Estimated Shipping Costs and Timelines from USA West Coast to UAE

A few years ago, I found myself staring at a 2015 Dodge Challenger listed at an auction in Los Angeles. The price was tempting, and I started running the numbers in my head. Purchase cost? Easy to calculate. Customs duty in Dubai? Roughly straightforward. But the big question that had me scratching my head was: How much is it going to cost me to get this car from the US West Coast all the way to the UAE? And how long would it take?

If you’ve ever thought about buying a car in the US and shipping it to the UAE, chances are you’ve wrestled with the same uncertainty. The truth is, shipping isn’t a one-size-fits-all game. Costs and timelines depend on a mix of factors—from the port you’re shipping out of to whether you choose roll-on/roll-off or container shipping. Let me walk you through what I’ve learned, both from my own trial and error and from talking to shipping agents who deal with UAE-bound vehicles every week.

Why the West Coast Matters

First, let’s clear up why the West Coast is such a big deal for shipments. Ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle are some of the busiest in the United States. For buyers located in or near California, Oregon, or Washington, these ports make the most sense.

But here’s the twist: shipping from the West Coast to the UAE usually takes longer and sometimes costs more than shipping from East Coast ports like New York or Baltimore. That’s because the route across the Pacific, through Asia, and into the Middle East adds extra mileage. A car leaving Los Angeles is likely to stop in ports like Singapore or Hong Kong before making its way to Jebel Ali in Dubai.

That said, if the car you’ve bought is sitting in Los Angeles, it’s usually not worth the expense to haul it all the way across the US just to ship from New York. Trucking it across the country can cost anywhere between $1,200 and $1,800, which eats up any savings you might get on the shorter shipping route.

Shipping Methods: RoRo vs Container

When shipping cars, you’ll generally be choosing between RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) and container shipping. Each option has its pros and cons, and the choice you make can influence both the cost and how long you’ll be waiting for the car to arrive.

RoRo: This is the simpler, more budget-friendly method. Your car is literally rolled onto the ship, secured in place, and rolled off at Jebel Ali. For standard sedans and SUVs, RoRo from Los Angeles to Dubai typically costs between $1,200 and $1,600 per vehicle. But here’s the catch—sailing schedules aren’t always frequent. Sometimes ships leave every two weeks, sometimes only once a month.

Container shipping: If you’re shipping a high-value car—a Mercedes S-Class, a restored classic, or even just a car you want better protection for—a container is worth considering. A shared 40-foot container can fit three to four cars, and the cost per car usually lands between $1,800 and $2,200. A dedicated container (for one vehicle) can run from $3,000 to $3,500. The timeline is a bit more predictable with containers since there are more sailings, but you’re paying for that convenience.

I once shipped a Nissan Altima via RoRo and a Dodge Charger via container within the same year. The Charger arrived faster and in pristine condition, while the Altima picked up a couple of scratches during transit. Nothing major, but it reinforced for me that the shipping method really does make a difference depending on how much you care about the car’s final condition.

Estimated Timelines

Here’s where expectations often collide with reality. Official estimates from most shipping companies put the sailing time from Los Angeles to Jebel Ali at 35 to 45 days. That’s just the time at sea, not counting loading, unloading, or customs clearance.

Now, in practice, I’ve seen it stretch to 50 days when there’s congestion at Jebel Ali or delays during transshipment stops in Asia. On the flip side, I’ve also had a container shipment arrive in 33 days flat, which felt like winning a small lottery.

The waiting can be frustrating, especially if you’ve already sold your old car in Dubai and are relying on the new one. My advice? Build in a buffer of at least two weeks beyond whatever timeline the shipping company gives you. That way, you’re not left stranded or overly anxious when delays inevitably happen.

Additional Costs You Might Overlook

When people think about shipping, they usually only consider the base freight cost. But there are add-ons that can quickly inflate the final bill:

Port handling fees in the US: Usually around $200 to $350 depending on the terminal.

Marine insurance: Around 1.5–2% of the car’s value. This is optional, but I strongly recommend it. I once skipped it on a low-value car and spent the entire 40-day transit worrying unnecessarily.

Destination handling in Dubai: Expect about $400 to $600 in charges once the car arrives.

Customs duty in Dubai: A flat 5% of the car’s CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight).

To put that into perspective, let’s take a 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser purchased for $28,000 in Los Angeles. Shipping via RoRo costs $1,500, insurance is $560 (2%), and port fees plus destination handling come to about $800. That makes the CIF value $30,860. Customs duty at 5% is another $1,543. By the time the Land Cruiser hits the road in Dubai, you’re at $32,400 to $33,000 before registration and inspection.

It’s not just about the sticker price of the car—you really need to run the math carefully to avoid surprises.

Paperwork and Processes

Shipping from the West Coast comes with its share of paperwork. You’ll need the car’s original title, a bill of sale, and export clearance from US customs. On the Dubai side, you’ll need those documents plus the bill of lading.

One detail that tripped me up early on was ensuring the title was properly endorsed before export. A missing signature delayed one of my shipments for nearly two weeks. Since then, I’ve made it a rule to triple-check every document before the car even heads to port.

How West Coast Timelines Compare to the East Coast

If you’re wondering whether it’s faster to ship from the East Coast, the short answer is yes. From New York to Jebel Ali, transit times are usually 25–30 days—a full two weeks shorter than from Los Angeles. The costs are also often lower by a few hundred dollars.

So why doesn’t everyone just use East Coast ports? Like I mentioned earlier, trucking a car from California to New York eats up time and money. Unless the car is already in the eastern half of the US, sticking with a West Coast departure usually makes more sense.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Over time, I’ve seen plenty of mistakes made by first-time shippers, and I’ve made some of them myself:

Ignoring sailing schedules: You might win an auction and rush to ship, only to discover the next RoRo vessel doesn’t leave for three weeks. Always check schedules before you buy.

Underestimating inland transport: Just because the car is in San Diego doesn’t mean it’s easy to get it to the Los Angeles port. Towing or trucking fees can add hundreds of dollars.

Skipping insurance: It feels like an easy place to save, but one major incident can wipe out your entire investment.

Not budgeting for customs storage fees: If your paperwork isn’t ready when the ship arrives, storage at Jebel Ali can cost $40–$60 per day.

A Personal Note on Patience

Shipping cars internationally taught me patience in a way few other things have. The waiting game, the paperwork, the occasional surprise costs—they all test you. But the moment the car rolls off the ship at Jebel Ali, and you see the very vehicle you picked out weeks earlier on a computer screen, it all feels worth it.

When I finally saw that Dodge Challenger in Dubai after nearly seven weeks of waiting, I remember laughing at myself for all the anxious emails I had sent to the shipping agent. The car looked fantastic, ran perfectly, and the sense of accomplishment was unlike anything I’d felt buying locally.

Final Thoughts

Shipping from the USA West Coast to the UAE isn’t the cheapest or fastest route, but it’s often the most practical for cars based in California or nearby states. Expect $1,200–$1,600 for RoRo, $1,800–$3,500 for containers, and timelines of 35–45 days at sea plus a week or two for handling on either end.

The key to staying sane through the process is preparation. Know your options, budget for the extras, and keep a buffer in your expectations. If you can do that, the whole experience feels less like a gamble and more like a calculated investment.

And who knows? The car you’re dreaming about might already be waiting in a lot somewhere in Los Angeles, just a shipment away from the streets of Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Published on: Sep 08, 2025

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