Indonesia is more than seventeen thousand islands, and that alone changes how you ship there: a container does not always end its journey at Jakarta’s port; it may continue on a domestic vessel to another island or on a truck across the ferry to Bali. Anyone searching for a shipping company from UAE to Indonesia is usually a worker who has finished years in the UAE and is going home with boxes and appliances, an Indonesian or foreign family moving house, or a trader sending goods. Al Basmah International Shipping collects from every emirate and ships by sea from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to Tanjung Priok in Jakarta or Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, then on to Bali and the other islands, and by air to Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali airports for urgent items. Sea usually takes about three to four weeks port to port, and air four to eight days. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price, along with what Indonesian customs will ask for in your case.
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Your shipment to Indonesia
- Returning Indonesians: relief is usually granted to those who worked or studied abroad for at least a year, with a letter from the Indonesian embassy or consulate in the UAE and an inventory stamped by it.
- Register before you leave: you are usually asked to register your return with the embassy through the portal for citizens abroad before leaving the UAE.
- Timing matters: the shipment usually has to arrive within about ninety days of your arrival, or it may be refused and sent back.
- Foreigners: a limited stay permit (KITAS) and work permit valid for at least a year, and only one sea and one air shipment.
- Medicines and vitamins do not go in a household shipment, and alcohol is prohibited for non-diplomats.
- WhatsApp updates from collection in the UAE to delivery on your island.
Returnee boxes
A shared container by the cubic metre for boxes, appliances and clothes, collected across emirates and shipped to Jakarta or Surabaya.
Family household
A 20 ft or 40 ft container, packing for tropical humidity, and delivery to your home even on another island.
Commercial cargo
Needs an importer registered with a business identification number in Indonesia; duty and VAT are paid.
Urgent air
To Jakarta, Surabaya or Bali for papers, devices and essential clothes.
What we ship from the UAE to Indonesia
Most shipments on this route are personal boxes: men and women from Java, Sumatra, Lombok and Sulawesi who have spent years in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah and are going home with the clothes, kitchen appliances, televisions and family gifts they have gathered. There are also families moving a whole household, foreign employees relocating to jobs in Jakarta or Bali, and traders sending UAE-made or re-exported goods.
- Boxes of clothes, shoes, bedding and family gifts.
- Appliances: TV, small fridge, washing machine, blender, rice cooker; Indonesia runs on about 220 V, but plugs are the round European type, so you only need a plug adapter.
- Full household furniture: bedrooms, sofas, tables, wardrobes.
- Work equipment: barber and beauty tools, sewing machines, small workshop tools.
- Commercial goods: perfumes and incense (sea), dates, spare parts, building materials.
Electric bicycles must not go in the shipment, and the number of ordinary bicycles should match the number of family members. Cars and motorbikes are usually not allowed as personal effects except for diplomats.
Collection from every emirate
Many workers live in shared accommodation or in their employer’s home and have no car to move boxes. So we collect straight from the door of the accommodation or house, and boxes from several people in the same area can go on one collection run, each shipped in their own name with their own papers.
| Emirate | Collection notes | Port |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Deira, Al Qusais, Satwa and Al Barsha; our Port Saeed Street branch also receives boxes | Jebel Ali |
| Sharjah | Al Nahda, Al Taawun and Al Majaz; our branch in Industrial Area 18 | Jebel Ali or Khor Fakkan |
| Abu Dhabi | Musaffah, Mohammed Bin Zayed City and Al Khalidiya, timed around your working hours | Khalifa Port |
| Ajman | Al Jurf and Al Nuaimiya, on the Sharjah run | Jebel Ali |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Al Nakheel and Al Jazeera Al Hamra, booked two days ahead | Jebel Ali |
| Umm Al Quwain | Shared run with Ajman | Jebel Ali |
| Fujairah | Collection close to the east-coast ports | Fujairah or Khor Fakkan |
| Al Ain | Morning collection; boxes ideally packed and sealed beforehand | Khalifa Port |
Sea freight to Indonesian ports
Shipping to Indonesia is by sea or air only; there is no road route. Containers from Jebel Ali usually land at Tanjung Priok in Jakarta or Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, often via a transhipment port such as Singapore or Port Klang. Port to port takes about three to four weeks, longer if the destination is a distant island needing a domestic vessel afterwards.
The port follows the island. For West Java, Jakarta and around: Tanjung Priok. For East Java, Lombok and Bali: Surabaya is nearer, then a truck on the ferry to Bali or a domestic vessel to Benoa port. For North Sumatra: Belawan port in Medan. For Sulawesi: Makassar.
| Method | Approximate time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea, full container (FCL) | About 3 to 4 weeks port to port; 5 to 8 weeks door to door | Family households, cargo in volume | Clearance after the vessel arrives usually takes more than a week |
| Sea, shared container (LCL) | About 6 to 10 weeks door to door | Returnee boxes, one room | Devanned at a consolidation warehouse, then cleared |
| Air | About 4 to 8 days | Papers, light devices, essential clothes | For foreigners, cleared first, before the sea shipment |
Times are approximate; distant islands add days for domestic transport, and clearance can take longer if customs asks to interview the owner or orders a full examination.
Indonesian cities and islands and their arrival ports
| City / island | Usual arrival port | Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi | Tanjung Priok | Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) |
| Bandung and West Java | Tanjung Priok, then truck | CGK |
| Semarang and Central Java | Tanjung Emas | Semarang |
| Surabaya and East Java | Tanjung Perak | Juanda (SUB) |
| Bali (Denpasar) | Surabaya then ferry, or Benoa | Ngurah Rai (DPS) |
| Lombok | Surabaya then domestic vessel | Lombok |
| Medan and North Sumatra | Belawan | Kualanamu (KNO) |
| Makassar and Sulawesi | Makassar | Makassar |
| Batam | Batam | Batam |
Air freight from the UAE to Indonesia
There are daily flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Jakarta, and to Bali and Surabaya directly or via a hub. Air freight suits what you need the moment you arrive: official papers, phone and laptop, clothes for the first weeks. Door to door is roughly four to eight days with clearance. For foreigners moving residence, the air shipment is usually cleared first and then the sea shipment, and only one of each is allowed.
- Charging: actual or volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 6000), whichever is higher.
- Not suitable for: furniture and large appliances such as fridges and washing machines.
- Restricted by air: loose lithium batteries and power banks, perfumes, liquid incense, aerosols.
- Personal air shipments are marked as used personal effects with the exact number of boxes stated.
Packing for tropical heat and humidity
Indonesia is tropical, hot and humid all year, with a long rainy season. A shipment may spend weeks at sea, days at the port and then a ferry ride exposed to rain on the way to another island. An ordinary carton softens and collapses in the humidity, appliance edges rust and wood swells. So we use double-wall cartons, wrap important boxes in plastic on the outside, and put moisture absorbers inside every appliance and wardrobe.
- Double-wall cartons of no more than about 25 kg each, to survive hand-loading at small ports.
- Flat-panel TVs in their original carton or a wooden crate, since roads on some islands are rough.
- Fridge and washing machine emptied and fully dried a day before packing.
- Wooden furniture in paper, then bubble wrap, then film, with absorbers in drawers.
- Your name and box number clearly on every carton; customs checks the count against the inventory.
- No opened food, medicines or vitamins in the boxes.
Documents for clearance in Indonesia
Indonesians returning from the UAE
Indonesian customs usually exempts the used personal and household goods of a returning citizen who worked or studied abroad for at least a year, provided the goods have been owned long enough. The step many people forget is the embassy: you are usually required to register your return with the Indonesian embassy in Abu Dhabi or the consulate in Dubai through the portal for citizens abroad before leaving, obtain a letter confirming your period of stay and return date, and have the inventory stamped by the embassy.
- Original passport and Indonesian ID card (KTP).
- Letter from the Indonesian embassy or consulate in the UAE with your stay and return dates.
- A typed inventory (handwritten lists are not accepted) stamped by the embassy.
- A letter from your UAE employer or proof that the contract ended.
- Air ticket or boarding pass, since the arrival window is counted from your arrival date.
- The original Bill of Lading or air waybill.
Warning: If the shipment arrives after the allowed period from your arrival (usually about ninety days), or the inventory is not stamped by the embassy, customs may refuse the exemption or order the shipment to be sent back. So we set the shipping date once we know your travel date, and ask you to finish the embassy stamp before collection.
Foreigners moving to Indonesia
Relief for foreigners is usually limited to holders of a work visa and work permit, and the limited stay permit (KITAS) and work permit must each be valid for at least a year and not be renewals. Investor, retirement and business visas are usually not covered. One air and one sea shipment are allowed, and recent appliances, luxury items and duplicates may attract duty and tax.
Commercial cargo
Goods for sale need an importer registered in Indonesia with a business identification number that also serves as its importer number, and duty is paid by item along with VAT and an advance income tax on imports. Some goods need prior licences, such as food, cosmetics and electronics, and some used goods, such as second-hand clothing, cannot be imported for trade. What is usually needed: commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading, certificate of origin and the item-specific licences.
Prohibited and restricted items in Indonesia
- Medicines and vitamins in a household goods shipment.
- Alcohol of any kind for non-diplomats.
- Weapons, ammunition and air guns, and narcotics in any quantity.
- Pornography and printed material offensive to religion.
- Stone Buddha statues and artefacts without a certificate of origin and invoice.
- Electric bicycles, cars and motorbikes as personal effects.
- Books and discs are allowed in reasonable quantities if listed in detail on the inventory.
Shipping prices to Indonesia
A returning worker’s boxes to Jakarta are a different job from a family container to Bali or a trader’s cargo to Surabaya. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price: the number and size of boxes or the furniture list, the island and city, the emirate we collect from, and your travel date.
What decides the price?
| Factor | Effect on the price |
|---|---|
| FCL, LCL or air | Full per container, shared by the cubic metre, air by the kilo or volumetric weight |
| Container size | 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft high cube |
| Volume in cubic metres | The basis for returnee boxes in a shared container |
| Island and city | Jakarta and Surabaya are nearer; other islands need domestic sea or ferry transport |
| Packing | Double-wall cartons, humidity-proof wrapping and wooden crates |
| Documents and clearance | A clean exemption case is simpler than a shipment with new or duplicate appliances |
| Commercial goods | Duty, VAT and item-specific licences |
| Optional insurance | Ask the team if you want it |
How to ship from the UAE to Indonesia, step by step
- Send on WhatsApp the number of boxes or your furniture list, the city and island, and your travel date.
- Register your return with the Indonesian embassy or consulate and ask for the letter and the inventory stamp.
- We agree the method and collection date so the shipment arrives inside the allowed period.
- Collection and packing from any emirate, with every box numbered.
- Shipping from Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or the airport, with a WhatsApp message to you.
- Arrival in Jakarta or Surabaya and clearance with your papers.
- Domestic transport to your island if needed, then delivery to your home.
Delivery inside Indonesia: from Jakarta to Bali and the islands
In Jakarta and the big cities the shipment is delivered by truck, bearing in mind that some roads ban large trucks at peak hours and older neighbourhoods have narrow lanes needing a small vehicle or hand-carrying for the last stretch. In Bali, the shipment usually arrives via Surabaya on a truck across the ferry, or by vessel to Benoa, and is then delivered to the house or villa. Villages in Lombok and Sulawesi may need extra coordination for the final leg.
- A working Indonesian phone number so the driver can call you on delivery day.
- A full address with the village, district and regency; short addresses cause delays.
- Apartments in Jakarta: usually need building management permission and a service-lift booking.
- Villas in Bali: check the width of the access road; some can only be reached by a small vehicle.
- Customs interview: an interview or call with the owner may be requested, especially for delivery outside Greater Jakarta.
How long does the last leg to the islands take?
After clearance in Jakarta or Surabaya, domestic transport usually adds anywhere from a few days to about two weeks depending on the island. Bali from Surabaya is a fairly short road trip and ferry crossing, while Sulawesi, Kalimantan and the eastern islands depend on domestic vessel schedules that may not sail every day. So we tell you the expected time for the domestic part before booking, and we send you on WhatsApp the date the shipment leaves the first port and the date it reaches your island, so you or a family member can be there to receive it.
Tips for people returning to Indonesia
- Start the embassy steps early; stamping the inventory can take days.
- Type the inventory rather than writing it by hand, and list every appliance by type and quantity.
- One appliance of each kind per family; two TVs or three washing machines may be treated as merchandise.
- Carry your medicines with you on the plane with the prescription, not in the boxes.
- Do not send many identical gifts (dozens of perfumes, for example) in a personal shipment.
More on the region: shipping from the UAE to Malaysia, shipping to Singapore, shipping to Australia and shipping to India. To ask for a price: the quote page.
FAQ: shipping from the UAE to Indonesia
How long does a shipment take from the UAE to Jakarta?
By sea about three to four weeks port to port, and roughly five to ten weeks door to door depending on the container type and clearance. By air four to eight days.
Do I pay duty on my belongings when I return to Indonesia?
A citizen who worked or studied abroad for at least a year is usually exempt on used personal goods, provided there is an embassy letter, a stamped inventory and arrival within the allowed period. New or duplicate appliances may attract duty.
Do you deliver to Bali?
Yes, usually via Surabaya on a truck across the ferry, or by vessel to Benoa port, then to the house or villa.
Can I ship just a few boxes?
Yes, in a shared container by the cubic metre, and boxes from several people can go on one collection run, each with their own papers.
Can I put medicines and vitamins in the boxes?
No, medicines and vitamins are prohibited in household goods shipments. Carry them with you with the prescription.
Can I ship a motorbike or a car to Indonesia?
They are usually not allowed as personal effects except for diplomats.
What happens if the shipment arrives long after me?
If it exceeds the allowed period (usually about ninety days) it may be refused or ordered back, which is why we set the shipping date around your travel date.
How do I know what stage my shipment is at?
The team sends WhatsApp updates at collection, loading, departure, arrival, clearance and delivery.
Going home to Indonesia or shipping cargo?
Send the number of boxes or your furniture list, the island and your travel date, and you will get the price and the document list.
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