carrier will not confirm space until it has the DG data.
You need a correct UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group, a safety data sheet, a signed DG declaration and UN-approved packaging. Our dangerous goods shipping team gets carrier acceptance before you commit to a sailing and sends the DG data to the consignee's agent in Taiwan early.
Air cargo from Dubai to Taiwan
Air cargo suits samples, spare parts, electronics and urgent orders. Fluent Cargo lists direct freighter flights from Al Maktoum (DWC) to Taiwan Taoyuan (TPE) 2 to 4 times a week, with a flight time of about 7 hours 40 minutes. It also lists direct flights from Dubai International (DXB) to Taoyuan 1 to 2 times a day, at about 8 hours 25 minutes. Kaohsiung airport (KHH) is served only with transfers on this lane, so most air cargo for southern Taiwan lands at Taoyuan and is trucked south.
Air freight is priced on chargeable weight, which is the higher of the actual weight and the volume weight. Customs rules are the same as for sea: the consignee files a declaration and pays duty and business tax. See our air cargo service for what we arrange from Dubai.
Taiwan customs: who files and how clearance works
Taiwan Customs sits under the Ministry of Finance and runs regional offices at Keelung, Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung. Declarations are filed electronically, and the rules come from the Customs Act.
Who can file the import declaration?
The duty-payer files. Keelung Customs defines this as the consignee, the bill of lading holder or the holder of the goods. Under Article 22 of the Customs Act, the duty-payer can hand declaration and duty payment to a licensed customs broker, and most importers do. We work with the consignee's chosen broker or a clearing agent in Taiwan.
What is the deadline to declare?
Article 16 of the Customs Act gives the importer 15 days from the vessel's arrival to declare. After that, Article 73 adds a late declaration fee of NT$200 per day. If the goods are still not declared after 20 days of late fees, Customs can sell them. Customs also allows an advance declaration once the carrier has sent the manifest, which is the best way to avoid storage costs.
How customs clearance works in Taiwan
- The carrier sends the cargo manifest to Customs. From then on, the broker can file an advance declaration.
- The importer or its broker files the import declaration (form NX5105) electronically, before or after arrival.
- Customs assigns a channel. C1 means no document review and no examination. C2 means a document review. C3 means a document review and a cargo examination.
- For C2 and C3, the written declaration and papers must reach Customs by the end of the next working day.
- Customs issues a duty payable notice. Once duty and business tax are paid or secured, it sends the cargo release notice and the box can leave the terminal.
What documents do you need to ship to Taiwan?
| Document | When it is needed |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Every shipment |
| Packing list | When the cargo is in more than one package and not uniformly packed |
| Bill of lading and delivery order | Every sea shipment; the delivery order is filed by paper filers |
| Container loading list | When the goods are in more than one container |
| Certificate of origin | When import rules require it or Customs asks for it |
| Import permit | For restricted goods |
| Authorization letter | When a customs broker files |
| Customs value declaration | When the seller and buyer are related |
| Catalogues, manuals or drawings | When Customs needs them to classify or value the goods |
Put the 11-digit Taiwan tariff code, a clear description and the true origin on the invoice. Most holds on this lane start with a vague description or a code that does not match the goods.
Customs duty and business tax when you ship from Dubai to Taiwan
How is import duty calculated?
Duty is charged on the customs value. Under Article 29 of the Customs Act, that value is the price paid plus transport to the port of import, loading and handling charges, and insurance. In practice, duty is worked out on a CIF-type value, not on the ex-works price.
The Taiwan tariff has three columns. Column I applies to goods from WTO members and countries with reciprocal treatment. Column II applies to certain least developed countries and to trade agreement partners. Column III applies to everyone else. The UAE has been a WTO member since 10 April 1996, so goods of UAE origin pay Column I rates. Taiwan Customs lists no trade agreement with the UAE, so there is no preferential rate on this lane.
Goods made elsewhere and shipped through Dubai pay the rate for their real origin, so the certificate of origin must match.
How much is the business tax on imports?
Customs also collects business tax at 5%. Taiwan Customs gives the formula as (duty-paid value + import duty + commodity tax + tobacco and alcohol tax + tobacco health and welfare surcharge) x 5%. For most general cargo, only the first two parts apply.
| Step | What you calculate |
|---|---|
| 1 | Customs value: goods price plus freight and insurance to Taiwan |
| 2 | Import duty: customs value x Column I rate for the tariff code |
| 3 | Commodity tax, if the goods are in a taxed group |
| 4 | Business tax: (value + duty + commodity tax) x 5% |
Restricted and controlled goods
These groups cause the most holds on cargo into Taiwan. Check them before you book.
| Goods | What applies |
|---|---|
| Goods marked as restricted in the tariff | Original import permit, or one approved on the Trade Facilitation E-Platform |
| Electrical goods and listed consumer products | Regulatory inspection by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) |
| Pesticides and other goods under special laws | Permits named by the relevant law |
| Dangerous goods | IMDG or IATA rules plus carrier and port acceptance |
| Goods under anti-dumping or safeguard measures | Extra duty on top of the Column I rate |
| Alcohol and tobacco | Tobacco and alcohol tax, plus the health surcharge on tobacco |
| Vehicles | Import car declaration details with the customs entry |
Send us the tariff code, description and origin of each line before booking, and we flag anything that needs a permit or inspection. The consignee should confirm the import rules for its code with its broker before the goods sail.
What does shipping from Dubai to Taiwan cost?
We do not publish a fixed price, because rates change every week. Your total is built from these parts.
| Cost element | What drives it |
|---|---|
| UAE origin charges | Trucking to Jebel Ali or an east-coast port, export declaration, terminal handling, documents |
| Ocean or air freight | Container size or chargeable weight, carrier, transshipment, season, fuel surcharges |
| Taiwan port charges | Terminal handling, LCL unpacking, storage after free time |
| Customs in Taiwan | Broker's fee, C2 or C3 checks, permits and inspections |
| Duty and business tax | Column I rate for the tariff code, plus 5% business tax |
| Delivery in Taiwan | Truck from the port to the consignee, longer if the wrong port was used |
| Delay costs | NT$200 per day late declaration fee, demurrage and detention |
On the Taiwan lane, the Incoterm decides who pays the terminal handling, the broker's fee, the Column I duty and the 5% business tax, and the speed of the declaration decides whether the NT$200 daily late fee and storage start to run. Our guide to Incoterms 2020 for sea freight explains the split, and our note on demurrage and detention shows how storage costs build up.
How to ship cargo from Dubai to Taiwan: step by step
- Confirm the goods. Get the tariff code, origin, weight and volume, and check for permits, BSMI inspection or DG rules.
- Agree the Incoterm with your buyer, so both sides know who pays freight, insurance, duty and tax.
- Pick the Taiwan port. Match it to the consignee's region: Kaohsiung for the south, Taichung for the centre, Keelung or Taipei port for the north.
- Request a quote with cargo details, port and delivery address.
- Book space. We book FCL, LCL, flat rack or breakbulk space with the carrier, or air space for urgent cargo.
- Prepare documents: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any permit.
- Arrange UAE trucking and export clearance, and deliver the cargo to the terminal before the cut-off.
- Send the bill of lading and papers to the consignee's broker, so it can file an advance declaration.
- The broker files the declaration, Customs assigns C1, C2 or C3, and duty and business tax are paid.
- Collect the cargo and return the empty container inside the free time.
[AMIR-FACT: one real Dubai to Taiwan shipment we handled (cargo, mode, Taiwan port, total days door to port, any problem solved), cleared for publication]
Checklist before you ship to Taiwan
- Tariff code checked for duty rate, permits and BSMI inspection
- Consignee or broker ready to declare within 15 days of arrival
- Taiwan port matched to the delivery address
- Commercial invoice with full description, value, origin and Incoterm
- Packing list with weights and dimensions of every package
- Certificate of origin that matches where the goods were made
- Import permit in hand for restricted goods
- DG declaration, SDS and carrier acceptance for dangerous goods
- Drawings and lifting points for breakbulk or flat rack cargo
- Cargo insurance arranged under the agreed Incoterm
Common mistakes on the Dubai to Taiwan lane
- Choosing a sailing on price alone. The cheapest routing may have two transfers and add weeks.
- Landing cargo at the wrong end of the island, then paying for a long truck leg.
- Waiting for arrival to start clearance. The 15-day clock and the NT$200 daily fee start on arrival.
- Vague goods descriptions, which push the declaration into C2 or C3.
- Shipping electrical goods without checking BSMI inspection rules first.
- Booking DG cargo before the carrier has accepted it.
- A certificate of origin that names the UAE for goods made elsewhere.
When you compare providers for Taiwan, ask which Taiwan port they would land your box at, how many transfers the routing has and whether they check BSMI rules for electrical goods. Our guide on how to choose a freight forwarder in Dubai lists the other questions to ask.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Dubai to Taiwan take?
Published schedule data shows about 21 to 43 days by sea, depending on the load port, the Taiwan port and the number of transfers. Air cargo from Al Maktoum to Taoyuan takes about 7 hours 40 minutes in the air.
Which Taiwan port is best for cargo from Dubai?
Use the port nearest the consignee. Kaohsiung serves the south and is Taiwan's largest container port, Taichung serves central Taiwan, and Keelung and Taipei port serve the north.
Is there customs duty on goods shipped from Dubai to Taiwan?
Yes, for most goods. Taiwan charges Column I tariff rates on goods from WTO members such as the UAE, worked out on the goods value plus freight and insurance. There is no trade agreement between Taiwan and the UAE.
What is the import tax in Taiwan?
Customs collects a 5% business tax on imports. It is charged on the duty-paid value plus import duty, plus any commodity tax or tobacco and alcohol tax.
How long do I have to clear goods in Taiwan?
The importer must declare within 15 days of the vessel's arrival. After that a late fee of NT$200 per day applies, and Customs can sell goods still not declared after 20 days of late fees.
Do I need a customs broker in Taiwan?
No law forces you to use one, but most importers do. The Customs Act lets the duty-payer hand declaration and duty payment to a licensed customs broker.
Can I ship dangerous goods from Dubai to Taiwan?
Yes, if they are classified, packed and declared under the IMDG Code or IATA rules and the carrier accepts them. Send the SDS and UN number before booking.
Can I ship by air from Dubai to Kaohsiung?
Yes, but published flights to Kaohsiung airport run with transfers. Many shippers fly to Taoyuan, where there are direct flights from Dubai, and truck the cargo south.
Get a quote for shipping from Dubai to Taiwan
Send us your cargo details, the Taiwan delivery address and the Incoterm, and we will come back with a routing and a price. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a breakbulk or DG shipment first. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- Laws and Regulations Database: Customs Act (Articles 16, 22, 29, 73)
- Keelung Customs: Import declaration for sea cargo (documents, C1/C2/C3)
- Taipei Customs: Import declaration (15-day rule, documents, channels)
- Taiwan Customs: How Customs levies business tax
- Taiwan Customs: Three-column import tariff schedule
- Taiwan Customs: ECA/FTA list
- WTO: United Arab Emirates and the WTO
- Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Container throughput
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Harbor facilities and berth list
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Business scope of port affairs (dangerous cargo applications)
- TIPC Port of Kaohsiung: Dangerous goods classification table
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Kaohsiung schedules
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Taichung schedules
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Taipei schedules (sea and air)
- Fluent Cargo: United Arab Emirates to Taiwan
Reviewed: 10 November 2026