To move a whole villa from Abu Dhabi to Turkey, the most economical and safest way is a 40 ft container loaded outside your door, sealed, and shipped from Khalifa Port to Istanbul or Mersin in roughly 3 to 5 weeks port to port; after customs clearance it continues by truck to your home in Bursa or any other city. Al Basmah International Shipping organises it from the first box to the moment the container is opened, ships the family car by RoRo after checking that it can be imported into Turkey, and sends urgent parcels by air.
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This guide is for families moving an entire home: children’s bedrooms, majlis seating, a large dining set, garden furniture, gym equipment and maybe a car. A volume like that needs planning for loading day more than anything else, so here we explain what happens inside the container step by step, what the seal and the bill of lading mean, and how the container gets from the Turkish port to Bursa.
Your container from Khalifa Port
- A 4- or 5-bedroom villa usually needs a 40 ft high cube (HC) container; the team confirms after the survey.
- Loading outside the villa usually takes one day, with furniture braced inside so nothing moves at sea.
- The container seal number goes on the inventory and the bill of lading; the container is not opened until Turkey.
- The bill of lading is in the owner’s name, alongside the Turkish residence permit, tax number and housing contract.
- Arrival at Istanbul or Mersin, then a truck to Bursa, Yalova, Sapanca or elsewhere.
- The family car goes by RoRo after an eligibility and cost check; urgent parcels go by air.
What we ship from Abu Dhabi to Turkey
From Abu Dhabi to Turkey we ship villa and apartment furniture in full containers or shared shipments, family cars by RoRo or in a container after an eligibility check, personal effects, urgent parcels by air, and commercial goods for a registered importer in Turkey. Most requests on this route come from families who have finished their working years in the capital and decided to settle in Turkey, and many choose Bursa, Yalova or Sapanca for their calm and their closeness to Istanbul.
A whole villa
Every room, the majlis, the kitchen and garden furniture, in a 40 ft container loaded at your door.
The family car
An SUV or saloon by RoRo, after checking that it can enter and what it will cost.
Air freight
Documents, urgent parcels and light items arriving in a few days, ahead of the container.
Commercial goods
For a registered Turkish importer, with invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
Pickup areas in Abu Dhabi
Our crew comes to your villa anywhere in Abu Dhabi, and requests reach us on WhatsApp around the clock. We set a survey date and then a loading date that suits the community’s rules and truck parking.
- Villa districts: Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Shamkha, Al Reef, Al Raha Gardens, Al Mushrif, Al Bateen, Al Karamah.
- Islands and communities: Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Al Khalidiya, Masdar City.
- Other areas: Baniyas, Al Falah, Mussafah, Al Shahama.
- Industrial and free zones: Mussafah Industrial and Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD) for commercial cargo.
In gated communities, such as some on Yas and Saadiyat, the container truck usually needs an entry permit from community management. Tell us the community name in your first message so we can arrange it early.
Loading day at the villa: from the first box to the seal
Loading a villa into a 40 ft container usually takes one day, sometimes two if there is a lot of packing. The crew packs inside the house first, then the container truck parks outside the door, the furniture is stowed in a planned order, and the container is closed and sealed in front of you.
- Packing room by room: beds and wardrobes dismantled, sofas and tables wrapped, every piece numbered on the inventory.
- Heavy first: fridge, washing machine and heavy wardrobes at the far end and on the floor, to spread the weight.
- Tall items on the sides: mattresses and wardrobe panels standing against the walls, lighter boxes on top.
- Bracing: lashing straps tied to the container’s rings, timber bars to stop the load sliding, and gaps filled so nothing shifts with the waves.
- The last row: a timber barrier or straps at the doors so nothing falls when they are opened in Turkey.
- The seal: the doors are closed and a uniquely numbered seal fitted; the number is written on the inventory and the bill of lading.
The seal number matters more than it looks. When the container reaches your home in Turkey, match the number on the door with the one in your papers before it is cut. If they match, the container has not been opened since it left your villa, unless customs opened it for inspection, in which case a new seal is fitted and recorded.
Standard 40 ft or 40 ft high cube?
A 40 ft high cube (HC) is about 30 cm taller than a standard 40 ft and holds roughly 10 m³ more. That difference suits tall wardrobes and a lot of furniture, and it is often what decides whether one container is enough for the villa or you need an extra shipment. A small flat may manage with a 20 ft container or a shared shipment; with a villa we start at 40 ft.
The bill of lading: the document that makes the container yours
The bill of lading is the document that proves the container and its contents belong to you, and it is what releases them in Turkey. It must be issued in the owner’s own name, in a Latin spelling that matches the passport and the Turkish tax number, because Turkish customs handles personal effects in the owner’s name.
- Check the draft bill before sailing: name, container number, seal number and port of arrival.
- The team tells you whether an original paper bill or an electronic release applies, and what you need to do in each case.
- Keep a copy of the bill and the inventory with you, and another with whoever receives on your behalf in Turkey.
The sea route from Khalifa Port to Turkey
Shipping from Abu Dhabi to Turkey is by sea or by air; we do not use a road route for this lane. The container leaves Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, or Jebel Ali if a sailing there fits better, crosses the Red Sea and the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, and arrives at Ambarlı port in Istanbul or Mersin port in the south, and in some cases Izmir.
For families settling in Bursa, Yalova, Sapanca or Kocaeli, arriving in Istanbul is usually the shorter option, after which the container continues by truck. Mersin is chosen when its sailing date suits better or when the destination is in the south, although the drive from there to Bursa is longer.
Transit time from Abu Dhabi to Turkey
| Method | Approximate time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full container FCL (40 ft or 40 ft HC) | 3–5 weeks port to port + clearance and trucking | A whole villa, large volumes | Loaded at the villa and kept sealed |
| Shared LCL | 3–5 weeks + consolidation wait | Part of the furniture, boxes | Unloaded at a depot before delivery |
| Air freight | About 2–5 days door to door | Documents and urgent parcels | Not suited to furniture |
Times are approximate and exclude customs clearance, which is much shorter when the residence permit, tax number and housing contract are ready before the container arrives.
From the Turkish port to your home in Bursa
After customs release, the container is loaded onto a truck and heads for your address. Istanbul to Bursa is a drive of a few hours, so the container can often reach your home on the day of release or the next day, depending on the truck schedule. In hillside neighbourhoods and narrow streets a container truck may not reach the door, so the furniture is moved to a smaller truck for the last stretch.
- A detached house: the container parks outside and is unloaded directly, with reassembly on request.
- A flat in a complex: the site manager is told in advance, and an external furniture lift to the balcony is used if needed.
- Receiving on your behalf: if the container arrives before you do, someone you authorise can receive it and we coordinate with them by phone.
We also deliver to both sides of Istanbul and to the rest of Turkey. This table sums up the usual arrival port for each destination:
| Destination | Usual arrival port | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul – European side (Başakşehir, Bahçeşehir, Beylikdüzü, Sarıyer) | Ambarlı | Closest destinations to the port |
| Istanbul – Asian side (Ataşehir, Kadıköy, Üsküdar) | Ambarlı | Bridge crossing; delivery time coordinated |
| Ankara | Ambarlı or Mersin | Inland trucking after clearance |
| Bursa, Yalova and Sapanca | Ambarlı | A few hours by truck from Istanbul |
| Trabzon | Ambarlı | Long trucking to the Black Sea |
| Antalya and Izmir | Izmir or Mersin | Depends on the sailing |
| Mersin, Gaziantep and Konya | Mersin | Closest for the south and central Anatolia |
Shipping the family car from Abu Dhabi to Turkey
Before any car booking, the team checks whether your car can be imported into Turkey and what it is likely to cost. Turkey restricts used-car imports by individuals and taxes them heavily, including the special consumption tax (ÖTV), which depends on engine size and value; many personal cars cannot be imported, or are allowed only temporarily for foreign residents. Large-engine SUVs, common among Abu Dhabi families, deserve this check more than most.
If the car is eligible, we ship it by RoRo when a suitable sailing is available: the car is driven up a ramp into the vessel, lashed on the car deck, and driven off the same way at the Turkish port. It is not covered on RoRo, since it is driven. If no suitable RoRo sailing is available, it can go inside a container instead.
- Car registration in your name and an export certificate from the competent authority in Abu Dhabi.
- No outstanding fines or bank lien, or a letter from the bank.
- The owner’s passport and Turkish residence permit.
- No personal belongings in the car, minimal fuel, and a spare key.
Warning: Do not sell your current car or buy another one to take with you before we check eligibility; in some cases the Turkish taxes exceed the value of the car itself, and selling it in Abu Dhabi works out cheaper.
Air freight from Abu Dhabi to Turkey
Air freight from Abu Dhabi to Turkey usually arrives within 2 to 5 days door to door, including clearance. It leaves Abu Dhabi airport, or Dubai and Sharjah airports depending on the flight, for Istanbul Airport, Sabiha Gökçen, Ankara or Antalya. It suits a family that needs things before the container lands: children’s school files, official papers, a season’s clothes and work devices.
- Price is by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher; volumetric = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000.
- Example: a 70×45×30 cm suitcase has a volumetric weight of 15.75 kg, so if it actually weighs 18 kg the price is based on 18.
- Not suited to furniture; lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes are subject to airline restrictions.
Packing villa furniture: what needs special care
Abu Dhabi villas have pieces you rarely find in flats, and they are the ones that get damaged if packed like ordinary boxes. This is what we give extra care:
- Chandeliers: crystals removed and wrapped one by one, then placed in a wooden crate.
- Marble and glass tables: top separated from the base and shipped upright in a timber frame.
- Garden furniture and barbecues: cleaned of sand and soil before packing, since customs may object to furniture carrying soil.
- Gym equipment: treadmills and weight machines have their heavy parts removed and secured to the container floor.
- Large children’s toys: swings and plastic playhouses dismantled, with their parts in one numbered box.
- Rugs and paintings: rugs rolled and wrapped in plastic, paintings in boxes with corner protectors.
Tip: mark your boxes in two colours, one for what you need in the first week in the new home and one for what can wait. The crew loads the first colour near the container doors so it comes out first.
Documents for shipping from Abu Dhabi to Turkey
The papers themselves decide how fast your container is released in Turkey. These are the usual documents for each type, and the team reviews your file before loading and tells you what is missing.
Household goods and personal effects
- Passport and a valid Turkish residence or work permit.
- Turkish tax number.
- Rental contract (often 12 months or longer) or the property’s title deed.
- A numbered inventory listing the brand and serial numbers of electrical items.
- Bill of lading in the owner’s name.
Turkish citizens returning home have different conditions, and the team explains them case by case. We do not promise a customs exemption in any case; what we offer is a review of the file before shipping.
Commercial goods
Commercial goods are subject to Turkish customs duty, UAE origin does not mean automatic exemption, Turkish VAT (KDV) is added at its standard rate of 20%, and some products need conformity documents. The importer must be registered in Turkey, and the usual set is a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading.
The car
Registration, export certificate, and the owner’s passport and residence permit, plus whatever Turkish customs requires for the type of entry. Turkish customs has the final word, which is why we start with the eligibility check.
What must not go in the container
- Prohibited: narcotics, weapons and ammunition, counterfeit goods.
- Restricted and needing permits: drones, some medicines, some foods.
- Mobile phones in quantity need IMEI registration in Turkey.
- Restricted by air: loose lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes.
One prohibited item in one box can hold up the release of the whole container, so if you are unsure about something, ask the team before packing.
Shipping prices from Abu Dhabi to Turkey
We do not publish a fixed price because every villa differs in size, contents and destination. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price: number of rooms, photos or a video of the house, your area in Abu Dhabi, the city in Turkey and the car model if it is coming too.
What decides the price of your container?
| Factor | Effect on the price |
|---|---|
| Shipping method | A full container at a container rate, a shared shipment per cubic metre, or air by actual or volumetric weight. |
| Container size | 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft high cube, depending on the villa. |
| Furniture volume | Decides whether one container is enough or an extra shipment is needed. |
| Arrival port | Ambarlı, Mersin or Izmir depending on the sailing. |
| Trucking in Turkey | Distance from the port to Bursa or elsewhere, and whether narrow roads need a smaller truck. |
| Packing | Wooden crates for chandeliers, marble and delicate pieces. |
| Documents | Complete papers avoid port storage charges while waiting. |
| The car | RoRo or container, plus Turkish taxes if it is eligible. |
Ask the team about optional insurance before loading. You can also send your request from the quote page.
Booking your container from Abu Dhabi to Turkey, step by step
- Contact us on WhatsApp: number of rooms, your area, your destination in Turkey and photos of the house.
- Document review: Turkish residence permit, tax number, housing contract and car eligibility.
- Villa survey: container size and the pieces that need wooden crates.
- Price and booking: you receive the price, and once you agree we book a sailing from Khalifa Port or Jebel Ali.
- Loading day: packing, stowing and bracing in the container, sealing, and recording the seal number.
- Sailing: the team sends you updates on WhatsApp at each stage until arrival.
- Clearance and trucking: customs release in Istanbul or Mersin, then the truck to Bursa or your city.
- Opening the container: seal number matched, unloading, and reassembly on request.
Mistakes that delay family containers
- Shipping before the Turkish residence permit is issued, so the container waits at the port and storage charges build up.
- A name spelled differently on the passport, the tax number and the bill of lading.
- A vague inventory such as “household items” instead of a detailed numbered list.
- Garden furniture with soil, plants or seeds on it.
- Not telling the complex management in Turkey when the container is due.
Warning: A full container has limited free days at the Turkish port; after that, daily charges start for storage and for late return of the empty box. Have your papers ready and agree the unloading date with the receiver before the container arrives, not after.
See also shipping from Al Ain to Turkey, shipping from Dubai to Turkey for apartment moves, and the main guide to shipping from the UAE to Turkey.
Frequently asked questions about shipping from Abu Dhabi to Turkey
How long does shipping from Abu Dhabi to Turkey take?
By sea roughly 3 to 5 weeks from Khalifa Port to Istanbul or Mersin, then clearance and trucking. By air usually 2 to 5 days.
Is a 40 ft container enough for a whole villa?
For a 4- or 5-bedroom villa a 40 ft high cube is usually enough, but it depends on how much furniture there is; the team decides after a survey or photos.
What does the container seal mean?
A uniquely numbered lock fitted after loading and recorded on the bill of lading and inventory. A matching number on arrival means the container was not opened on the way except by customs.
Can the container be delivered straight to Bursa?
Yes. After release in Istanbul or Mersin a truck takes it to your address, and if the road is narrow the furniture moves to a smaller truck for the last stretch.
Can I ship my SUV to Turkey?
The team first checks its eligibility and likely costs, because Turkey restricts used-car imports and taxes them heavily. If it is eligible, we ship it by RoRo or in a container.
What documents do I need for my personal effects?
Usually: passport, Turkish residence or work permit, tax number, rental contract or title deed, a detailed inventory and a bill of lading in your name.
How will I know where my container is?
The team sends you updates on WhatsApp at each stage: loading, sailing, arrival, clearance and the delivery appointment.
How do I get a price for shipping my villa from Abu Dhabi to Turkey?
Send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price: number of rooms, photos of the house, your area and your destination in Turkey.
Your villa in one container to your home in Turkey
Send the number of rooms, your area in Abu Dhabi and your city in Turkey, and you will receive the price and a loading-day plan.
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