Need a shipping company from Umm Al Quwain to Morocco that takes a small load without charging you for a whole container? Al Basmah International Shipping sends the belongings of singles and small flats from Umm Al Quwain in a shared container, so you pay only for the cubic metres your goods occupy, usually with a 1 m³ minimum. Cartons go by sea to Casablanca or Tanger Med, then by truck to the family house in Kenitra or any other Moroccan city. Sea transit is roughly 4 to 6 weeks including consolidation and clearance, and urgent parcels fly in about 2 to 5 days.
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Count your metres to Morocco
- Shared container (LCL) shipping is priced per cubic metre, usually with a 1 m³ minimum.
- Cubic metres = length × width × height in metres; ten medium cartons come to about 1 m³.
- A numbered contents list for every carton makes clearance in Morocco easier.
- A crossover is photographed from every side before it goes into a container, once its eligibility is confirmed.
- No road route to Morocco: sea for belongings, air for urgent items. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price.
One cubic metre or more
Two suitcases and a few cartons are enough to start a shared shipment, with no need to fill a container.
Pickup in Umm Al Quwain
From Al Salamah, Al Raas, Al Humrah, Al Ramlah, Falaj Al Mualla and the free zone.
Delivery to Kenitra
And to Rabat, Salé, Casablanca, Tangier, Fes, Marrakech, Agadir and Oujda.
Air when it is urgent
Documents and small parcels to Mohammed V Airport and other Moroccan airports.
Who is shipping by the cubic metre from Umm Al Quwain for?
It is for anyone who does not have enough to fill a container: the single worker finishing a contract and going home, the student, the couple in a studio or one-bedroom flat, and the person sending gifts and belongings to the family home before following them. In these cases a full container wastes money, and shared shipping is the realistic answer.
- Clothes, shoes, books and non-essential personal papers.
- Kitchen utensils, cookware and small appliances.
- A TV, computer, monitor and printer.
- A single or double bed with mattress, a small wardrobe and a desk.
- A small fridge or washing machine, and a bicycle.
- Family gifts: rugs, fabrics and new appliances with their invoices.
How to work out cubic metres: worked examples
A cubic metre is the volume of a box one metre long, one metre wide and one metre high. For any item, multiply length × width × height in metres. A 50 × 50 × 50 cm carton is 0.125 m³, so eight of them make about one cubic metre. The common medium carton (around 45 cm each way) is about 0.09 m³, so ten of them come to roughly one metre.
Approximate volumes of common items
| Item | Approximate volume once packed |
|---|---|
| Medium carton (about 45 cm) | 0.09 m³ |
| Large suitcase | 0.15 m³ |
| 55-inch TV in its box | 0.2 m³ |
| Automatic washing machine | 0.4 m³ |
| Medium fridge | 0.8 – 1 m³ |
| Single bed with mattress (dismantled) | 0.8 – 1 m³ |
| Three-seater sofa | 1.5 – 2 m³ |
| Bicycle | 0.3 m³ |
Three worked examples
- A single person returning for good: 12 medium cartons (1.1 m³) + 2 suitcases (0.3 m³) + TV (0.2 m³) = about 1.6 m³.
- A partly furnished studio: 15 cartons (1.4 m³) + single bed with mattress (0.9 m³) + washing machine (0.4 m³) + bicycle (0.3 m³) = about 3 m³.
- A one-bedroom flat: 25 cartons (2.3 m³) + double bed (1.5 m³) + three-seater sofa (1.8 m³) + fridge (0.9 m³) + washing machine (0.4 m³) = about 7 m³.
These are estimates; the final volume is measured after packing, because protection adds a few centimetres to every item. If your load approaches 12 to 15 cubic metres, a full 20 ft container may work out cheaper than shared space, and the team compares both for you.
Dismantle beds and tables before measuring, and fill the washing machine and fridge with light clothes and towels instead of extra cartons. Every gap you fill means fewer metres.
The contents list: the page that speeds up clearance
In a shared container your goods travel with other people’s shipments, and Moroccan customs needs to know what is in each carton. Number your cartons and write exactly what each number contains. The list is best in French or translated into French, as Moroccan customs works largely in that language.
| Carton no. | Contents | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Men’s clothes and shoes (3 pairs) | Used |
| 2 | Kitchenware: pots, plates, cups | Used |
| 3 | Books and notebooks | Used |
| 4 | Blender, kettle and small electricals | Used |
| 5 | Gifts: two lengths of fabric and an unopened perfume | New, with invoice |
Mark items “used” or “new” honestly and keep invoices for new goods; new items may be charged differently from used personal effects.
Pickup areas in Umm Al Quwain
We collect from your home, staff accommodation or warehouse anywhere in the emirate, even for a single cubic metre.
- Central areas: Al Salamah, Al Raas, Al Maidan, Al Raudah, Al Haditha, the old town.
- Newer districts: Al Humrah, Al Ramlah, Al Salam City, Umm Al Quwain Marina.
- Inland: Falaj Al Mualla and the surrounding area.
- Industrial and free zones: the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone and the emirate’s industrial area.
After pickup the cartons go to the consolidation warehouse and from there into the Morocco-bound container. If you live near the Ajman or Ras Al Khaimah border, see our guides to shipping from Ajman to Morocco and shipping from Ras Al Khaimah to Morocco.
How a small load reaches Morocco by sea
There is no road route from the UAE to Morocco. Your shipment goes into a shared container leaving Jebel Ali, Sharjah, Khor Fakkan, Khalifa Port or Fujairah, crosses the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean, and arrives at Tanger Med or Casablanca. Port to port is roughly 3 to 5 weeks; with shared shipping you add consolidation time before sailing and unloading and sorting after arrival, then clearance and trucking.
- Shared container (LCL): for anything from 1 m³ to around 12 m³.
- Full container (FCL): 20 ft, 40 ft or 40 ft high cube, when the volume grows or a car travels with your goods.
For ports and options across the whole country, see the UAE to Morocco shipping guide.
Transit times and options
| Method | Approximate time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea, shared (LCL) | 4–6 weeks including consolidation and clearance | Singles and small flats | Per m³, usually a 1 m³ minimum |
| Sea, full container (FCL) | 3–5 weeks port to port + clearance | A full home or goods plus a car | Loaded at your door and sealed |
| Air | About 2–5 days door to door | Urgent documents and small parcels | Actual or volumetric weight; not for furniture |
Packing a small load so it survives a shared container
In a shared container your cartons are stacked beside other shipments and may be unloaded and reloaded more than once. A weak carton collapses under whatever sits on it, so packing matters even more here than in a full container.
- Double-wall cartons, not used supermarket boxes.
- Heavy items in small cartons, light items in large ones.
- Glass and plates wrapped piece by piece and stood on edge.
- Screens in their original box or a padded case.
- Your name and Moroccan phone number on every carton, with its list number.
- If wood is used in packing, it must carry the ISPM 15 stamp; Morocco does not accept untreated, unstamped wood.
Shipping a crossover from Umm Al Quwain to Morocco
Before booking, the team checks whether the car is eligible for import into Morocco, because there are age conditions on used cars and the rules differ with your status: a Moroccan living abroad under temporary admission, someone returning for good, or a foreign resident. We will not quote rates or figures until we have reviewed your case, because a mistake here is expensive.
If the car is eligible and you choose a container, we document its condition before it goes in: photos of the front, rear, both sides and roof, the odometer and fuel level, the tyres, and close-ups of existing scratches, and the file is sent to you on WhatsApp. The car is then secured with straps and wheel chocks, and in a 40 ft container your cartons can travel with it, depending on what your customs status allows. It can also go by RoRo, driven aboard the vessel uncovered.
- The original UAE registration card (mulkiya) in your name.
- Your passport and proof of your status in Morocco.
- A certificate showing no loan or fines on the car.
- Both keys, and a quarter tank of fuel or less.
Warning: Do not fill the boot with belongings if the car is going by RoRo; it is received empty. And do not book before the team confirms eligibility, as a refused car collects storage charges at the port.
Air freight for urgent parcels from Umm Al Quwain
Some things cannot wait for the container: certificates and official papers, medicine for a relative with the permit it needs, a work laptop, or clothes for the first days. We collect them in Umm Al Quwain and fly them from Sharjah, Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport to Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier or elsewhere, in about 2 to 5 days door to door including clearance.
Air pricing uses actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher. Volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000. A 50 × 40 × 40 cm carton has a volumetric weight of about 13.3 kg, so if it actually weighs 8 kg you pay for 13.3. Pick a carton that fits the contents, not a bigger one.
- Furniture is not practical by air.
- Loose lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes are restricted on aircraft.
- Medicines usually need a permit to enter Morocco.
Documents you will need
Personal effects
A passport copy, the full delivery address in Morocco, a Moroccan phone number for the recipient, and the numbered contents list.
Definitive return for Moroccans living abroad
A Moroccan returning to settle can usually bring in used belongings once with a customs exemption, under conditions such as a period of residence abroad, proof of definitive return, a detailed contents list and arrival within a set time. The team reviews your case before shipping. Foreigners moving to Morocco with a residence card have their own conditions.
Commercial goods
A commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin (Greater Arab Free Trade Area rules may apply to Arab-origin goods) and the importer’s details. Customs duties and VAT apply, at the standard rate of 20%.
Car
The original registration card, passport, purchase invoice if available, and proof of your status in Morocco.
Prohibited and restricted items
- Narcotics, weapons and ammunition, and counterfeit goods: prohibited.
- Drones: banned or subject to prior authorisation.
- Two-way radios (walkie-talkies): restricted and may be refused.
- Some medicines and some electronics: need a permit.
- Flammables, gas canisters and perishable food: not shipped.
Shipping prices from Umm Al Quwain to Morocco
With shared shipping, the price starts from the minimum volume and rises with the size of your load and the delivery city. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price: number of cartons and rough sizes, any large items, and the Moroccan city. Or fill in the quote request form.
What decides the price?
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Shipping method | Shared is per m³, full container is per container, air is per kg of actual or volumetric weight. |
| Volume | Each extra cubic metre adds to the price; the minimum is usually 1 m³. |
| Container size | At around 12 to 15 m³ a 20 ft container may be cheaper. |
| Arrival port and city | Casablanca or Tanger Med, then the distance to Kenitra or elsewhere. |
| Packing | Double-wall cartons, wrapping for appliances and glass, treated wooden crates where needed. |
| Documents | Personal effects, a definitive-return exemption, or commercial goods. |
| Car | Container or RoRo, the vehicle type, and its duties depending on your case. |
How to ship from Umm Al Quwain to Morocco, step by step
- Count your cartons and large items and estimate the metres with the table above.
- Send the list, photos and Moroccan city on WhatsApp.
- The team confirms the method (shared, full container or air) and reviews your papers.
- We collect from your home in Umm Al Quwain and measure the final volume after packing.
- The goods go to the consolidation warehouse and then into the container, and you get a message with the sailing date.
- You receive WhatsApp updates on arrival and clearance.
- The truck reaches your door in Kenitra or any other city.
Delivery in Kenitra and other Moroccan cities
Kenitra is a family city, and many of the small loads we send there belong to a son or daughter moving back to the family home. The shipment usually arrives at Casablanca or Tanger Med and, after clearance, is trucked to Kenitra, which sits between Rabat and Tangier on the same corridor.
| City | Usual arrival port | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Casablanca (Maarif, Anfa, Ain Diab, Bouskoura, Ain Sebaa) | Casablanca port | Close delivery after clearance |
| Rabat and Kenitra (Agdal, Hay Riad, Souissi, Salé) | Casablanca or Tanger Med | Short truck run from either port |
| Tangier and Tetouan | Tanger Med | Closest |
| Fes and Meknes | Tanger Med or Casablanca | Depends on the vessel |
| Marrakech | Casablanca | Truck run south |
| Agadir | Casablanca or Agadir | Depends on service availability |
| Oujda | Tanger Med | Long truck run |
Family houses in Kenitra
Many family houses have two or three floors, narrow stairs and no lift. Tell us in advance which floor the goods go to, and make sure someone from the family is home on delivery day with a copy of the contents list to match the carton numbers.
Old medinas
If delivery is inside an old medina in Fes, Marrakech or Tetouan, the truck stops at the nearest point and the cartons continue by handcart through the narrow lanes. A small load is an advantage here: it is easier to carry in.
Returning for good
Keep copies of your proof of residence abroad, proof of return and the contents list, and send them to the team before the container arrives so clearance is not held up.
Tips for shipping a small load
- Do not ship what costs more to move than to buy new in Morocco, such as cheap, heavy furniture.
- Use cartons of the same size; neat stacking saves metres.
- Carry, or send by air, everything you need in the first weeks.
- Ask the team about optional insurance if the load includes valuable electronics.
- If you have marine gear or boards, the Ras Al Khaimah guide explains how they are packed; if you are in Sharjah, see shipping from Sharjah to Morocco.
FAQ: shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Morocco
What is the smallest load I can ship from Umm Al Quwain to Morocco?
By shared sea freight the minimum is usually one cubic metre. Anything smaller and urgent can go by air.
How do I know how many cubic metres I have?
Multiply length × width × height in metres for each item and add them up. Ten medium cartons are about one cubic metre, and the team measures the final volume after packing.
How long does a small load take to reach Morocco?
About 4 to 6 weeks by shared container including consolidation and clearance, and about 2 to 5 days by air. Times are approximate.
Do you deliver to Kenitra?
Yes. The shipment arrives at Casablanca or Tanger Med and is then trucked to the house in Kenitra.
When is a full container cheaper than shared space?
Usually when the volume nears 12 to 15 cubic metres, or when a car travels with your belongings. The team compares both prices for you.
Can I ship my crossover with my belongings?
Yes, once its import eligibility is confirmed. We photograph its condition before it goes into the container, and in a 40 ft container your cartons can travel with it, depending on your customs status.
How will I know where my shipment is?
The team sends you a WhatsApp update at pickup, sailing, arrival, clearance and delivery.
Your few belongings from Umm Al Quwain to the family home in Morocco
Send the number of cartons, any large items and the city, and we will work out the metres with you and arrange the shipment.
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