Is UAE customs a single authority?

No, each emirate has its own customs authority, and the one that applies follows the entry point.

What most prevents a delayed parcel?

A full address with emirate, area and building, and an active phone number.

Should I give my card details to a caller claiming to be customs?

No, never send your card details or password.

Which UAE Customs Handles Your Parcel?

Each UAE emirate has its own customs authority, and the one reviewing your parcel is the authority at the entry point it arrives through, not your home emirate. Shipping usually lands by air in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and is then delivered across the seven emirates, so prepare invoices, your phone number and an address with emirate, area and building.

Updated 19 October 2026 · اقرأ بالعربية

The authority follows the entry point, not the address

There is no single customs authority for the whole UAE. Each emirate has its own, such as Dubai Customs. Shipping lands by air from Istanbul in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and is then delivered to homes in the seven emirates. If you live in Sharjah or Ajman, your parcel may pass through the entry point’s customs and then be delivered to you, so do not look only for your own emirate’s authority.

The address that does not send the parcel back

Write the emirate, city, area, building name and apartment number, and add your Makani number if you are in Dubai and know it. Then write the recipient’s name as it appears on your ID and an active phone number, because the courier may call before delivery. An incomplete address is a very common reason for a delayed parcel.

What documents to prepare

Keep the invoice of each store you buy from and record its real value, and send item names clearly rather than just “gifts”. Do not assume an exemption applies to every parcel, as the details are set by the authority at the entry point and they change. Check that authority’s page before buying an expensive piece.

If someone calls asking for your details

Answer only with what is on your invoice. Never send your card number or password to a caller claiming to be customs. The information really needed is name, address, phone and parcel value, and any payment goes through the authority’s official channels or through the MarkaShip team. For questions about specific items, check Dubai Customs or the authority your parcel passes through.

Common questions

Sources to check

Product rules and transport conditions can change. Confirm current requirements before buying or shipping.

Related steps

Get a purchase quote

Send the exact product link and options, destination city and any acceptable substitute. Review the itemized quote and shipping eligibility before payment.

Explore Buy for Me