If you live in Abu Dhabi and have decided to move back to Lebanon for good with your family, the usual way is a full container loaded outside your villa or apartment and shipped from Khalifa Port to Beirut port in roughly 3 to 4 weeks including clearance. Al Basmah International Shipping handles packing, loading, bracing and sealing the container, helps with the returning-citizen exemption paperwork, ships the family car in the container or by RoRo, and delivers to your house even if it sits in a mountain village in Mount Lebanon. Orders on WhatsApp +971557643821, at any hour.
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Moving home for good is different from shipping a few things. You are moving a house your children have grown up in: bedrooms, a full kitchen, toys, school books, appliances, and perhaps a generator or solar panels for the village house. This guide walks you through it step by step: how to choose the container size, what happens on loading day, which papers protect your exemption, and how a container reaches a stone house on a mountain road.
The family container
- A 20 ft container usually suits a two-bedroom apartment and a 40 ft a three- or four-bedroom villa; the team estimates from photos of your home.
- The container is loaded at your villa door, everything inside is braced, and it is closed with a bolt seal whose photo and number we send you.
- The returning-citizen exemption needs a passport, a consulate letter, an authenticated contents list and proof of address, with arrival within about three months.
- The family car ships in a container or by RoRo, and the team checks its entry conditions for Lebanon.
- Mount Lebanon deliveries switch to a smaller truck where needed. Price: send the details on WhatsApp and we send you the price.
What does a family ship from Abu Dhabi to Lebanon?
In a permanent move a family usually ships nearly the whole house, so we start with a photo walk-through or a visit to see what goes and what stays. What we see most in family containers from Abu Dhabi:
- Complete bedrooms with wardrobes, beds and mattresses, plus children’s rooms, toys and bikes.
- The kitchen: cookware, small appliances, fridge and washing machine, all of which work in Lebanon because the supply is 220–230 V / 50 Hz, the same as the UAE.
- Sofas, dining tables, rugs, curtains and family pictures.
- Books, school files and papers you do not want to lose.
- Garden furniture, barbecue gear and sports equipment.
- Generators, solar panels and inverters for the village house, noting that batteries, especially lithium, have their own transport rules.
- The family car, sometimes in the same container, sometimes separately.
A full container for you alone
Opened only for inspection in Beirut and then at your door.
Loaded at your villa
The container parks outside and is loaded directly, with no warehouse in between.
Returning-citizen papers
We prepare with you the contents list Lebanese customs ask for.
WhatsApp updates
A message at sealing, port arrival, sailing, arrival, clearance and delivery.
20 ft or 40 ft container?
The direct answer: a one- or two-bedroom apartment usually fits a 20 ft container, a villa or large apartment with three or more bedrooms needs a 40 ft, and if you have large garden furniture or a car it will probably be a 40 ft high cube. The figures below are approximate, because dismantled furniture takes far less space than assembled furniture.
| Container | Approx. internal volume | Usually suits | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft | About 33 cubic metres | One- or two-bedroom apartment | Better value if furniture is limited |
| 40 ft | About 67 cubic metres | Villa or three- to four-bedroom apartment | The most requested size for families |
| 40 ft high cube (HC) | About 76 cubic metres | Large villa, or furniture plus a car | Extra height for tall wardrobes |
| Consolidated load | Depends on your volume | Belongings that do not fill a container | Sailing date depends on the container filling |
If you are between two sizes, clear out some things before measuring: old furniture you plan to replace in Lebanon, worn-out appliances, clothes nobody wears. The difference between a 20 ft and a 40 ft is worth thinking about before you book.
From the villa to Khalifa Port: loading day
Packing and loading at the house
The packing team arrives before or with the container. Beds, wardrobes and tables are dismantled, and their screws go into numbered bags taped to the piece itself. Glass and crockery are wrapped one by one in paper and placed in double-wall cartons, mattresses and sofas go into covers, and appliances into their original boxes if you have them or into blankets. The container parks outside the villa and is loaded directly: heavy items low and at the front, lighter items above, fragile cartons on top.
Bracing inside the container
At sea a container rolls and vibrates for weeks, and if there are gaps the load shifts and knocks together. We fill gaps with cartons and blankets, strap each row to the container’s lashing rings, place timber cross-bars between rows, and use airbags in larger voids. The last row by the doors is braced so it does not fall on whoever opens the container in Beirut.
The bolt seal
When loading is finished, the doors are closed with a metal bolt seal carrying a unique number; it can only be removed by cutting. We photograph the seal and its number and send them to you on WhatsApp, and the number is recorded on the shipping papers. In Beirut you match the number: if the seal is intact and the number is the same, the container has not been opened since it left your home, except for an official inspection, which is itself recorded.
Sailing and arrival
The container is taken to Khalifa Port and sails through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to Beirut port, or Tripoli port if your house is in the North. It takes roughly 3 to 4 weeks including clearance, and the team updates you at every stage.
Pickup areas in Abu Dhabi
We collect from all over the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and before loading day the team checks that the street allows the container to park and that the community does not need an extra permit:
- Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Shamkha, Shakhbout City and Al Reef: family villas whose entrances usually take a container.
- Al Reem Island, Al Raha Beach, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island: towers and apartments that need the service lift booked.
- Al Khalidiyah, Al Mushrif, Al Bateen, the Corniche and downtown.
- Baniyas, Mussafah and Al Bahia.
- Khalifa Economic Zones (KEZAD), Abu Dhabi Global Market and Masdar City, for commercial shipments.
If you live in Al Ain, see the Al Ain to Lebanon shipping guide; Dubai residents have the Dubai to Lebanon shipping guide. The overall picture for all the emirates is in the UAE to Lebanon shipping guide.
Ways to ship from Abu Dhabi to Lebanon and how long they take
For a family moving for good, sea is the choice in most cases. Road suits a medium load you want sooner, and air is for urgent items. The team recommends the right method for your shipment at booking.
| Method | Approximate time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea (Khalifa Port → Beirut or Tripoli) | Roughly 3–4 weeks including clearance | A full house and the family car | 20 ft or 40 ft container, or RoRo for the car |
| Road in transit (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria) | Roughly 8–14 days door to door | A medium load or part of the house | Complete papers to cross several countries |
| Air (Abu Dhabi airport → Beirut airport) | About 2–4 days | Papers, clothes and first-weeks essentials | Not for furniture |
The road route from Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is closer to the Al Ghuwaifat border than the other emirates: the truck heads west along the coastal highway past Ruwais and Al Sila to Al Ghuwaifat, enters Saudi Arabia at Al Batha under sealed transit, then Jordan at Al Omari, Syria in transit at the Nasib/Jaber crossing, and Lebanon at Al Masnaa into the Bekaa and on to Beirut. It takes roughly 8 to 14 days including clearance. We use closed trailers of 12 to 13.6 m, and the team confirms that road suits your load and that your papers are complete before booking. Since Jordan is on the route, you may also want the Abu Dhabi to Jordan shipping guide.
Returning-citizen exemption paperwork
A Lebanese citizen who has lived abroad for at least about three years and is returning for good can usually bring in used household goods duty-free once, provided they arrive within a short period after the owner (around three months) and the papers are complete. We do not promise the exemption, but the team checks your case before shipping and tells you what is missing. Prepare:
- The Lebanese passport of the head of the family, and the family’s passports if requested.
- A letter from the Lebanese consulate in the UAE confirming your residence abroad and your permanent return.
- A detailed, authenticated contents list, which we prepare with you during packing, number by number.
- Proof of your home address in Lebanon.
The key practical point is timing: if the container arrives long after you, it may fall outside the exemption window, and if it arrives well before you, it may sit at the port collecting storage fees. So we match the loading date to your flight. New, unused items are usually treated as new goods, paying customs duty with VAT added.
If you also have commercial goods
- Commercial invoice and packing list.
- Certificate of origin; goods of Arab origin may benefit from the GAFTA duty exemption.
- Importer details in Lebanon; commercial goods should not be mixed with household items on one list.
The family car: in the container or by RoRo?
It depends on how much furniture you have. If you are using a 40 ft container and there is space left after the furniture, the car can sometimes go in by the doors with its wheels secured; the team confirms whether that suits your case and the clearance process, because the car is cleared on its own papers. If the furniture fills the container, the car goes in a separate container or by RoRo.
| Option | How it works | When it suits |
|---|---|---|
| With the furniture in a 40 ft | The car goes in last, wheels secured with straps and wooden chocks | When enough space is left after the furniture |
| Separate container | One car in a closed 20 ft container | A valuable car, or when the furniture container is full |
| RoRo | The car is driven onto the ship and secured on an inner deck | A standard-size car; usually costs less |
Inside Abu Dhabi the car travels to the port on an enclosed carrier if it is going by container; for RoRo it is driven onto the ship itself. Lebanon charges fees on cars according to value and type, with conditions on age and specifications, and the team checks your car’s conditions and expected costs before shipping. Documents:
- Ownership papers in your name.
- Export certificate from Abu Dhabi and plate cancellation.
- Owner’s passport.
- A car empty of personal belongings, so no child seats or bags inside.
Air freight from Abu Dhabi to Lebanon
While the container is at sea, the family needs enough for the first weeks: clothes, school papers, the children’s devices, medicines with their prescriptions. These go by air from Abu Dhabi airport to Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport in about 2 to 4 days door to door.
- Priced by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher: length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000.
- A 70 × 45 × 30 cm bag has a volumetric weight of about 15.75 kg, so if it weighs 10 kg it is charged at 15.75 kg.
- Furniture does not go by air; its size makes the volumetric weight far too high.
- Lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes are restricted on air freight.
Packing a whole house: room-by-room tips
- Children’s rooms: put each child’s toys in a carton with their name on it; toys are the first thing they ask for in the new house.
- Kitchen: empty and dry the fridge and freezer two days ahead, and leave the doors open so no smell builds up.
- Washing machine: the drum must be locked with its transit bolts before shipping, or vibration will damage it.
- Wardrobes: empty them completely; a full wardrobe breaks its hinges when lifted.
- Papers, jewellery and medicines: keep them with you in your luggage.
- Generator: drain all fuel and oil before shipping.
Warning: Do not put anything in the container that is not on the contents list, and do not hide new items among used ones. A single undeclared item can cost you the exemption or hold the whole container at the port.
Prohibited and restricted items
- Prohibited: narcotics, weapons and ammunition without permits, counterfeit goods, gambling equipment.
- Prior permit needed: drones, some medicines and wireless equipment.
- Batteries, especially lithium, have special transport rules and cannot fly as general cargo.
Prices for shipping from Abu Dhabi to Lebanon
The price of a family container depends on its size, the delivery area in Lebanon and how much packing is involved. For every service: send the details on WhatsApp and we send you the price.
- Full 20 ft container for a small home: send the details on WhatsApp and we send you the price.
- Full 40 ft container for a villa: send the details on WhatsApp and we send you the price.
- Family car by container or RoRo: send the details on WhatsApp and we send you the price.
- Consolidated load for a few items: send the details on WhatsApp and we send you the price.
- Air freight for first-weeks essentials: send the details on WhatsApp and we send you the price.
Send photos of each room and your address in Lebanon on WhatsApp, or use the quote request page.
What decides the price?
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Shipping method | Sea for full houses, road for medium loads, air for parcels |
| Container size | 20 ft, 40 ft, 40 ft high cube or a consolidated load |
| Furniture volume | Number of rooms and pieces, and whether they are dismantled |
| Packing and bracing | Cartons, covers and bracing used inside the container |
| Delivery area | A mountain house may need a transfer to a smaller truck and hand carrying |
| Documents | Exempt personal effects, commercial goods, or a car |
| Car value | Lebanese charges on cars follow value and type |
Delivery to Mount Lebanon and its stone houses
Many families return from Abu Dhabi to the family house in the mountains: Aley, Broummana, the Metn, the Chouf, Baabda. The roads there wind, narrow and climb, and a long trailer cannot reach every house. So the container is unloaded at an accessible point and the goods move to a smaller truck that climbs to the house. An old stone house may be reached by stone steps or a narrow lane, so pieces are carried by hand and large wardrobes dismantled if needed.
Lebanese winters are rainy, and snow in the mountains can close some high roads for days. If your house is high up, we agree the delivery date with you around the weather and call the receiver before heading up to check the road. We deliver across the country:
| Region | Examples | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Lebanon | Baabda, Aley, Broummana, the Metn, the Chouf, Jounieh, Jbeil/Byblos | Mountain roads, winter snow, usually a smaller truck |
| Beirut | Achrafieh, Hamra, Verdun, Ras Beirut, Badaro | Older buildings and narrow stairs |
| North | Tripoli, Batroun, Zgharta | Can ship to Tripoli port |
| South | Sidon/Saida, Tyre/Sour, Nabatieh | After clearance in Beirut |
| Bekaa | Zahle, Chtaura, Baalbek | Close to Al Masnaa for road shipments |
Your Abu Dhabi to Lebanon move, step by step
- About two months ahead: send photos of the house on WhatsApp; the team estimates the container size and suggests the method.
- Prepare the exemption papers: passport, consulate letter and proof of address in Lebanon.
- Tell the schools, electricity, water and internet providers and your landlord your leaving date.
- We set the packing and loading day so the container arrives shortly after you do.
- Loading day: packing, inventory, loading and bracing, then the bolt seal and a photo of it sent to you.
- The container sails from Khalifa Port, and you get an update at each stage.
- Clearance in Beirut with the contents list and papers.
- Delivery to your house, the seal cut in front of you, and the goods checked against the list.
Ask for a photo of the bolt seal number on loading day and keep it. It is the simplest way to know on arrival that your container is exactly as it left your home.
Frequently asked questions about shipping from Abu Dhabi to Lebanon
How long does a container take from Abu Dhabi to Beirut?
Roughly 3 to 4 weeks from Khalifa Port including clearance. Road takes roughly 8 to 14 days and air about 2 to 4 days.
Do I need a 20 ft or a 40 ft container?
A one- or two-bedroom apartment usually fits a 20 ft; a villa with three or more bedrooms needs a 40 ft. Send photos of the rooms and the team will estimate the size.
Can the car go in the same container as the furniture?
Sometimes, in a 40 ft container with enough space left, and the team confirms it suits your case. Otherwise it goes in a separate container or by RoRo.
What is needed for the returning-citizen exemption?
Usually a Lebanese passport, a consulate letter confirming residence abroad and return, an authenticated contents list and proof of address in Lebanon, with at least about three years abroad and the goods arriving within about three months. The team checks your case.
What is the bolt seal for?
It carries a unique number and can only be removed by cutting. We send you its photo and number, and on arrival you can confirm the container was opened only for official inspection.
Do you deliver to mountain villages in Mount Lebanon?
Yes. Goods transfer to a smaller truck that climbs the mountain roads, are carried by hand where needed, and in winter we schedule around the weather.
How will I know where my container is?
The team sends you a WhatsApp update at sealing, port arrival, sailing, arrival in Beirut, clearance and delivery.
Is your family getting ready to move back to Lebanon?
Photograph the rooms of your home and send them on WhatsApp, and we will send you the price and the suggested container size.
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