UAE car import cost 2026: customs, VAT, and freight from Korea

5% customs duty on CIF value plus 5% VAT on top — the full cost breakdown for importing a Korean car to Dubai or Jebel Ali in 2026.

Importing a car from Korea to the UAE runs through 5% customs duty and 5% VAT on top of the car price and freight, plus local inspection and registration fees after arrival. Here is the 2026 breakdown.

1) 5% customs duty on CIF value

UAE customs applies 5% on the vehicle's total value, calculated on a CIF basis: purchase price + freight cost + insurance. As an illustration: a car with a CIF value of AED 50,000 incurs AED 2,500 in customs duty.

2) 5% VAT

UAE VAT is charged at 5% on the sum of the customs value plus the duty itself. In the example above, VAT would be roughly AED 2,625.

3) Freight and local registration

Sea freight from Korea to Jebel Ali typically takes 21–28 days. After customs clearance, a local technical inspection (RTA in Dubai, or the equivalent body in your emirate) and plate registration are required before driving on public roads.

Item	Rate or amount
Customs duty	5% on CIF value
VAT	5% on (value + duty)
Freight to Jebel Ali	21–28 days by sea from Korea
Technical inspection & registration	Local fee after arrival — varies by emirate

These figures are based on published customs rates and may change — always confirm with your customs broker or your emirate's customs department before committing. We send a separate quote covering car price, commission, and freight to Jebel Ali or Dubai port.

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