How our air freight service works
You send us the details. What you're shipping, the weight and dimensions, where we collect it in the UAE, and where it's going.
We check and quote. We confirm the cargo can fly to that destination and send you a price. Dangerous goods are checked for acceptance before anything is booked.
We collect and prepare. We pick up from your address, pack or palletise where needed, and prepare the labels and export documents.
We book the flight. Your shipment leaves from Dubai or whichever UAE airport best suits the route and available space.
We deliver. We coordinate customs clearance and deliver the shipment to the receiver's address at destination.
When air freight is the right choice
Air costs more than road or sea, so it earns its place in specific situations:
Time matters. Replacement parts for equipment that has stopped, stock for a launch date, samples a buyer is waiting for.
The cargo is valuable but light. Electronics, spare parts and similar goods where speed and fewer handling points outweigh the freight cost.
Road isn't practical. For Iraq, Libya, Europe, Russia and Kazakhstan, air is usually the most direct way to move smaller consignments from the UAE.
Air Freight or road for GCC destinations?
For Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman we also ship by road. Heavy or bulky loads usually cost far less by truck, while air Where we ship by air from the UAE suits urgent, compact or high-value shipments. If you're unsure, tell us your deadline and we'll quote both options.
• GCC: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman
• Iraq: Baghdad, the Kurdistan Region and southern Iraq
• Libya
• Europe
• Russia
• Kazakhstan
What we ship — and what we check first
Commercial cargo. Stock, spare parts, electronics, samples, retail goods and food products for companies trading from the UAE.
Personal shipments. Clothing, belongings, household items and gifts, whether you're sending to family or moving abroad.
Dangerous goods. Lithium batteries, perfumes, aerosols and some chemicals can fly when they are correctly classified, packed and labelled under IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. We'll ask for the product's Safety Data Sheet. Some substances are not permitted on aircraft at all, and we'll tell you before booking rather than after.
at BBC Shipping we provide Shipping Apple Products & Branded Electronics to versus destinations
How air freight is priced
Airlines charge by chargeable weight: whichever is higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. This is why a large, light box can cost more than a small, heavy one.
Actual weight vs volumetric weight
Volumetric weight is calculated as length × width × height in centimetres, divided by 6,000.
Example:
a carton measuring 100 × 80 × 60 cm and weighing 40 kg has a volumetric weight of 480,000 ÷ 6,000 = 80 kg. You'd be charged for 80 kg, not 40. Packing tightly and removing empty space is often the easiest way to lower an air freight bill.
Other things that affect the priceThe destination and how much space is available on that route
How quickly the shipment must arrive
Cargo type: dangerous goods and perishables need special handling
Pickup and delivery locations
Seasonal demand, which usually peaks in the last quarter of the year
Documents for an air shipment
Commercial invoice for commercial cargo, with a clear description and value
Packing list showing the number of pieces, weights and dimensions
Air Waybill (AWB), which we arrange when booking
Certificate of origin, where the destination requires one
Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods and Safety Data Sheet for hazardous items
ID copy and a list of contents for personal shipments
Requirements differ by destination, so we confirm exactly what you'll need when we send your quote.
What to send us for a quote
A short description of the goods
Number of pieces, total weight and the dimensions of each piece
Your pickup location in the UAE
The destination city and delivery address type (business or home)
The date the shipment needs to arrive
Whether it contains batteries, liquids, perfume or chemicals
Whether it's a commercial or personal shipment
Send the details on WhatsApp: +971 50 867 8110
