Looking for a shipping company from UAE to Turkey that collects from your home or warehouse and delivers in Istanbul, Ankara or any other Turkish city? Al Basmah International Shipping collects from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Al Ain, and ships furniture, personal effects, commercial goods and cars two ways: by sea from Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or the Sharjah and Fujairah ports to Mersin or the ports of Istanbul and Izmir, or by air to Istanbul Airport and other Turkish airports for urgent, light shipments. Sea freight usually takes roughly 3 to 5 weeks port to port, and air roughly 2 to 5 days. Send the details on WhatsApp and you get the price, and before booking the team tells you which documents Turkish customs will ask for in your case.
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Before shipping to Turkey
- Sea or air only: furniture, cars and cargo go by sea through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal; urgent parcels go by air.
- Full or shared container: a full container (20 or 40 ft) is loaded at your door and is yours alone; a shared one is priced per cubic metre and suits small loads.
- Paperwork before booking: a foreigner moving personal effects usually needs a valid residence or work permit, a Turkish tax number, a rental contract or title deed, and a detailed inventory.
- Cars are a special case: Turkey restricts and heavily taxes used-car imports, so the team first checks whether your car can enter.
- Commercial goods: pay customs duty plus Turkish VAT, and the importer in Turkey must be registered.
- Updates on WhatsApp: the team messages you at collection, loading, departure, arrival, clearance and delivery.
Full container (FCL)
For a whole apartment or villa, loaded at the door, sealed, and opened only at Turkish customs.
Shared container (LCL)
For one room, a stack of boxes or a small consignment; you pay only for the space you use.
Air freight
For documents, parcels, samples and light items that can’t wait weeks at sea.
Two branches
Dubai – Deira – Port Saeed Street, and Sharjah – Industrial Area 18; orders on WhatsApp around the clock.
What do we ship from the UAE to Turkey?
We ship whatever someone moving to Turkey, or trading with it, needs to send: from a full household to a single box of clothes, and from a family car to a shop order for Istanbul. The most common requests are household moves for families who have bought an apartment in Istanbul, Bursa or Trabzon, or whose work in the UAE has ended and who are settling in Turkey, followed by commercial cargo between UAE traders and Turkish markets.
- Household furniture: bedrooms, majlis seating, sofas, dining tables, wardrobes, carpets and curtains, with dismantling, packing and reassembly.
- Electrical appliances: fridges, washing machines, TVs, split AC units and kitchen appliances, each listed with brand and serial number.
- Personal effects: clothes, books, kitchenware, toys and luggage, packed in numbered boxes.
- Cars: once the team has checked that yours can enter and what it will cost, by RoRo or in a container.
- Commercial goods: shop and showroom orders, equipment, spare parts and packaging materials, FCL or LCL.
- Parcels and documents: by air for contracts, official papers, samples and light gifts.
Collection from every emirate: where we pick up
The team collects from any address in the country, whether it is a tower apartment, a villa, or a warehouse in an industrial area or free zone. The packing crew arrives at the agreed time; the goods then go to our warehouse for consolidation if the shipment is shared, or are loaded straight into the container outside your home if it is a full container.
- Dubai: Deira, Bur Dubai, Al Barsha, Dubai Marina, JLT, Jumeirah, Mirdif, Al Quoz, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Jebel Ali Free Zone. Details in the Dubai to Turkey shipping guide.
- Abu Dhabi: Khalifa City, Al Reem Island, Al Khalidiya, Mussafah, Mohammed Bin Zayed City and KIZAD near Khalifa Port; see shipping from Abu Dhabi to Turkey.
- Sharjah: Al Nahda, Al Majaz, Al Khan, Al Taawun, the industrial areas, SAIF Zone and Hamriyah, covered in the Sharjah to Turkey guide.
- Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain: Al Nuaimiya, Al Jurf and Ajman Free Zone; Al Nakheel, Al Hamra and RAKEZ; and the residential and industrial areas of Umm Al Quwain.
- Fujairah and Al Ain: Fujairah city, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah Free Zone; Al Jimi, Al Muwaiji and Hili in Al Ain, with details in shipping from Al Ain to Turkey.
Sea freight from the UAE to Turkey
Sea freight is the usual way to move furniture, cars and cargo from the UAE to Turkey. The container leaves Jebel Ali in Dubai, Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, or the ports of Sharjah, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, crosses the Arabian Sea, then the Red Sea and the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, and arrives at Mersin on the south coast, at Istanbul’s ports such as Ambarlı, or at Izmir in the west. The voyage usually takes roughly 3 to 5 weeks port to port, then a few days for clearance, then trucking to your city.
The arrival port is not a small detail. If you live in Istanbul, Bursa or Yalova, a container landing in Istanbul usually saves time and cost; if you are in Mersin, Adana, Gaziantep or even Ankara, Mersin may be the closer gateway. The team compares both options against your address and the sailings available.
Full container load (FCL)
You book a container for yourself alone: a 20 ft usually fits a two- or three-bedroom apartment, and a 40 ft or 40 ft high cube (HC) takes a villa or a large apartment. The container comes to your door, the furniture is loaded in front of you after packing, and it is sealed with a numbered seal recorded on the documents that is broken only at Turkish customs. Your goods are never moved between containers, which lowers the risk of breakage and loss, and it often arrives sooner because it doesn’t wait for a shared load to fill.
Less than container load (LCL)
If you have one room, twenty boxes or a small consignment, paying for a full container makes no sense. With LCL your shipment is consolidated with other Turkey-bound cargo at the warehouse, and you pay for the cubic metres you occupy. Consolidation in the UAE and unpacking in Turkey add time, so allow roughly an extra week or more compared with a full container.
UAE to Turkey transit times: a quick comparison
Times are always approximate: they depend on sailing and flight schedules, clearance at both ends and how far your city is from the port. The table sums up the three options:
| Method | Approximate time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea — FCL | 3 to 5 weeks port to port, then clearance and inland delivery | A full apartment or villa, a car with belongings, large cargo | Loaded at the door and sealed; never mixed with other cargo |
| Sea — LCL | Roughly 4 to 6 weeks including consolidation and unpacking | One room, boxes or a small consignment | Priced per m³; needs stronger packing |
| Air | Roughly 2 to 5 days door to door including clearance | Urgent documents, parcels, samples and light items | Actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher; not for furniture |
Air freight from the UAE to Turkey
Air freight is for people who can’t wait: a contract to sign in Istanbul, samples for a trade fair, or a suitcase of clothes and school papers that needs to arrive before the container. Shipments leave Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah airports for Istanbul Airport, Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side, Ankara, Antalya and others, and usually arrive within roughly 2 to 5 days door to door including clearance.
Air pricing uses the actual weight or the volumetric weight, whichever is higher. Volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000. For example, a 60 × 50 × 50 cm box has a volumetric weight of 25 kg even if it actually weighs only 12 kg, so it pays to cut empty space inside the box.
- Air does not suit furniture or large appliances; in most cases the cost would far exceed their value.
- Loose lithium batteries, liquids, perfumes and aerosols are restricted by air, and some are refused outright.
- Mobile phones in quantity need IMEI registration in Turkey, so ask the team before sending them.
- Put important documents in a separate envelope and keep a copy with you.
Furniture moving and packing for a long sea voyage
A voyage through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal that lasts weeks, with humidity and temperature swings inside the container, needs different packing from a move across town. The team packs each item by type and logs it on the inventory under a number that matches the one written on the box.
- Wood and sofas: dismantle what can be dismantled, then moving blankets, bubble wrap and corner board, with screws bagged, numbered and tied to the piece.
- Glass, marble and mirrors: purpose-built wooden crates, and the wood must be treated and stamped to ISPM 15, which Turkey requires for wooden packaging.
- Appliances: empty and dry the fridge two days before, lock the washing machine drum, and pack TVs in their boxes or padded crates.
- Kitchenware and ornaments: each piece wrapped separately, in small sturdy boxes rather than large ones that are hard to carry.
- Inside the container: heavy items low and against the walls, with straps and dividers so nothing shifts at sea.
One point many people overlook: Turkish customs is wary of boxes packed by the owner without a clear list and may open every one of them. That is why we prefer the team to pack and write the contents of each box clearly, so the inspection goes quickly.
Car shipping from the UAE to Turkey
Getting a car to Turkey is easy enough logistically; what decides it is Turkish regulation, not the ship. Turkey restricts imports of used cars by individuals and charges a special consumption tax (ÖTV) that depends on engine size and the car’s value, which together with other charges can add up to a large sum. Many personal cars cannot be imported at all, or only temporarily by foreign residents under conditions. So we don’t book any car until the team has checked whether your particular car can enter and what it is likely to cost, so it doesn’t end up stuck at the port.
If the car is accepted, there are two methods: RoRo, where the car is driven aboard a vehicle carrier and secured on deck uncovered, and container, where it is lashed inside a 20 or 40 ft container, sometimes along with part of the furniture. Before handover the car is photographed from every side, left with little fuel, and emptied of personal items.
Documents needed for shipping to Turkey
Documents decide whether your shipment clears in days or sits at the port for weeks. The list below is what is usually required; the team reviews your own case before booking, because details vary with nationality and type of residence.
Personal effects and furniture of a foreigner moving to Turkey
- Passport, plus a valid Turkish residence or work permit.
- A Turkish tax number, issued by the tax office.
- A notarised rental contract usually of 12 months or more, or the title deed (tapu) of the property.
- A detailed inventory of every item, with brand and serial number for electrical goods.
- The original bill of lading in the owner’s name, which must match the passport exactly.
- In some cases a record of entries to and exits from Turkey is requested, and the shipment should arrive within a reasonable period of the owner’s arrival.
Used belongings are what normally enter as personal effects; new appliances still in their boxes may be treated as goods and charged. We don’t promise anyone an exemption, as the decision belongs to Turkish customs, but having complete papers before shipping is what makes the process easier.
Turkish citizens returning home
Turkish citizens returning after a long stay abroad have their own conditions, such as a return certificate from the Turkish consulate or proof of the length of residence in the UAE. Send your situation to the team and they will tell you what you need before loading.
Commercial goods
- A commercial invoice and packing list showing quantities, weights and values.
- A certificate of origin; note that UAE origin does not automatically mean exemption from duty.
- A registered importer in Turkey to clear the goods in its name.
- Customs duty by tariff line, plus Turkish VAT (KDV) at a standard rate of 20%, with reduced rates for some goods.
- Some products need conformity certificates or inspection before release, such as electrical goods, cosmetics, food and children’s toys.
Cars
The original registration card, the owner’s passport and driving licence, and proof of the right to import it given your status in Turkey. As noted above, the team first checks acceptance and costs before anything else.
Prohibited and restricted items for Turkey
Some items are banned outright, others enter with a permit or under conditions. It is best to declare everything honestly on the inventory, because finding an undeclared item can hold up the whole container.
- Prohibited: narcotics, weapons, ammunition and explosives, counterfeit goods, and antiques or archaeological pieces without papers.
- Restricted, needs a permit: drones, mobile phones in quantity (IMEI registration), some medicines that need a prescription or medical report, and some foods.
- Not suitable to ship: flammable liquids, gas cylinders and loose batteries, and perishable food packed among furniture.
Warning: don’t put gold, cash, passports or original documents inside furniture boxes. Carry them with you when you travel; the container may be opened for inspection, and these things can’t be replaced.
UAE to Turkey shipping prices
We don’t post a fixed price because two shipments of the same size can differ a lot in cost depending on the port, the city and the paperwork. Send the details on WhatsApp and you get the price: the emirate we collect from, the Turkish city, a rough list or photos of the items, and whether there is a car or commercial cargo. The team spells out what the price covers in packing, clearance and inland delivery.
What decides the cost of shipping to Turkey?
| Factor | How it affects the price |
|---|---|
| Shipping method | FCL is priced per container, LCL per cubic metre, air per actual or volumetric kilogram. |
| Container size | 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft HC; the price gap is smaller than the size gap, so the larger box is cheaper per metre. |
| Volume of goods | In LCL every extra cubic metre counts, and good dismantling reduces volume. |
| Arrival port and city | Landing directly in Istanbul or in Mersin, then the trucking distance to the address. |
| Packing | Standard packing costs differ from wooden crates for marble, glass and antiques. |
| Documents and clearance | Complete papers cut port storage days; missing ones add demurrage and storage. |
| Type of shipment | Commercial goods pay duty and VAT; personal effects follow their own conditions. |
| Car | The freight itself is small compared with possible Turkish taxes, so it is worked out before booking. |
| High-rise delivery | An external furniture lift or a high floor without a suitable elevator adds work on delivery day. |
Delivery inside Turkey: cities and arrival ports
We deliver to every Turkish city. Once the container lands and clears, it is trucked to the address, or a shared shipment is unloaded at the agent’s warehouse and then delivered. The table shows the usual arrival port for each region:
| Region | Example districts and cities | Usual arrival port |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul — European side | Başakşehir, Esenyurt, Beylikdüzü, Bahçeşehir, Küçükçekmece, Şişli, Sarıyer | Ambarlı, Istanbul |
| Istanbul — Asian side | Kadıköy, Ataşehir, Üsküdar | Istanbul or nearby Kocaeli ports |
| Ankara | The capital and its suburbs | Mersin or Istanbul, then truck, depending on schedule |
| Bursa, Yalova and Sapanca | South of the Sea of Marmara and around | Istanbul ports or Gemlik near Bursa |
| Trabzon | Black Sea coast | Istanbul then road, or Trabzon port depending on the line |
| Antalya and Izmir | West and south-west coast | Izmir, or sometimes Mersin for Antalya |
| Mersin, Gaziantep and Konya | South and central | Mersin |
Delivery to residential complexes and towers
A large share of apartments in Istanbul and its newer suburbs such as Başakşehir, Esenyurt and Beylikdüzü are in high-rise residential complexes, where the lifts often can’t take a bedroom set or a large sofa. The usual answer in Turkey is an external furniture lift: a powered ladder mounted on a small truck that raises items straight to the balcony or window. Many complex managements want advance notice of the move, and some set fixed hours or a service entrance. The team arranges this with the receiver before delivery day, asking about the floor, the balcony width and where the truck can park, so the shipment isn’t held up at the gate.
Your paperwork in Turkey before the container lands
What delays families most is a container arriving before the owner’s Turkish papers are complete. So we advise sorting out the residence permit, the tax number and the notarised lease or property transfer before we load the container in the UAE. If your travel is going to be delayed, shipping can be postponed or the goods stored until you are ready, rather than paying port storage in Turkey.
How to ship from the UAE to Turkey, step by step
- Send the details on WhatsApp: emirate and address, Turkish city, photos or a list of items, and your preferred date.
- Document check: the team tells you what Turkish customs needs in your case, and whether a car can enter.
- Method and price: FCL, LCL or air, and you get the price and what it covers.
- Packing and inventory: the crew arrives on time, packs, numbers and writes the detailed list.
- Loading and UAE export clearance: the container is loaded and sealed and export papers are completed.
- The voyage: you get WhatsApp updates when the ship or flight departs and arrives.
- Turkish clearance: papers go to customs, and the container may be opened for inspection.
- Delivery and assembly: trucking to the address, a furniture lift if needed, then unpacking and reassembly.
Tips before you ship to Turkey
Start the Turkish paperwork before the packing. A container ready at Jebel Ali whose owner hasn’t got a tax number yet means waiting at the arrival port and charges nobody planned for.
- Book at least three weeks before you travel for a full container, so a packing date and a suitable sailing are available.
- Clear out what you don’t need: shipping cheap or old furniture can cost more than buying new in Turkey.
- Check that appliances run on 220 V and that their plugs suit Turkey, which uses type F sockets.
- Note appliance serial numbers yourself too, and keep a copy of the inventory.
- Give the team the receiver’s number in Turkey as well as yours, so coordination with the complex management is quick.
- Ask the team about optional insurance if the shipment includes valuable pieces.
Frequently asked questions about shipping from the UAE to Turkey
How long does shipping from the UAE to Turkey take?
Sea freight in a full container usually takes roughly 3 to 5 weeks port to port, plus clearance and delivery to your city; LCL takes a little longer because of consolidation. Air usually arrives within roughly 2 to 5 days door to door.
Is there road shipping from the UAE to Turkey?
We ship to Turkey by sea and air, because sea is the practical route for furniture, cars and cargo and air is the fastest for parcels. The team suggests what suits your shipment based on its size and your timing.
What documents does a foreigner need to bring furniture into Turkey?
Usually a passport, a valid residence or work permit, a Turkish tax number, a notarised lease of 12 months or more or a title deed, a detailed inventory, and a bill of lading in your name. The team reviews your case before booking, since details can vary.
Will I pay customs duty on my used furniture in Turkey?
Used furniture and belongings of someone who meets the conditions usually enter as personal effects; if papers are missing, or the goods are new or in commercial quantities, duty and tax may apply. The decision belongs to Turkish customs, and we help you prepare the papers so your case is clear.
Can I ship my car from Dubai to Turkey?
It depends on the car and your status in Turkey. Used cars face restrictions and high taxes, and many are not accepted or only temporarily. Send the car’s details on WhatsApp so the team can check acceptance and costs before booking.
Which is better: arriving in Istanbul or Mersin?
If you are in Istanbul, Bursa or Yalova, landing in Istanbul usually saves a long truck run; if you are in the south, in Mersin, Gaziantep or Konya, Mersin is closer. The team compares the two based on your address and sailing dates.
How will I know where my shipment is?
The team sends you a WhatsApp update at each stage: collection, loading, departure of the ship or flight, arrival in Turkey, clearance and the delivery appointment, and you can ask at any time on the same number.
Do you ship from every emirate?
Yes. We collect from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Al Ain, from homes, warehouses and free zones, and each emirate has its own guide, such as shipping from Fujairah to Turkey. You can also request a price from the quote page.
Ready to move your belongings to Turkey?
Send the emirate, the Turkish city and photos of your items on WhatsApp +971557643821; the team reviews your papers, suggests the right method and sends you the price.
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