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ComorosCustoms duty calculator for the UAE 2026: duty and tax on what you import
Enter the value of the goods and the shipping cost to see the customs duty, any excise tax and the VAT you pay when a parcel or shipment arrives in the UAE, and the full landed cost.
Import VAT in the UAE is 5%. Example: goods worth 1,836 UAE dirhams (Standard GCC Common Customs Tariff duty, 5% duty) with 147 shipping: customs duty 5%: 99.15; Dubai import declaration fees (from 15 dirhams): 15; VAT 5%: 104. So the full landed cost is 2,201 UAE dirhams (11.9% on top of the price of the goods).
Your shipment
Customs rules in the UAE
- Valuation basis
- Value of the goods + shipping + insurance (CIF).
- VAT
- 5% on the value plus duty.
- Small shipments
- Dubai Customs Notice No. 16/2026, in force on 3 August 2026: e-commerce goods worth no more than 1,000 dirhams are exempt from customs duty; the exemption does not cover tobacco and tobacco products, e-cigarettes, nicotine liquids or alcohol. The exemption is from duty only, and 5% VAT is still due according to secondary sources (VAT threshold not confirmed by an official source). The rule is issued by Dubai and may differ in the other emirates.
- Traveller allowance
- Gifts worth up to 3,000 dirhams are exempt, as are tobacco up to 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco, and alcohol up to 4 litres or two cartons of beer. Cash, currencies and traveller's cheques of 60,000 dirhams or more must be declared by anyone aged 18 or over.
- Cars
- Customs duty 5% and VAT 5%. Secondary sources say an imported used car must be no more than 10 years old from the year of manufacture, with an exception for classic cars by special approval of the Roads Authority. We could not confirm an official text (age limit not confirmed by an official source).
- Gold and jewellery
- Gold jewellery 5%, and raw gold and bullion 0%; investment gold of 99% purity or more is zero-rated for VAT according to secondary sources, and jewellery is subject to 5% VAT.
- Dubai import declaration fees (from 15 dirhams)
- From 15 to 100 dirhams depending on the type of declaration and shipping channel.
Common customs duty rates for individuals
| Category | Rate | Examples and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard GCC Common Customs Tariff duty | 5% | Televisions (8528.72), games consoles (9504.50), clothing (Chapters 61 and 62), footwear (Chapter 64), bags (4202), perfumes (3303), cosmetics (3304), furniture (Chapter 94), toys (9503), watches (9102) |
| Smartphones, laptops and headphones | 0% | Smartphones (8517.13), laptops (8471.30), headphones (8518.30) |
| Exempt staple foods | 0% | Rice (1006.30), sugar (1701.99) |
| Common processed foods | 5% | Cheese (0406.90), milk powder (0402.21), chocolate (1806.32), baked goods (1905.90), juices (2009.89) |
| Gold jewellery | 5% | Jewellery and articles of gold (7113.19) |
The exact rate depends on the item's Harmonized System (HS) code. The table covers the categories individuals buy most often.
Excise tax
| Item | Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco and tobacco products | 100% | |
| E-cigarettes and e-liquids | 100% | |
| Energy drinks | 100% | Remains at 100% outside the tiered volume-based model |
| Drinks with medium sugar (5 to under 8 grams per 100 ml) | 0.79 AED per litre | |
| Drinks with high sugar (8 grams or more per 100 ml) | 1.09 AED per litre |
- Most of the available official sources are from Dubai Customs; each emirate has its own local customs department and administrative fees may differ.
- It was previously reported that the exemption threshold was cut to 300 dirhams in 2023 and then restored; Notice 16/2026 fixes the threshold at 1,000 dirhams from 3 August 2026.
Sources
- Dubai Customs: frequently asked questions
- Dubai Customs: luggage and permitted items
- Dubai Customs: customs declaration service and its fees
- Khaleej Times: goods up to 1,000 dirhams exempt from duty
- VATupdate: Dubai Customs Notice 16/2026
- Gulf News: excise tax tiers for sweetened drinks
- PwC: summary of other taxes in the UAE
- World Bank WITS: 2023 tariff data
Amounts in UAE dirham (AED).
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate customs duty in the UAE?
Customs value = the price of the goods + shipping + insurance. Customs duty = the customs value × the rate for the category of goods, then VAT at 5% on the value plus the duty.
Are small parcels exempt from customs duty in the UAE?
Dubai Customs Notice No. 16/2026, in force on 3 August 2026: e-commerce goods worth no more than 1,000 dirhams are exempt from customs duty; the exemption does not cover tobacco and tobacco products, e-cigarettes, nicotine liquids or alcohol. The exemption is from duty only, and 5% VAT is still due according to secondary sources (VAT threshold not confirmed by an official source). The rule is issued by Dubai and may differ in the other emirates.
What is the duty-free allowance for travellers in the UAE?
Gifts worth up to 3,000 dirhams are exempt, as are tobacco up to 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco, and alcohol up to 4 litres or two cartons of beer. Cash, currencies and traveller's cheques of 60,000 dirhams or more must be declared by anyone aged 18 or over.
How much customs duty is charged on cars in the UAE?
Customs duty 5% and VAT 5%. Secondary sources say an imported used car must be no more than 10 years old from the year of manufacture, with an exception for classic cars by special approval of the Roads Authority. We could not confirm an official text (age limit not confirmed by an official source).
Other countries and tools
Results are estimates based on common band rates. The final rate depends on the item's HS code and the customs valuation, and the courier may add clearance fees.
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