Need meat, dairy, vegetables or medicines moved from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, or from Sharjah to Fujairah, without the temperature drifting? Al Basmah International Shipping is a refrigerated shipping company within the UAE running chiller vans and reefer trucks between all seven emirates: 0 to +8°C for chilled goods and down to −18°C for frozen. We set the temperature and pre-cool the body before loading, then run the same day on short and medium routes, or on a fixed schedule for repeat deliveries. Orders come in on WhatsApp +971557643821 around the clock, and the team messages you at each stage: loading, departure, arrival and handover.
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Your chilled run between emirates
- Chilled 0 to +8°C and frozen down to −18°C, set before loading.
- Same-day runs between Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.
- Several drops on one run for restaurants, supermarkets and pharmacies.
- Part-loads or full trucks; a chiller van inside one city starts from AED 275 per trip.
- Branches in Dubai (Deira, Port Saeed Street) and Sharjah (Industrial Area 18); WhatsApp orders any time.
What is refrigerated shipping within the UAE, and who uses it?
Refrigerated shipping means moving goods in an insulated body fitted with a cooling unit that holds a steady temperature from the loading point to the receiver’s door. Distances inside the UAE are short, but summer road heat passes 45°C, and half an hour in an ordinary van is enough to spoil a case of cheese or a load of fresh chicken. So the question is not how far the goods travel; it is whether the temperature stays put for the whole run.
Typical customers:
- Meat, poultry and fish distributors supplying branches in more than one emirate.
- Dairy, juice and dessert producers delivering to scattered points of sale.
- Restaurants, central kitchens and caterers moving meals and ingredients between kitchen and outlets.
- Pharmacies and medical stores that need 2 to 8°C.
- Event and exhibition organisers who need chilled stock on site for a day or two.
- Farms and florists bringing fresh produce from the north or east coast to Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets.
Refrigerated routes between the emirates and typical drive times
Most inter-emirate runs take under three hours of driving, which is why same-day delivery works on nearly every route. Times below are approximate for a loaded truck and change with traffic, the number of drops and waiting time at the receiver.
| Route | Typical drive time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai ↔ Sharjah | 30–60 min | Daily repeat distribution to shops and restaurants; Al Quoz and Jebel Ali stores to Sharjah industrial areas |
| Dubai ↔ Ajman | 40–70 min | Kitchen and café supply, large grocery drops |
| Dubai ↔ Umm Al Quwain | About 1 hour | Fish, farm produce and part-loads |
| Dubai ↔ Ras Al Khaimah | 1 to 1.5 hours | Vegetables, dairy and hotel/resort catering |
| Dubai ↔ Fujairah / Khor Fakkan | 1.5 to 2 hours | East-coast fish, and supplies for restaurants and hotels there |
| Dubai ↔ Abu Dhabi | 1.5 to 2 hours | Wholesale, supermarket and pharma loads |
| Dubai ↔ Al Ain | About 1.5 hours | Dairy, dates, vegetables and poultry |
| Abu Dhabi ↔ Al Ain | 1.5 to 2 hours | Distribution inside the Abu Dhabi emirate |
| Abu Dhabi ↔ Al Dhafra / Ruwais | 2.5 to 3 hours | Chilled and frozen supply for work sites and camps |
| Abu Dhabi ↔ Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah | Around 3 hours | A full run with a medium or large truck and an early start |
When one run crosses several emirates, say Dubai, then Sharjah, then Ajman, we order the drops by the road, not by the invoice list, so the doors open as few times as possible and the run stays short.
Same-day runs and scheduled runs
There are two ways to work with us inside the UAE, and the choice depends on how predictable your orders are.
Same-day run
Message us in the morning with the quantity and both addresses; a chiller van set to your temperature collects and delivers the same day on short and medium routes.
Scheduled run
A fixed slot daily or several times a week to the same drops, suited to restaurants, chains and pharmacies that know their needs in advance.
Night or early-morning run
For markets that receive before opening, or to avoid peak traffic and the hottest hours on the road.
Event or season run
A chiller vehicle stays on site for hours or a full day as mobile cold storage at weddings, exhibitions and peak seasons.
Scheduled runs cut waiting and make pricing clearer, because the route and volume are known. Same-day runs need the exact temperature and the time your goods will be ready, so the vehicle arrives already cold.
Multi-drop distribution on one run
Many chilled jobs inside the UAE are not point to point but one warehouse to ten or more addresses. That changes how the truck is loaded: the last drop goes in first, at the back, and the first drop sits by the door. The driver never has to dig through the load with the doors open.
- Send the list of addresses and each receiver’s delivery window; some malls and hotels only accept at set hours.
- Mark every carton or pallet with the receiver’s name and drop number.
- Tell us who signs at each drop; we send you a delivery photo on WhatsApp.
- If some drops need frozen and others chilled, we tell you whether a two-compartment vehicle works or whether it should be split across two vehicles.
Chilled freight to the northern and eastern emirates
Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Dibba are different work: mountain stretches on some roads, longer gaps between receivers, and markets that depend on fresh stock arriving early. We start these runs early and account for the climbs, which put extra load on the cooling unit, so the vehicle is never packed beyond what it can hold cold.
In the other direction, we bring east-coast fish and produce from farms around Ras Al Khaimah and Al Dhaid to Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Fresh fish travels at around 0 to +2°C on ice, leafy greens at 0 to +4°C, while tomatoes and cucumbers ride a little warmer so the cold does not damage them.
Chiller vehicle types and sizes
| Vehicle | Approx. capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small chiller van | Up to about 1 tonne | Daily restaurant orders, pharmacies, cakes and desserts in the city |
| Medium reefer truck (3–5 t) | Several pallets | Multi-drop runs across two or three emirates, supermarket deliveries |
| Large truck (7–10 t) | Wholesale loads | Warehouse-to-warehouse moves, hotel supply and remote sites |
| Reefer trailer | Up to about 24 pallets | Large loads inside the country and to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the Gulf |
| Reefer container 20 / 40 ft | Depends on cargo | Sea export from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to distant countries |
Do not pick a vehicle on weight alone. Light, bulky cartons like flowers and bread fill the body long before the weight limit, and a body packed to the roof blocks the cold air from circulating. Leave space above the load and between pallets and walls.
Temperatures by type of goods
These are approximate ranges used in chilled transport; the final setting is the shipper’s or manufacturer’s call. Tell us the figure printed on the carton if there is one.
| Goods | Approx. temperature |
|---|---|
| Fresh meat and poultry | −1 to +2°C |
| Fresh fish | −1 to +2°C on ice |
| Frozen meat and fish | −18°C or colder |
| Ice cream | −20°C or colder |
| Milk, yoghurt and cheese | 0 to +4°C |
| Leafy greens, strawberries, grapes | 0 to +4°C |
| Tomatoes and cucumbers | +7 to +10°C |
| Bananas and mangoes | +10 to +14°C |
| Chocolate and sweets | +12 to +18°C |
| Cut flowers | +1 to +4°C |
| Medicines and vaccines needing refrigeration | +2 to +8°C |
On request, the driver sends a photo of the temperature display at pickup and at delivery, which you can keep for your records or show the receiver.
How the cold chain is kept from door to door
- Pre-cooling: the unit runs before arrival so the body is at your temperature the moment the doors open.
- Fast loading: we back up to the cold-room door where possible and never leave pallets on a sunny dock.
- Doors closed: doors open only at drops, with strip curtains where fitted to limit cold loss.
- Pallets with airflow: cartons never sit on the floor, and there is a channel for air above and around them.
- Keeping incompatible goods apart: no fish next to open dairy, no bananas beside leafy greens, because of odours and ethylene.
Goods must be at the right temperature before loading. A reefer holds temperature; it is not built to pull down a warm load quickly. Freshly slaughtered meat or vegetables picked at noon need time in a cold room first.
How to book a chilled run inside the UAE
- WhatsApp +971557643821 with the goods, the temperature, the number of cartons or pallets and the rough weight.
- Add the pickup point, the drop or drops, and the time the goods will be ready.
- We suggest the vehicle size and send you the price.
- The vehicle arrives pre-cooled, loads, and you get a departure message.
- You get a message at each drop, plus a temperature photo if you asked for one.
You can also fill in the quote form on the site and the team will get back to you.
Preparing and packing the goods
- Use moisture-resistant cartons; condensation inside the body can weaken plain board.
- Seal meat and fish in tight bags, and put fresh fish in foam boxes with ice.
- Stretch-wrap cartons to the pallet and keep the height low enough for air to pass.
- Write the required temperature on the cartons and mark fragile ones.
- Have the delivery note or purchase order ready for each receiver.
Common mistakes and warnings
- Booking a chiller for frozen goods, or the reverse: +4°C and −18°C are far apart, and not every body reaches −18°C.
- Loading warm goods and hoping they cool on the way.
- Not mentioning hotel or mall delivery windows, so the vehicle waits and later drops run late.
- Mixing strong-smelling products with ones that absorb odours.
- Filling the body to the roof.
Warning: If goods reach the loading point warmer than required, the driver tells you before loading and sends a photo of the reading; the decision is yours.
Prices for refrigerated shipping inside the UAE and what decides them
A chiller van inside one city starts from AED 275 per trip or day. Larger trucks and runs between emirates are priced on the details: send them on WhatsApp and you will get the price. For a look at the budget options, see refrigerated shipping at competitive prices.
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Vehicle size | A van costs less than a medium truck; a trailer is priced as a full run |
| Temperature | Frozen at −18°C uses more energy than chilled |
| Distance and route | Within a city is lower; between emirates goes by distance |
| Number of drops | Every extra drop adds time |
| Waiting time | Long waits at pickup or delivery are charged |
| Part-load or full truck | Part-loads save money when volume is small and the route is shared |
| Loading and unloading | Extra labour or a forklift when needed |
| Documents | Special papers for export or government sites |
Coverage: every emirate, the Gulf and beyond
Inside the country we cover Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. Beyond it, we run reefer trucks by road to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, and ship 20 ft and 40 ft reefer containers by sea from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to farther countries. For cross-border details see international refrigerated transport from the UAE, and for the road route to the Kingdom see shipping from the UAE to Saudi Arabia.
Export loads usually need a commercial invoice, a packing list, a certificate of origin, a health certificate for food from the competent authority, and an import permit at the destination where required. The team checks each destination’s requirements before loading.
Chilled air freight for urgent orders
When the receiver is abroad and time is tight, such as flowers for an occasion, medicines, premium seafood or samples, chilled air freight is the answer. We take the goods in a chiller vehicle to the airport cargo terminal, where they are packed in insulated boxes with gel packs or dry ice as the product needs, then handed over for the flight. Air suits small and medium quantities with high value or a short shelf life; for large volumes, road or sea costs far less.
FAQ: refrigerated shipping within the UAE
Do you run same-day refrigerated shipping between emirates?
Yes, on most routes, especially between Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah, as long as the goods are ready at their temperature and the order comes in early.
Can frozen and chilled goods travel on the same run?
It depends on the vehicle available and the volume of each. If combining them would compromise either one, we send two vehicles or plan two runs.
How much does a chiller van cost inside Dubai?
A chiller van inside one city starts from AED 275 per trip or day; the final price depends on size, temperature and the number of drops.
Do you take small loads that do not fill a vehicle?
Yes. We accept part-loads and add them to a run on the same route when the temperatures are compatible.
How do I know the temperature held?
On request, the driver sends a photo of the display at pickup and delivery, and the team messages you on WhatsApp at every stage.
Do you cover Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Dibba?
Yes. We cover the east coast and the northern emirates and prefer early starts on those routes.
Are the goods insured in transit?
Ask the team about optional insurance before booking; they will tell you what is available for your goods.
For vehicles and sizes in detail, read the guide to refrigerated transport in the UAE, and for the right temperature per product see refrigerated shipping for all goods.
Got a chilled load between two emirates today?
Send the goods, the temperature and both addresses, and we will reply with the right vehicle and the price.
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