If you are looking for a shipping company from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon to move your restaurant equipment or your 4×4, here is the direct answer: a commercial kitchen usually goes in a sea container from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to Beirut or Tripoli port in roughly three to four weeks; a medium load can go by road in transit through Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria to the Al Masnaa border in about 8–14 days; and urgent spare parts fly to Beirut airport in two to four days. At Al Basmah International Shipping we collect from your kitchen in Ras Al Khaimah, mount the ovens and fridges on wooden skids, prepare the paperwork and deliver to Batroun, Byblos or anywhere in Lebanon, sending you a WhatsApp update at every stage.
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We wrote this guide for restaurant, bakery and café owners opening a branch on the Lebanese coast or moving a whole kitchen, and for anyone who wants to take along the 4×4 they drive in the Ras Al Khaimah mountains. You will find what to do with each appliance before it is loaded, what Lebanese customs expects for commercial equipment, and how a heavy oven reaches a restaurant on an old, narrow lane.
The restaurant kitchen on skids
- Ovens, prep tables and fridges are strapped to heat-treated wooden skids stamped ISPM-15, so forklifts lift them without anyone dragging them.
- Every gas appliance is disconnected by a technician and its fittings capped. Gas cylinders are never shipped.
- Fridges, ice machines and dishwashers are drained and dried at least a day before shipping.
- Commercial equipment pays customs duty plus VAT in Lebanon; the commercial invoice and certificate of origin matter a great deal.
- The 4×4 travels inside the UAE on an enclosed carrier to the port, then in a container to Lebanon.
- Sea is the usual choice for a full kitchen, road for a medium load when the route suits it, and air for a spare part or control board.
What we ship from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon
We ship from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon everything a restaurant or bakery needs to open, as well as household furniture, cars, commercial goods and personal effects. What we see most from restaurateurs in RAK is the whole hot line: ovens, grills and fryers, then the cold line, then the stainless tables and shelving.
- Commercial ovens: convection ovens, combi ovens, bakery deck ovens and pastry ovens.
- Pizza ovens of every type: pre-built stone ovens, conveyor ovens, gas and electric models.
- Stainless prep tables, refrigerated prep counters, storage racks and commercial sinks.
- Upright and undercounter fridges and freezers, dessert display chillers and ice machines.
- Grills, griddles, fryers, extraction hoods and grease filters.
- Commercial dishwashers, coffee machines and grinders, large dough mixers and blenders.
- Dining room furniture: tables, chairs, booth seating, signage, lighting and décor.
- 4x4s and family cars, plus the owner’s household furniture.
The difference between a kitchen that arrives ready to switch on and one that arrives with a cracked oven stone or oil in a compressor usually comes down to two days of preparation in Ras Al Khaimah before loading. That is why we ask for a list of appliances with photos and dimensions, visit the kitchen when needed, and agree the dismantling order with you.
Preparing commercial kitchen equipment for shipping to Lebanon
The simple rule: every appliance ships clean, dry, disconnected from gas, power and water, and fixed to a base it cannot slide on. The details differ by appliance.
Commercial ovens and pizza ovens
Convection and combi ovens are degreased, their water tanks and steam generators drained, glass doors taped with residue-free tape, and trays and racks removed and wrapped separately. A stone pizza oven is the heaviest and most delicate item in the kitchen: refractory stone cracks under shock, so a removable stone is taken out, wrapped in dense foam and crated, while a built-in stone means the whole oven gets a crate on a wide skid. A conveyor oven has its belt secured and is never lifted from the control side.
Fridges and refrigerated prep tables
Fridges are switched off a day or two before shipping to defrost, the drain water is emptied, and doors are left ajar to avoid odours. Compressors do not like being laid down, so fridges and refrigerated prep counters travel upright, strapped to the container or truck wall. On arrival, let them stand for a few hours before switching on. Ice machines and dishwashers are drained completely, their hoses disconnected and openings sealed.
Gas: disconnect the lines, no cylinders
Every gas grill, fryer and oven is disconnected by a gas technician in Ras Al Khaimah, the fittings capped tightly and the appliance labelled as empty and disconnected. Gas cylinders are not shipped, even empty, and old regulators and hoses are better replaced in Lebanon. Before switching on at the new restaurant, ask your technician whether the burner jets need adjusting for the gas used there.
Warning: A single gas cylinder inside the container is enough to stop the whole shipment at inspection. Remove every cylinder, lighter refill and flammable oven cleaner before the loading team arrives.
Wooden skids and securing
Heavy appliances go on wooden skids so forklifts at the port and the border can lift them instead of dragging them. Wood used in international packing is heat-treated and stamped to the ISPM-15 standard, which many countries, Lebanon among them, require for wood entering with shipments. Each unit is strapped to its skid, its stainless corners protected with heavy card corner guards, then wrapped in bubble film.
Electricity
Lebanon runs on 220–230 V at 50 Hz like the UAE, so single-phase appliances work without converters. For three-phase equipment, have your electrician confirm the new premises are wired for it. Many Lebanese restaurants rely on generators, so work out the load of large electric ovens before choosing them over gas.
Pickup areas in Ras Al Khaimah
We collect from every part of Ras Al Khaimah, from restaurants on the corniche to warehouses in the industrial zones, and we arrange timing with building or compound management when an access permit or service lift booking is needed.
City centre and corniche
Al Nakheel, Al Mamourah, Al Dhait, Al Qusaidat, Khuzam, Julphar and the restaurants along Al Qawasim Corniche.
Waterfront and resorts
Al Hamra Village, Mina Al Arab, Al Marjan Island, and hotel and resort restaurants.
Industrial and free zones
Al Hamra Industrial Zone, Al Ghail Industrial Park and warehouses in the RAK economic zone.
North and inland
Al Rams, Al Jazeera Al Hamra, Digdaga, Shaam and areas near the Jebel Jais road.
After pickup, the equipment goes to our Sharjah branch in Industrial Area 18 or straight to the port depending on the method. You can also drop your shipment at the Sharjah branch or at our Dubai branch in Deira, Port Saeed Street.
The road route from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon
The road route is a little longer than from Dubai because the truck crosses the whole UAE southwards before the border; the total is roughly 3,000–3,300 km. The stages:
- From Ras Al Khaimah via Emirates Road or Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Abu Dhabi, then the Al Ghuwaifat border.
- Into Saudi Arabia at Al Batha, crossing in sealed transit.
- Into Jordan at Al Omari, in transit.
- Through Syria via the Nasib/Jaber crossing, in transit.
- Into Lebanon at Al Masnaa, then clearance and on to Beirut or the northern coast.
Transit through several countries means the documents must be complete and match what is on the truck, so the team confirms before booking whether road suits your load; for a full kitchen, sea is usually simpler. The first part of this route is the same as shipping from Ras Al Khaimah to Jordan.
Transit times: road vs sea vs air
The times below are approximate and include clearance in normal cases; customs inspection or busy seasons can add to them.
| Method | Approx. time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea (20 ft or 40 ft container) | 3–4 weeks | Full kitchen, heavy ovens, cars | Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to Beirut or Tripoli |
| Road in transit | 8–14 days | Medium loads, dining furniture, ready units | Needs complete papers for several countries |
| Air | 2–4 days | Spare parts, control boards, small tools | Charged on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher |
A mid-sized restaurant kitchen usually fits a 20 ft container; add the dining room furniture and décor and you will probably need a 40 ft. Tripoli port is closer to Batroun than Beirut port, and the team suggests the better port based on the delivery address and sailing schedule.
Air freight from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon
Air freight from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon usually leaves from Sharjah, Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport for Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport and arrives in roughly two to four days door to door, including clearance. It is the answer when an opening is held up by a single part: an oven control board, a temperature probe, mixer blades or bar tools.
- The price is based on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher; volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000.
- Example: a control-board carton of 50 × 40 × 30 cm has a volumetric weight of 10 kg, so if it actually weighs 6 kg you pay for 10 kg.
- Air does not suit ovens, fridges or furniture; their weight and size make sea far cheaper.
- Batteries, especially lithium, liquids, perfumes and chemical cleaners are restricted and are not accepted as general air cargo.
Shipping a 4×4 from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon
The 4×4 you take through the RAK wadis and up Jebel Jais usually goes to Lebanon in a closed container or by RoRo vessel. Inside the UAE it travels from your home to the port on an enclosed car carrier, so it does not cover the distance on its own wheels or pick up dust and stone chips.
- External accessories such as the winch, roof rack, roof tent and off-road lights are removed and wrapped or firmly secured, and anything left fitted is listed in the papers.
- Modifications such as suspension lifts and oversized tyres can affect import conditions; the team reviews your car before shipping.
- The car ships empty of personal belongings, with about a quarter tank of fuel.
- A 20 ft container takes one 4×4; a 40 ft may take two depending on dimensions.
Lebanon charges customs duty and other fees on cars based on their value and type, with conditions on age and specifications. We do not quote a general figure because every car is its own case; the team checks your car’s conditions and expected costs before you pay anything.
Documents for shipping from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon
Commercial equipment and restaurant contents
- A commercial invoice stating the value of each appliance, new or used.
- A detailed packing list with each unit, quantity, weight and dimensions.
- A certificate of origin; goods of Arab origin may benefit from the Greater Arab Free Trade Area duty exemption.
- Importer details in Lebanon: the company or person who will receive and clear the goods.
Personal effects and household furniture
A Lebanese citizen returning for good after living abroad for at least about three years can usually bring used household goods in duty-free once, if they arrive within a short period of the owner’s return (around three months) and the papers are complete: passport, a consulate letter confirming residence abroad and return, an authenticated contents list and proof of address in Lebanon. This applies to the home, not the restaurant, and the team checks your case before shipping.
Cars
- Ownership in the shipper’s name.
- UAE export certificate and plate cancellation.
- Owner’s passport.
- The car empty of personal belongings.
Customs duty and VAT on restaurant equipment in Lebanon
New and used commercial equipment pays customs duty in Lebanon according to each item’s tariff line, with VAT added on top. That makes a clear commercial invoice the most important paper in the shipment: a realistic value for each unit, a description a customs officer understands (gas pizza oven, two-door upright fridge…), and dimensions and weights that match the container. Used equipment is assessed at its real value, and an invoice marked down too far delays clearance more than it saves.
If some units were made in the UAE or another Arab country, ask for a certificate of origin; they may be exempt from customs duty under the Arab free trade agreement, while VAT still applies. It helps to have an importer or customs broker in Lebanon to receive the documents, and our team coordinates with them before the shipment arrives.
Write each crate’s packing-list number on the crate and put a copy of the list inside crate number one. When customs opens a crate at the port, the officer finds what matches the paperwork quickly.
Prohibited and restricted items for Lebanon
- Prohibited: narcotics, weapons and ammunition without permits, counterfeit goods and gambling equipment.
- Prior permit needed: drones, some medicines and wireless equipment.
- Not shipped with kitchen equipment: gas cylinders, fuel, flammables and frying oil.
- Batteries, especially lithium, have special transport rules and cannot fly as general cargo.
Shipping prices from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon
No two kitchens are alike, so we do not post a fixed price. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price for each service:
- Full restaurant kitchen in a container: send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price.
- Individual ovens or fridges: send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price.
- 4×4 shipping: send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price.
- Air freight for spare parts: send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price.
Ask for the price to spell out what it includes: packing and skids, transport to the port, freight, clearance in Lebanon and delivery to the restaurant door. You can choose door to door, or door to port in Lebanon if you have a broker there, and ask the team about optional insurance. You can also fill in the quote request form.
What decides the price of shipping to Lebanon?
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Shipping method | Sea is cheaper for large loads, road is quicker for medium loads, air is for small urgent parts. |
| Volume and weight | Equipment is measured in cubic metres, and a stone oven adds a lot of weight. |
| Container size | A 20 ft or 40 ft container, or shared space for a smaller load. |
| City and access | Delivery into an old souk or narrow street needs a small truck, porters or a hoist. |
| Packing | Skids and made-to-measure crates add cost and protect the unit. |
| Documents and clearance | Customs duty and VAT on commercial equipment are paid in Lebanon. |
| Car value | Car fees in Lebanon are calculated on value and type. |
How to ship your restaurant equipment from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon, step by step
- Send the list of appliances with photos and dimensions, plus the restaurant address in Lebanon, on WhatsApp.
- The team suggests the method and container size and sends the price and what it covers.
- You prepare the commercial invoice and importer details; your technician disconnects gas, water and power.
- The packing team mounts the units on skids, numbers the crates and writes the packing list.
- The shipment is loaded for the port or the truck, and loading photos reach you on WhatsApp.
- You get an update at sailing or each border crossing, then on arrival and clearance in Lebanon.
- The equipment is delivered to the restaurant door and placed where you want it.
Delivery in Batroun, Byblos and the rest of Lebanon
Batroun and Byblos (Jbeil) sit on the coast north of Beirut and are full of seaside restaurants and old souks. Most of the stone lanes in Byblos old souk are pedestrian, and some of Batroun’s waterfront restaurants have narrow entrances or steps. So the container is unloaded at a nearby yard or warehouse, and the equipment goes on in a small truck and is wheeled on dollies to the kitchen door. Before arrival we ask for photos of the entrance, the door width and the corridor to the kitchen: an oven that will not fit through the door is found before shipping, not after.
| Region | Examples | Delivery notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beirut | Achrafieh, Hamra, Verdun, Ras Beirut, Mar Mikhael, Badaro | Older buildings with narrow stairs and small lifts; many restaurants on busy streets. |
| Mount Lebanon | Byblos, Jounieh, Baabda, Aley, Broummana, the Metn, the Chouf | Winding mountain roads and winter snow at altitude. |
| The North | Batroun, Tripoli, Zgharta | Tripoli port nearby; seaside restaurants with tight entrances. |
| The South | Sidon, Tyre, Nabatieh | Longer distance from Beirut; deliveries into old and coastal quarters. |
| The Bekaa | Zahle, Chtaura, Baalbek | Closest region to the Al Masnaa border for road freight. |
Many older Beirut buildings have narrow stairs and small lifts, and mountain towns have steep roads, so the last leg is often done with a smaller truck and carried by hand, sometimes with a furniture hoist from the balcony. Lebanese winters are rainy with snow in the mountains, so if your restaurant is in Broummana or Aley, allow a spare day for delivery. For ordinary household moves from the UAE, see the UAE to Lebanon shipping guide, and if some of your equipment is in Dubai or Sharjah, see shipping from Dubai to Lebanon and shipping from Sharjah to Lebanon.
Tips for restaurateurs before shipping to Lebanon
- Measure the Lebanese restaurant entrance before deciding to ship the big oven, not after.
- Photograph each appliance’s rating plate (model, serial number, power); it helps customs and your technician in Lebanon.
- Keep manuals and small spare parts together in one clearly marked box.
- Do not ship food, spices or oils with the equipment; they need different paperwork.
- If you have a car and equipment, ask the team whether to ship them together or separately based on each one’s papers.
Warning: Do not put a token value on used appliances in the invoice. An unrealistic valuation pushes customs to assess the value itself and keeps the container at the port longer.
Frequently asked questions about shipping from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon
How long does a restaurant equipment shipment from Ras Al Khaimah to Lebanon take?
By sea, roughly three to four weeks from sailing to clearance; by road, about 8–14 days; by air, two to four days for small parts. The team gives the closest estimate once it knows the volume and sailing date.
Can I ship gas ovens still connected to their lines?
No. A gas technician in Ras Al Khaimah must disconnect them and cap the fittings, and they ship empty and clean. Gas cylinders are not shipped, even empty.
Does used restaurant equipment pay customs in Lebanon?
Yes. Commercial equipment, new or used, pays customs duty by tariff line, with VAT added. Goods of Arab origin with a certificate of origin may be exempt from customs duty.
Is a 20 ft container enough for a restaurant kitchen?
For a mid-sized kitchen, usually yes; add dining furniture and décor and you may need a 40 ft. We work out the volume from your equipment list and dimensions.
How do I know where my shipment is?
The team sends you a WhatsApp update at every stage: loading, sailing or border crossing, arrival, clearance and delivery.
Does the 4×4 ship with its winch and roof rack?
It is better to remove and wrap external accessories; anything left fitted is listed in the papers. The team reviews major modifications before shipping because they can affect import conditions.
Do you deliver into the old souk in Byblos or Batroun?
Yes. The equipment is moved from the nearest point a truck can reach using a small truck, dollies and porters, after we review photos and measurements of the entrance with you.
Where does an air shipment from Ras Al Khaimah leave from?
Usually Sharjah, Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport for Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport; we collect the part from your address in Ras Al Khaimah.
Get your kitchen ready for Lebanon
Send your equipment list, photos and the restaurant address on WhatsApp +971557643821 and the team will reply with the method and price.
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