Everything you need to know about sea shipping from the UAE to Egypt and the Gulf countries.
New sea freight bookings are temporarily paused due to current delays in global shipping schedules. Land shipping continues as normal. Read the details →
Have you thought about the difference between shipping a single piece of furniture and shipping the entire contents of a home across the sea? Sea shipping is the solution built for this kind of large shipment — lower cost per kilogram than any other method, but it takes more patience in return.
Jebel Ali Port — one of the world's largest ports: In 2025, Jebel Ali Port handled around 15.6 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) — a new record that places it 9th globally among the world's largest container ports, and the largest port between Singapore and the United States by handling volume. Dubai also held its place among the world's top five sea shipping centers for the eighth consecutive year (Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index 2026). In 2023 alone, Jebel Ali received 5,342 container ship calls — double its nearest regional competitor.
Source: Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index 2026
The Suez Canal — the artery most of our sea shipments cross: Shipping traffic through the Suez Canal saw a gradual recovery through 2025 and 2026 after a period of regional disruption, with major global shipping lines resuming their usual transits — among them CMA CGM (18 vessels a month), Hapag-Lloyd (15 vessels a month), and Maersk (9 vessels a month), per Suez Canal Authority data. This growing stability in shipping traffic reflects directly on how consistently sea shipments arrive from Jebel Ali at Egyptian ports.
The most-used sea shipping destination in our network, with a documented 20 to 45 day duration via Jebel Ali Port to Alexandria, Port Said, or Suez.
Read the Egypt shipping guide →Sea shipping is available as an economical option for large commercial quantities or full containers, via local Saudi ports — exact duration confirmed at booking.
Read the Saudi Arabia shipping guide →Sea shipping is available as an economical option for large commercial quantities or full containers, via local Omani ports — exact duration confirmed at booking.
Read the Oman shipping guide →Sea shipping is available as an economical option for large commercial quantities or full containers, via local Qatari ports — exact duration confirmed at booking.
Read the Qatar shipping guide →Sea shipping is available as an economical option for large commercial quantities or full containers, via the local Bahrain port — exact duration confirmed at booking.
Read the Bahrain shipping guide →Sea shipping is available as an economical option for large commercial quantities or full containers, via the local Kuwait port — exact duration confirmed at booking.
Read the Kuwait shipping guide →Sea shipping is the best fit for farther destinations like Turkey, or for large quantities to Jordan and Lebanon.
Read the guide for these destinations →The ships that carry containers from the UAE to Egypt and the Gulf countries hold huge quantities in a single trip, and that's what makes the cost per kilogram far lower than land or air shipping. The larger your shipment, the greater the economic benefit of this method — which is why it's the first choice for moving an entire home or large commercial shipments.
Sea shipments depart from Jebel Ali Port in Dubai — one of the largest ports in the region — arriving, in Egypt's case, at one of the main ports: Alexandria, Port Said, or Suez, depending on the shipment's final destination and the vessel sailing schedule at the time. For Gulf destinations, the receiving ports vary by country — see each destination's guide for details.
The entire container (20 or 40 feet) is dedicated to your shipment only — suited to moving an entire home or large commercial shipments.
Shares container space with other shipments — suited to smaller quantities that don't need a full container, at a relatively lower cost per shipment.
Every sea shipment — whatever its size — is issued a document known internationally as the Bill of Lading, the most important document in sea shipping for three reasons: it serves as an official receipt confirming the carrier has taken possession of the goods, it serves as the contract of carriage between shipper and carrier, and it also serves as a document of title — meaning whoever holds the original copy is the one entitled to collect the shipment at its final port. This means the Bill of Lading isn't just a routine piece of paper, but the document on which every right and responsibility of the entire sea journey is built.
In addition to the Bill of Lading, every shipment is subject to International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules on container and cargo safety, which we track and ensure every shipment complies with — especially when shipping items that may need special classification.
What does this mean for you as a customer? We're the ones who issue and follow up on the Bill of Lading on your behalf, and make sure you receive a clear copy as soon as it's issued — this is the document you'll need to prove ownership of your shipment when collecting it at its final destination.
Duration to Egypt ranges between 20 to 45 days from pickup to final delivery, depending on the specific port and the vessel's sailing date (ships depart on a regular schedule, not immediately on request as with land shipping). This duration includes the sea journey itself plus customs clearance and internal delivery after arrival at the port. For Gulf destinations, duration varies by country.
A sea journey means longer exposure to moisture and salinity, especially for wooden and metal items. That's why sea packing is more specialized than standard land packing — moisture-resistant wrapping, extra protection layers for wooden furniture, and secure bracing inside the container to prevent movement throughout the long journey.
Not necessarily — the economic benefit of sea shipping shows clearly with large quantities and full containers, while land or even a shared container may suit smaller quantities better.
The choice depends on your final destination inside Egypt and the vessel sailing schedule at the time of booking — we help you determine the best fit when you reach out.
Yes, that's exactly what the shared container (LCL) service offers.
Yes, fully included in the service — Read the customs handling guide →
Message us on WhatsApp with your shipment details and size, and we'll help you determine the best container type and an accurate quote.