Looking for a shipping company from Ajman to Tunisia that takes your apartment belongings without you paying for a whole container? Al Basmah International Shipping puts your cartons, suitcases, TV and microwave into a shared sea shipment charged per cubic metre, landing at the port of Rades and then at your door in Ariana or any Tunisian governorate. The route to Tunisia is sea or air only; there is no road shipping. A part-load usually takes about five to seven weeks including consolidation, sailing and unpacking, then clearance and delivery.
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Most people who contact us from Ajman live in an apartment in Al Nuaimiya, Al Rashidiya or the Corniche towers, and their belongings come to somewhere between one and ten cubic metres: a few cartons of clothes and kitchenware, two or three suitcases, a TV, maybe a small washing machine. This guide is written for exactly that: how to estimate your volume, how to write the contents list Tunisian customs asks for, and how the cartons get up to a third floor in an Ariana building with no lift.
Your part-load to Tunisia
- A part-load (LCL) is charged per cubic metre and suits the contents of an apartment, a room or a set of suitcases.
- Approximate time: 5–7 weeks to Rades including consolidation and unpacking, then clearance and delivery.
- A detailed contents list per carton is essential for clearance in Tunisia.
- TVs and microwaves are wrapped in foam and double-wall cartons; suitcases are locked and numbered.
- Sedans travel by RoRo once their eligibility for the import scheme is checked.
- Send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price for your actual volume.
What we ship from Ajman to Tunisia
From Ajman to Tunisia we mainly ship apartment and family belongings, alongside small consignments of goods and cars. The items that come up most in Ajman requests:
- Household cartons: clothes, kitchenware, bedding and blankets, books, children’s toys.
- Suitcases: large locked travel cases, one of the easiest things to ship because they are ready and their sizes are known.
- Appliances: flat-screen TV, microwave, vacuum cleaner, small washing machine or fridge.
- Light furniture: a bed that comes apart, a table, chairs, a small dismantled wardrobe.
- A sedan: by RoRo after the conditions are checked.
- Air parcels: for what you need quickly in Tunisia before the sea shipment arrives.
If your belongings go above roughly fifteen cubic metres, a 20ft container of your own may cost less than a shared one. We price both and tell you the difference.
How a part-load priced per cubic metre works
With a part-load you do not hire a whole container; you pay only for the space your belongings take. We consolidate your items with other shipments heading to Tunisia in one container, and on arrival the container is unpacked at a bonded warehouse where each owner clears their own goods.
One cubic metre
A cube one metre long, wide and high. It holds roughly six to eight medium cartons.
A suitcase
A large suitcase is about 0.12 m³, so eight suitcases come close to one cubic metre.
A TV
A 55-inch screen in its box takes about 0.2 m³.
A dismantled bedroom
Bed, wardrobe and dresser take between 3 and 5 m³ depending on size.
An easy way to estimate: line up your cartons and cases in one corner, measure the length, width and height of the pile and multiply them. Send us the numbers with a photo and we refine the estimate before collection. The final figure is based on the volume measured at our warehouse.
Shared or full? Three cases from Ajman
The question we hear most: when is a shared container cheaper, and when should you move to a container of your own? It depends on volume first, then on whether you have large furniture or a car. These are three typical cases we see from Ajman apartments:
- A single person in a studio in Al Nuaimiya: six cartons, two suitcases and a TV, about one and a half cubic metres. A shared container is the only sensible choice here; a full one would be a waste.
- A small family in a two-bedroom flat in Al Rashidiya: twenty cartons, five suitcases, two TVs, a microwave, a washing machine and a dismantled cot. The volume is six to nine cubic metres, and shared still usually costs less.
- A family returning for good from a three-bedroom flat: complete bedrooms, sofas and a large fridge, well over fifteen cubic metres. Here we compare with a private 20ft container, which is often better because it is sealed in Ajman and opened in Tunisia without unpacking in a shared warehouse.
Something many people miss: in a shared shipment your belongings wait for the whole container to be unpacked at the bonded warehouse, and they are only released once their clearance is done. Anyone whose papers are ready gets their goods sooner. If you have a fixed date in Tunisia, such as the start of the school year, tell us so we can pick a sailing that fits.
Collection areas in Ajman
We collect from most Ajman neighbourhoods, including towers and apartment blocks where the lift has to be booked with building management. Our branches in Dubai (Deira, Port Saeed Street) and Sharjah (Industrial Area 18) are close by, so you can drop off small loads yourself.
- Al Nuaimiya and Al Rashidiya: the densest apartment areas, with lifts in most buildings.
- Corniche and Al Sawan: sea-facing towers where the lift slot must be booked in advance.
- Al Rawda, Al Hamidiya and Al Mowaihat: villas and older houses, with collection straight from the door.
- Al Jurf, Al Yasmeen and Emirates City: newer blocks and residential compounds.
- Ajman Free Zone: for those shipping a small consignment of goods with their belongings.
Collection from your apartment happens after we have reviewed the list and photos and confirmed the items are allowed into Tunisia. If your building needs a moving permit from the property management, get it ready before the appointment.
The sea route from Ajman to Tunisia
There is no road route to Tunisia. Your belongings are gathered at the consolidation warehouse, then the shared container leaves from Jebel Ali, Sharjah port or Khor Fakkan depending on the sailing, crosses the Red Sea and the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, usually with a transhipment, and arrives at Rades, which receives most shared shipments for Greater Tunis. Some lines also call at Sousse or Sfax.
Delays on part-loads usually come from two stages: waiting for the container to fill in the UAE, and waiting for unpacking at the bonded warehouse in Tunisia. That is why we quote a slightly longer approximate time than for a full container.
Transit time by shipping method
| Method | Approximate time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container (LCL) | About 5–7 weeks including consolidation and unpacking | Apartment belongings, cartons and suitcases, appliances | Charged per cubic metre; collected after warehouse unpacking |
| Full container (FCL) | 4–6 weeks port to port + clearance | A fully furnished apartment or more than 15 m³ | Container for you alone, with less handling |
| Air freight | About 3–5 days door to door | An urgent suitcase, documents, small personal items | Actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher |
Air freight from Ajman to Tunisia
Air freight from Ajman to Tunisia is the answer for the few things you need as soon as you land: seasonal clothes, the children’s school papers, a work laptop, or an urgent gift. It flies from Sharjah, Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport to Tunis–Carthage International Airport, which is a short drive from Ariana. It usually takes three to five days door to door including clearance.
Weight is charged on the higher of the actual and the volumetric weight, which is length × width × height in centimetres ÷ 6000. A 75×50×30 cm suitcase has a volumetric weight of about 19 kg. That is why furniture and large appliances belong on the sea shipment.
Note: Loose lithium batteries (power banks), perfumes and liquids are restricted by air. Ask the team before putting them in a parcel.
Packing your apartment belongings
- Strong cartons of similar sizes: they stack better and waste less space, so you pay less.
- Heavy items in small boxes: books and kitchenware in small cartons, clothes and bedding in large ones.
- The TV: in its original box if you still have it, otherwise in foam with corner guards and double-wall cardboard, marked “screen – nothing on top”.
- The microwave: the glass plate is taken out and wrapped separately, and the door is taped shut.
- The washing machine: the drum transit bolts are fitted before moving so it is not damaged.
- Suitcases: locked, stretch-wrapped and tagged with their list number.
- Numbering: every carton carries its number, your name and the delivery city, in Arabic and French if possible.
Write the carton number on two sides, not just the lid. In a shared container cartons are stacked on top of each other, and the handler reads the side, not the top.
Contents list and required documents
The contents list is the most important paper for an apartment shipment. Tunisian customs asks for a description of each carton, and a vague entry like “personal effects” leads to cartons being opened and delays.
| Carton no. | Contents | Condition | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Men’s winter clothes | Used | 1 carton |
| 2 | Kitchenware and plates | Used | 1 carton |
| 3 | 55-inch TV | Used | 1 |
| 4 | Microwave | Used | 1 |
| 5–7 | Family clothing suitcases | Used | 3 suitcases |
Personal effects and definitive return
A Tunisian living abroad who returns for good can usually bring in used household goods duty-free once, through the definitive-return procedure: a residence or change-of-residence certificate from the Tunisian consulate, a passport, a detailed contents list, and arrival of the goods within the set period from the return date. Someone shipping belongings while staying in the UAE, or a foreign resident in Tunisia, falls under other rules, and new appliances still in their boxes may be treated as goods. The team reviews your situation before shipping.
Commercial goods
If you have goods for sale, they need a registered importer in Tunisia, a commercial invoice, a packing list and a certificate of origin, and they pay duty and VAT (standard rate 19%). Do not mix them with personal effects on one list.
Cars
Sedans travel by RoRo: the car is driven onto the vessel and lashed on deck, so it is not covered. Tunisians living abroad have the FCR scheme, which reduces duties under conditions that usually include at least two years of residence abroad, a car no older than about five years from first registration, and use once every ten years. The conditions can change, so we check your eligibility before booking.
Prohibited and restricted items
- Narcotics, weapons and ammunition.
- Counterfeit goods, even one or two items for personal use.
- Drones and some wireless devices need authorisation.
- Medicines only in personal quantities with a prescription; some need a permit.
- Gas cylinders, flammable materials and aerosols do not go in the cartons.
- Perishable food is not shipped by sea.
Shipping prices from Ajman to Tunisia
The part-load price from Ajman to Tunisia is based on the cubic metres actually measured, plus delivery inside Tunisia according to governorate and floor. We do not post a fixed rate, because two apartments of the same size can differ a lot in volume. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price; include photos, a volume estimate and the delivery city.
What decides the price?
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Sea LCL, sea FCL or air | LCL is per cubic metre, FCL is for the whole container, air is per actual or volumetric kilogram |
| Volume in m³ | Every extra metre counts, and neatly packed cartons save space |
| Container size if FCL | 20ft for an average apartment, 40ft for a large home |
| Arrival port and city | Rades then Ariana is short; distant governorates add truck distance |
| Packing | Foam, double-wall cartons and special packing for TVs and appliances |
| Documents | Contents list, definitive-return papers and clearance in Tunisia |
| Car | Size, RoRo or container, and the import scheme it uses |
How to ship from Ajman to Tunisia, step by step
- Send photos and a volume estimate on WhatsApp with the delivery city in Tunisia.
- We review the items, check they are allowed and suggest shared or full.
- You get the price and a collection date.
- Collection from the apartment after the lift is booked, or you drop the items at one of our branches.
- Measuring and numbering at the warehouse, and matching the contents list.
- Consolidation and sailing in the shared container to Rades.
- WhatsApp updates from the team at sailing, arrival and unpacking.
- Clearance and delivery to your apartment in Ariana or any governorate.
Tips before you seal your cartons
- Get rid of what you do not need before packing; every cubic metre has a cost.
- Do not put original documents, passports or jewellery in the sea shipment; carry them with you.
- List appliances with their brand, because customs asks about electronics in particular.
- Photograph appliances working before packing.
- Keep one air suitcase for what you will need in the first weeks before the sea shipment lands.
Note: If your definitive-return papers are not ready when the shipment reaches Rades, the goods stay in the bonded warehouse and storage charges build up. Get them from the consulate before you travel.
Delivery in Tunisia: Ariana and the other governorates
After clearance at Rades your belongings are trucked to the address. Ariana is close to both Rades and Carthage Airport, and we deliver to El Menzah, Ennasr, Riadh Andalous, Ghazela, Borj Louzir, La Soukra, Raoued and Ariana city. Many Ariana buildings have no lift or only a small one, so tell us the floor in advance and we send the right number of workers. If your home is inside an old medina such as the Medina of Tunis, the narrow lanes mean a small vehicle or hand carrying for the last stretch.
| Governorate / area | Usual arrival port | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tunis, Ariana and Ben Arous | Rades | Most shared shipments land here, and delivery is short |
| Sousse and Monastir | Sousse or Rades | Trucked from Rades if there is no direct line |
| Sfax | Sfax or Rades | Depends on the shared container available |
| Nabeul and Hammamet | Rades | Relatively short distance |
| Bizerte | Rades or Bizerte | Usually trucked from Rades |
| Djerba and Gabes | Sfax or Rades | The longest road leg, in the south |
The Rades-versus-Sfax question for part-loads: shared containers to Rades run more often, so most apartment shipments land there and are then distributed by truck. For the general picture read the UAE to Tunisia shipping guide, and if you are near Sharjah or Umm Al Quwain see shipping from Sharjah to Tunisia and shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Tunisia. If you have family in Morocco too: shipping from Ajman to Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
What is the smallest volume I can ship from Ajman to Tunisia?
In a shared container the minimum is usually one cubic metre, so even five cartons or a few suitcases are charged on that basis. For a very small parcel, air may suit better.
How long does a part-load to Tunisia take?
About five to seven weeks from collection to arrival and unpacking at Rades, then clearance and delivery. The time is approximate and depends on how fast the container fills and on vessel schedules.
Can I ship only suitcases?
Yes. Locked suitcases are among the easiest things to ship in a shared container, as long as their contents are on the list.
Is a TV safe in a shared container?
Yes, if it is wrapped in foam with corner guards and double-wall cardboard and marked as a screen. We place it where nothing heavy is stacked on top.
Will I pay customs on my belongings in Tunisia?
A Tunisian returning for good usually gets a one-time exemption for used belongings with consulate papers. Otherwise duty may apply, especially on new appliances. The team reviews your case before shipping.
Can my sedan go with my belongings?
The car usually goes by RoRo on a separate vessel while your belongings travel in the shared container. We first check whether the car is eligible for import into Tunisia.
How do I follow my shipment?
The team sends you WhatsApp updates at every stage: collection, sailing, arrival, unpacking and delivery.
Are your apartment belongings ready for Tunisia?
Photograph your cartons and suitcases, send the volume estimate and the governorate, and we will reply with the price and a collection date.
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