A globe with a route running from Japan across Asia and the Gulf into Dubai, UAE.

Car shipping from Japan to Dubai

Car shipping from Japan to Dubai is an air freight move for cars coming into the UAE. Duty and VAT are settled at UAE customs, and the car must meet RTA registration rules before it can take the road. Transit is typically 1 to 6 days.

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Transit
1 to 6 days
Shipped by
Air
Departs from
Osaka Kansai (KIX) / Tokyo Narita (NRT)
Duty, VAT
5%, 5%

Transit times. Due to the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East, shipping schedules are facing severe disruption and frequent changes. Please confirm the expected transit time with our team before booking, rather than relying on standard timings.

Shipping a car from Japan to Dubai by air

This page is for cars coming into Dubai, not leaving it: we ship cars from Japan to the UAE by air, and we do not ship cars from Dubai to Japan. Two sets of rules apply. Japan requires a registered car to be deregistered before export, and the UAE charges customs duty and VAT on arrival, then asks for a clearance certificate and an RTA safety test before registration. Right-hand-drive cars cannot be registered in Dubai unless they carry a classical plate, so check the steering position and the specification of the car before you buy it.

Cars on this route travel from Japan to Dubai by air. UAE duty and VAT are settled at customs, and the RTA registers the car after the safety test and insurance.

Air freight is the only mode on this route. The car is booked on air freight from Japan to Dubai, with transit of 1 to 6 days before UAE customs clearance begins.

Not sure which suits your car? Compare car shipping methods from Dubai.

Airports for Japan to Dubai

  • Osaka Kansai (KIX)Air
  • Tokyo Narita (NRT)Air

Cars fly from Osaka Kansai (KIX) or Tokyo Narita (NRT). Your quote states which one your car uses.

UAE customs duty and VAT on a car from Japan

Import duty
5%
VAT
5%

Dubai Customs charges 5% duty on the assessed value of an imported car, new or used. Import VAT of 5% is charged on the customs value, which includes insurance, freight and customs fees. A private importer pays the VAT before release. Exact charges depend on the assessed value and are confirmed before you commit.

Documents for importing a car from Japan

  • Original invoice
  • Packing list
  • Air waybill from the carrier
  • Passport or Emirates ID copy of the importer
  • Export deregistration certificate from Japan, in Japanese and English
  • Gulf Specifications compliance document, if the customs card does not show compliance

Dubai Customs asks for the original invoice, the packing list, the transport document and a passport or Emirates ID copy. After clearance it issues a Vehicle Clearance Certificate, which is mandatory before the car can be registered. On the Japan side, a registered car needs a Certificate of Registration Deletion before it is exported.

How a Japan to Dubai car shipment works

  1. Check the car firstTell us the make, model and year before you buy. The RTA does not register right-hand-drive cars without a classical plate, and cars that are burnt out, flooded or damaged beyond repair are banned from import.
  2. Deregister in JapanA registered car must have its registration deleted for export. Japan Customs asks for the Certificate of Registration Deletion, and a car that is already deleted needs a Notice of Planned Export.
  3. Air freight to DubaiWe book the car on air freight from Japan to Dubai, with transit of 1 to 6 days, and keep you updated until it lands.
  4. UAE customs clearanceDuty and VAT are assessed on the invoice value and settled before release. Dubai Customs then issues the Vehicle Clearance Certificate.
  5. RTA registrationThe car takes the RTA safety test, with insurance and a Gulf Specifications document where customs does not show compliance, and is then registered.

Japan to Dubai car shipping: your questions

Can I ship a car from Dubai to Japan?
No. This route runs one way: we ship cars from Japan to Dubai, by air. We do not ship cars from Dubai to Japan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Japan to Dubai?
Air freight typically takes 1 to 6 days. UAE customs clearance and RTA registration come after that, and nothing is guaranteed because transit times are indicative.
What duty and VAT do I pay on a car imported from Japan?
Dubai Customs applies 5% duty to the assessed value of an imported car, and import VAT of 5% is added on the customs value including freight and insurance. We confirm the exact charges before you commit.
Can I register a right-hand-drive Japanese car in Dubai?
The RTA says a right-hand-drive vehicle cannot be registered in Dubai unless it has a classical plate. Ask the RTA about the specific car before you buy it.
Does a car from Japan need to meet Gulf specifications?
The RTA asks for proof of Gulf Specifications compliance when the customs card does not show it, in the form of a document from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology. Check the specific car before you buy it.

Other destinations in Asia Pacific

The arc illustrates a coverage connection from Dubai, they do not claim a direct service in either direction. Transit times are indicative and confirmed at quotation.

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