Shipping from Dubai to Turkey usually means a container from Jebel Ali to Mersin on the Mediterranean coast or to the Ambarli terminals in Istanbul, with air cargo for urgent goods. On arrival, a Turkish importer with a tax number clears the goods through the Ministry of Trade's BILGE customs system, pays duty and 20% VAT, and passes any TAREKS product safety check. This guide covers ports, modes, documents, duty under the UAE-Türkiye trade agreement, restricted goods and each step from Dubai to the consignee.
Shipping from Dubai to Turkey at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Main UAE load port | Jebel Ali (AEJEA), with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the east coast as alternatives |
| Main Turkish container gateways | Ambarli in Istanbul (3.43 million TEU handled in 2025), Kocaeli, Tekirdag, Mersin (about 1.97 million TEU) and Aliaga |
| Modes | FCL, LCL, flat rack and breakbulk, dangerous goods, air cargo |
| Customs authority | Ministry of Trade, customs administration |
| Declaration system | BILGE, with a username and password, usually used by a licensed customs broker |
| Who can import | Anyone holding a Turkish tax number |
| Tariff code | 12-digit GTIP; the first 6 digits are the HS code |
| Trade agreement | UAE-Türkiye CEPA, in force since 1 September 2023, covering 80% of tariff lines |
| Import VAT | 20% general rate (10% and 1% for some goods) |
| Product safety checks | TAREKS, the Ministry of Trade's risk-based import control system |
| Temporary storage limit | 45 days from the summary declaration for sea cargo |
Which route and mode should you use?
Most cargo from Dubai to Turkey moves by sea in containers. Air cargo is for urgent, light or high-value goods. Road is not a practical option on this lane for most shippers, so this guide does not cover it.
| Your cargo | Best mode | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A full container or more of general goods | FCL by sea | Lowest cost per unit, cargo stays sealed to destination |
| A few pallets or cartons | LCL by sea | You pay for the space you use |
| Machinery, steel, vehicles, oversized pieces | Flat rack, open top or breakbulk | Fits cargo that does not go in a standard box |
| Chemicals, batteries, aerosols, perfumes | DG container or DG air | Needs carrier and terminal acceptance before booking |
| Samples, spare parts, urgent stock | Air cargo | Days instead of weeks, higher cost per kilo |
A quick decision rule: if the goods are needed in Turkey within a week, price air. If not, start with sea and compare FCL and LCL once you know the volume.
Sea freight from Dubai to Turkey: FCL and LCL
Sea freight from Dubai to Turkey normally loads at Jebel Ali. DP World lists over 80 weekly services from the port, and our Jebel Ali port shipping guide covers the terminals, cut-offs and export steps there. The Turkish port you choose depends on where the consignee is.
Which Turkish port should your cargo go to?
Turkey's container traffic is spread over several port areas. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure reported 13,996,579 TEU handled at Turkish ports in 2025. The five busiest port authority areas handled 83.9% of that.
| Port area | Containers handled in 2025 | Best for consignees in |
|---|---|---|
| Ambarli (Istanbul, European side) | 3.43 million TEU | Istanbul, Thrace and the western Marmara industrial belt |
| Kocaeli (Gulf of Izmit) | 2.50 million TEU | Kocaeli, Gebze and eastern Marmara |
| Tekirdag | 2.14 million TEU | Tekirdag, Corlu and western Istanbul |
| Mersin | 1.97 million TEU | Southern and central Anatolia: Mersin, Adana, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Konya |
| Aliaga (Izmir) | 1.70 million TEU | Izmir and the Aegean region |
Mersin International Port is run by MIP, a PSA International joint venture, and is linked by road and rail to Ankara, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Kahramanmaras and Konya. Ambarli is a group of private terminals in Istanbul, including Marport, Kumport and Mardas. If your buyer is in Istanbul, Ambarli usually saves a long truck leg. If the buyer is in the south or centre of the country, Mersin is often the closer gateway.
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 Turkey, so your release also depends on the other cargo in the box being cleared.
Because an LCL box into Mersin or Ambarli is only released once every shipment in it clears Turkish customs, a full container can pay off at a lower volume than you might expect. Our guide to FCL vs LCL costs shows how to compare the two, and our sea freight service page explains what we book.
Transit times and sailings
Transit time depends on the carrier, the Turkish port and whether the service is direct or transshipped. Published estimates for this lane vary widely between sources, so we do not quote a single figure here. Ask for the vessel schedule with your quote and check the estimated arrival date on the booking.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually book from Jebel Ali to Mersin and Ambarli, and our typical port-to-port days on each]
Breakbulk, project cargo and dangerous goods to Turkey
Breakbulk and project cargo
Turkish ports handle heavy and oversized cargo at multi-purpose berths. Mersin International Port lists 13 multi-purpose berths and 5 mobile harbour cranes next to its 8 container berths. In Istanbul, Kumport lists project cargo among its services and crane capacity up to 104 tonnes, and Mardas lists mobile cranes of 100 to 140 tonnes.
For Turkey, start with the size of the largest piece. If it fits a 40ft flat rack by size and weight, a container service to Mersin or Ambarli usually gives you more sailings. If it does not, you need a breakbulk or heavy-lift vessel to a multi-purpose berth such as Mersin International Port or Kumport, 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 Turkey must be packed, marked and declared under the IMDG Code for sea or IATA rules for air. Turkish shore facilities that handle dangerous cargo need a Dangerous Cargo Compliance Certificate from the maritime administration, and each terminal sets its own limits. For example, Marport's 2025 dangerous cargo guide says Class 1, Class 6.2 and Class 7 cargo is not handled in its port area. Check the discharge terminal before you book, not after.
For a DG shipment to Turkey you need the correct UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group, a safety data sheet, a signed DG declaration and UN-approved packaging, and the Turkish discharge terminal must accept the class. Our dangerous goods shipping team gets carrier acceptance before you commit to a sailing.
Air cargo from Dubai to Turkey
Air cargo suits samples, spare parts, electronics and urgent orders. Air cargo for Istanbul lands at Istanbul Airport (IST), and Fluent Cargo lists direct cargo and passenger flights from Sharjah and Dubai to Istanbul. It also lists direct Sharjah to Trabzon flights for the Black Sea region.
Air freight is priced on chargeable weight, which is the higher of actual weight and volume weight. Light, bulky goods cost more than their scale weight suggests. Customs rules in Turkey are the same as for sea: the consignee files a declaration through BILGE and pays duty and VAT. See our air cargo service for what we arrange from Dubai.
Turkish customs: BILGE, documents and who can import
Turkish customs is part of the Ministry of Trade. Every import is declared electronically, and the importer must hold a Turkish tax number.
How customs clearance works in Turkey
- Before the vessel arrives, a summary declaration for the cargo is lodged with customs.
- On arrival, the goods are presented to customs and held in temporary storage in an approved place, such as the port's bonded area.
- A customs treatment must be chosen within 45 days of the summary declaration for sea cargo (20 days for other modes). The usual treatment is release for free circulation.
- The release declaration is filed electronically. To file in BILGE you need a username and password from a Customs and Trade Regional Directorate, which is why most importers use a licensed customs broker.
- Duties and taxes are shown on the declaration and paid. Any permit or conformity certificate the goods need is attached.
- Customs may check documents or inspect the cargo, then releases it for delivery.
What documents do you need to ship to Turkey?
The US International Trade Administration's guide to Turkish imports lists a commercial invoice, bill of lading or air waybill, packing list and certificate of origin as the core set. The table shows what is added by cargo type.
| Cargo | Core documents | Often also needed |
|---|---|---|
| General goods | Invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin | Importer's tax number on the documents; TAREKS approval if the GTIP is listed |
| Goods claiming CEPA preference | Core set | Proof of UAE origin under the agreement's rules |
| Food and agricultural products | Core set | Control, health, phytosanitary or veterinary certificates |
| Medicines, cosmetics, health products | Core set | Ministry of Health certificates |
| Dangerous goods | Core set | DG declaration, SDS, terminal acceptance |
| Vehicles | Core set | Letter of Conformity; Ministry permission if used |
| Used or refurbished goods | Core set | Ministry permission unless an exemption applies |
On the UAE side, we prepare the export declaration and the bill of lading instructions. Make sure the consignee name, tax number, weights and HS codes match on every document. A mismatch is one of the most common reasons for a hold at a Turkish port.
The 12-digit GTIP code
Turkey classifies goods with a 12-digit Customs Tariff Statistics Position (GTIP). The first 6 digits are the HS code, digits 7 and 8 follow the EU Combined Nomenclature, and the last 4 are national codes. The 6-digit code on your UAE invoice is only the start. Ask the Turkish broker to confirm the full GTIP before shipping, because duty, VAT, TAREKS and permits all follow it. For a firm answer, the Ministry issues Binding Tariff Information free of charge, valid for 6 years.
TAREKS product safety checks
TAREKS is the Ministry of Trade's web-based system for risk-based import inspections. Under the 2026 Product Safety and Inspection Communiqués, published on 31 December 2025, every GTIP listed in their annexes needs a TAREKS application, even products not subject to a safety inspection. Toys, radio equipment, batteries, construction products and machinery are covered by their own communiqués. Each application is risk-assessed and some are sent to a physical inspection with sampling, so build this time into the plan.
Customs duty and VAT when you ship from Dubai to Turkey
Customs duty and the UAE-Türkiye CEPA
Turkey's tariff is aligned with the EU Common Customs Tariff under the EU-Turkey customs union for industrial goods. Duty rates are set in the annual Import Regime Decision. Some products from some countries also carry additional customs duty.
The UAE-Türkiye economic partnership agreement (CEPA) was signed on 3 March 2023 and entered into force on 1 September 2023. Turkey's Ministry of Trade says 80% of all tariff lines are included in the market access concessions. Some lines go to zero at once, and others are reduced over time.
Preference only applies to goods that originate in the UAE under the CEPA rules of origin. Goods made elsewhere and re-exported from Dubai keep their original origin and pay the duty for that country. You need a valid proof of origin. Abu Dhabi Customs' guidance on the agreement, written for goods entering the UAE, describes this as a certificate of origin or an approved exporter's origin declaration. It also requires direct transport between the two countries, with transshipment allowed only if the goods stay under customs control. Ask your Turkish broker to confirm the same points for entry into Turkey.
| Your goods | Likely duty treatment | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Made in the UAE, meet CEPA origin rules | CEPA rate, often reduced or zero | Proof of origin, GTIP on the CEPA schedule |
| Made in the UAE, origin not proven | Normal Turkish rate | Origin documents before shipping |
| Made in a third country, re-exported from Dubai | Duty for the country of manufacture, possibly additional duty | Original country of origin certificate |
Import VAT and special consumption tax
Imported goods are subject to VAT in Turkey. The general rates are 1%, 10% and 20%, and most goods pay 20%. VAT is calculated on the CIF value plus duty and any other charges due before clearance, so it is charged on top of the duty.
Special consumption tax (OTV) applies on top for four groups: fuel and petroleum products, vehicles (including yachts and aircraft), tobacco and alcohol, and luxury goods. Rates on cars can be very high, so price the landed cost before you ship vehicles to Turkey.
Restricted and prohibited items
Most goods can be imported freely. The exceptions in the Ministry of Trade's import guidance are the ones that cause most delays:
- Used, refurbished or faulty goods. These need Ministry permission unless the item is on an exemption list.
- Used vehicles. These need permission, and vehicle imports need a Letter of Conformity.
- Certain wastes, chemicals and scrap. Some are banned, others need a permit.
- Mobile phones. Unused phones are allowed but must be registered with the telecom authority. Used phones need permission.
- Precious metals and rough diamonds. Raw standard gold is limited to the Central Bank and Borsa Istanbul members, and rough diamonds need a Kimberley Process Certificate.
- Food, plants and animal products. These need control or health certificates.
- Medicines and cosmetics. These need Ministry of Health approval.
Goods declared as not needing a control, but found to need one, can be forfeited, with a penalty of twice their customs value. Check the GTIP before you load.
What does shipping from Dubai to Turkey cost?
We do not publish rates because they change with the market and the cargo. These are the items that make up your total:
| Cost item | Who usually pays | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| UAE trucking and export clearance | Shipper (EXW aside) | Pickup location, cargo type |
| Origin terminal charges | Shipper | Container type, DG or reefer |
| Ocean or air freight | Depends on Incoterm | Volume, weight, season, carrier |
| Surcharges | Depends on Incoterm | Fuel, DG, out-of-gauge, peak season |
| Turkish port and terminal charges | Consignee | Terminal tariff, storage days |
| Customs broker and TAREKS fees | Consignee | Number of lines, inspections |
| Duty, VAT, OTV | Consignee | GTIP, origin, CIF value |
| Demurrage and detention | Whoever delays the box | Days beyond free time |
The Incoterm decides where your cost stops and where the Turkish consignee starts paying duty, VAT, OTV and terminal charges. Our guide to Incoterms 2020 for sea freight explains each one. Carrier free days and daily rates are on the quote, and they are usually much shorter than the 45 days Turkish customs allows for temporary storage. Our article on demurrage and detention shows how the charges build up.
How to ship cargo from Dubai to Turkey: step by step
- Send us the cargo details. Commodity, HS code, weight, volume or dimensions, pickup address in the UAE, the Turkish city and the Incoterm.
- Confirm the Turkish side. The consignee confirms its tax number, its customs broker and the full 12-digit GTIP, and checks if TAREKS or a permit applies.
- Check origin. If you want CEPA preference, prepare the proof of UAE origin before the goods leave.
- Choose port and mode. We compare services to Mersin and Ambarli, or air to Istanbul, and quote.
- Book space. For DG, out-of-gauge or reefer cargo we get carrier and terminal acceptance first.
- Pickup and export clearance. We truck the cargo or the empty container, file the UAE export declaration and gate in before the cut-off.
- Bill of lading. We check the draft against the invoice and packing list, then release the final bill.
- Send documents early. The broker in Turkey gets the invoice, packing list, origin proof and bill of lading before the vessel arrives.
- Clearance and delivery. The broker files in BILGE, the consignee pays duty and VAT, and the cargo leaves the port within free time.
[AMIR-FACT: one real Dubai to Turkey shipment we handled (cargo, mode, port, total days door to port, any problem solved)]
Checklist before you ship to Turkey
- Consignee's Turkish tax number confirmed and shown on the documents.
- Full 12-digit GTIP confirmed by the Turkish broker.
- TAREKS application or permit started, if the GTIP needs one.
- Proof of UAE origin ready, if you claim CEPA preference.
- Invoice, packing list and bill of lading match on weights, piece counts and names.
- Discharge port chosen by the consignee's location.
- For DG: terminal at destination accepts the class.
- For project cargo: drawings, weights and lifting points sent to the carrier.
- Free time on the container agreed with the carrier.
- Cargo insurance arranged.
Common mistakes on the Dubai to Turkey lane
- Using only the 6-digit HS code. Turkish duty and controls follow the 12-digit GTIP, and a wrong code can mean reassessment or a missing permit.
- Assuming re-exported goods get CEPA rates. Only goods of UAE origin under the agreement qualify.
- Starting TAREKS after arrival. The application can take time, and the box sits in storage while it runs.
- Shipping used goods without permission. Used and refurbished items usually need Ministry approval first.
- Booking DG to a terminal that does not accept the class. The carrier may roll the box or reroute it.
- Letting temporary storage run. Sea cargo must be assigned a customs treatment within 45 days of the summary declaration.
Frequently asked questions
Which Turkish port is best for cargo from Dubai?
It depends on the consignee's location. Ambarli in Istanbul suits Istanbul and western Marmara, while Mersin suits southern and central Turkey, including Adana, Gaziantep, Kayseri and Konya.
Is there customs duty on goods shipped from Dubai to Turkey?
Yes, unless the goods qualify for a reduced or zero rate. Goods of UAE origin can use the UAE-Türkiye CEPA, which covers 80% of tariff lines, if you provide valid proof of origin. Other goods pay Turkey's normal rate for their GTIP and origin.
What is the VAT rate on imports into Turkey?
Most imported goods pay 20% VAT. Some goods pay reduced rates of 10% or 1%. VAT is calculated on the CIF value plus duty and other charges due at clearance.
What is BILGE?
BILGE is the computerised customs system of Turkey's Ministry of Trade. Declarations are filed in it with a username and password, so most importers use a licensed customs broker who already has access.
Do I need a Turkish company to import goods?
The importer needs a Turkish tax number. Under the Import Regime Decree, anyone with a tax number issued under the Tax Procedural Law can import goods into Turkey.
What is TAREKS and does my shipment need it?
TAREKS is the Ministry of Trade's risk-based product safety system for imports. If your GTIP is listed in the annexes of the 2026 Product Safety and Inspection Communiqués, the importer must file a TAREKS application before clearance.
How long can cargo stay in a Turkish port before clearance?
Sea cargo in temporary storage must be assigned a customs treatment within 45 days of the summary declaration. Carrier free time on the container is usually much shorter, so clear early to avoid demurrage.
Can I ship dangerous goods from Dubai to Turkey?
Yes, if they are packed and declared to the IMDG Code or IATA rules and the carrier and discharge terminal accept the class. Some Turkish terminals do not handle Class 1, 6.2 or 7 at all.
Get a quote for shipping from Dubai to Turkey
Send us your cargo details and the Turkish delivery city, and we will come back with a routing and price for sea or air. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a DG, project or CEPA shipment first. You can also read about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade: UAE CEPA (signing, entry into force, 80% of tariff lines)
- UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism: UAE-Türkiye CEPA
- Abu Dhabi Customs: Conditions for CEPA benefits (proof of origin, direct transport)
- Ministry of Trade: Import regime FAQ (who can import, summary declaration, 45 days, restrictions, vehicles, phones)
- Ministry of Trade: Tariff FAQ (12-digit GTIP, Binding Tariff Information)
- Ministry of Trade: Digital customs FAQ (BILGE username and password, Single Window)
- Investment Office of the Presidency of Türkiye: Tax guide (VAT rates, VAT on imports, special consumption tax)
- US International Trade Administration: Türkiye import tariffs (customs union, additional duties, VAT base)
- US International Trade Administration: Türkiye import requirements and documentation
- EY: Türkiye 2026 product safety and inspection changes (TAREKS)
- Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure: Maritime statistics bulletin 2025 (container handling by port area)
- PSA International: Mersin International Port fact sheet 2026
- Mersin International Port: Press release, 6 October 2025 (operator, rail and road links)
- Kumport: Terminal facts and services
- TURKLIM: Mardas port facts
- Marport: Dangerous cargo handling guide, revision 26 June 2025
- DP World: Jebel Ali Port
- Fluent Cargo: UAE to Turkey air and sea routes
Reviewed: 10 November 2026