Destination file · united-arab-emirates

Buy from Switzerland,
delivered to the UAE.

The short version

A flat 5% GCC duty and 5% VAT, with a low AED 300 threshold. Simple arithmetic and fast clearance — the complexity in this corridor is cultural and regulatory screening, not tax.

5%GCC common external tariff on most goods
5%VAT on the landed value
3–4Working days, Geneva to Dubai or Abu Dhabi
AED 300Threshold below which courier parcels clear free

What duty actually costs

Flat, predictable, unchanged.

The GCC common external tariff has held at 5% for most goods for years, and UAE VAT has been 5% since 2018. Of every market we serve, this is the easiest to quote accurately and the hardest to get through content screening.

Duty on Swiss goodsstable · verified 11 Aug 2026
0%3%6%9%5%20185%2021202420265%
Duty you actually payVAT, charged on the duty-inclusive value
  • 2003GCC customs union5% common external tariff on most goods, still the operative rate.5%
  • Jan 2018VAT introduced5% on imports, calculated on duty-inclusive landed value.5%
  • OngoingAED 300 thresholdCourier consignments below this value generally clear without duty or VAT.—
  • OngoingContent screeningGoods are inspected against UAE cultural and religious standards. This, not tax, is what delays parcels.—
  • The tax is trivial; the screening is not. UAE customs inspect printed matter, imagery, packaging artwork and product content against national standards. Gift packaging featuring alcohol, certain imagery or particular symbols will hold a consignment even when the goods themselves are permitted. We review artwork before purchase, not after seizure.

Sources: GCC Common Customs Law; UAE Federal Tax Authority VAT guidance; Dubai Customs prohibited and restricted goods list. Verified 11 August 2026.

Landed cost

What it actually costs to land in United Arab Emirates.

Every figure updates live. The duty basis, tax base and de-minimis rule change with the destination — that is the whole reason this page exists.

Goods, Swiss retail1 × CHF 1'649.00 incl. VAT1'649.00
Swiss VAT refunded8.1% reclaimed on export− 123.56
Net declared valuethe customs value1'525.44
Service fee8% of net · min. CHF 20122.04
Handlinginspection and extras25.00
Air freight14.8 kg chargeable · 3–4 days157.83
Import dutyGCC common external tariff · 5.0% on CIF · HS 8516.7184.16
VAT5% on landed value88.37
Total landed, DDP
Nothing owed on arrivalCHF 2'002.84≈ 9,112.92 AED

Most requested

What the Emirates buy from Switzerland.

The highest average order value of any market we serve, and the most gift-driven. Presentation matters here more than anywhere.

  • ✓Fine watches and jewelleryOur largest category by value. Boutique attendance, allocation lists and in-person photography before purchase.
  • ✓Luxury chocolate for corporate giftingOften several hundred units with bespoke wrapping. Summer transit needs insulated packing without exception.
  • ✓Swiss skincare and fragranceLa Prairie, Valmont and Swiss pharmacy exclusives not carried in regional retail.
  • ✓Swiss stationery and pensCaran d'Ache and engraved corporate gifts, usually with a deadline attached.
  • ✓Precision instruments and toolsBusiness procurement, often direct from the manufacturer rather than retail.

Restricted or refused

What we will not ship there.

We screen every request against this list before quoting. A refusal costs you nothing; a seizure costs you the goods.

  • ✕Alcohol in any formIncluding liqueur-filled chocolates and alcohol-based extracts. A single filled praline can hold an entire consignment.
  • ✕Pork and pork derivativesIncluding gelatine in confectionery. We check the ingredient list, not just the product name.
  • ✕E-cigarettes and vaping productsTightly controlled. We do not ship them.
  • ✕Certain supplements and nutraceuticalsRequire MoHAP registration. Personal quantities are sometimes accepted; we confirm before quoting.
  • ✕Printed matter and imagery failing screeningPackaging artwork included. We review it before purchase.
  • ✕Anything sanctioned or dual-useScreened against SECO and destination lists at quote and at payment.

Transit

Geneva to Dubai in three days.

Emirates and Swiss both fly the route daily, so capacity is rarely the constraint. Clearance is quick when screening is clean.

ServiceDoor to door
DHL Express WorldwideDefault, fastest clearance3 days
FedEx International PriorityStrong Abu Dhabi and Sharjah coverage3–4 days
Emirates SkyCargo consolidatedBulk corporate gifting orders4–6 days
Swiss Post PriorityLow value, non-urgent7–10 days

Questions

Shipping to United Arab Emirates, answered.

Can you ship liqueur chocolates to Dubai?

No. Alcohol in any concentration is prohibited, and that includes liqueur fillings, kirsch centres and alcohol-based flavour extracts. We check the ingredient declaration on every confectionery line before purchase and offer an alcohol-free equivalent instead. A single non-compliant praline can cause the whole consignment to be held.

How is the 5% duty calculated?

On the CIF value — goods plus freight plus insurance — not on the goods alone. VAT is then charged at 5% on that duty-inclusive figure. Our calculator applies both in that order, which is why the total is slightly higher than 10% of the product price.

Can you handle large corporate gifting orders?

Yes, and it is one of our most common requests here. Several hundred units, bespoke wrapping, individual gift cards and a fixed delivery date. Order six weeks ahead for anything requiring custom packaging or engraving.

Do you deliver to a free zone address?

Yes. Free zone entry has different documentation and often different tax treatment. Tell us the zone at quote stage — it can change the landed cost materially.

Get a UAE landed cost in under a minute.

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