Car Shipping from Turkey to Dubai
Shipping a car from Turkey to Dubai connects two of the region's strongest automotive markets across a relatively short geographic distance, with a unique advantage: this is one of the only corridors where three transport modes are available - air freight, sea freight, and land freight by road. The overland route from Turkey to the UAE is an established commercial transport corridor, offering an alternative to air and sea that no other European-origin corridor can match.
This corridor serves Turkish residents relocating to the UAE, owners exporting vehicles from Turkey, and the used-vehicle trading segment that supplies Turkish and European-spec cars to Gulf markets. Opera Shipping coordinates from Turkish export through UAE customs and RTA registration, covering all three transport modes with guidance on Trafik Tescil de-registration and Turkish customs procedures.
Best Shipping Option for This Route
- Air Freight: Fastest option. Vehicles depart from Istanbul Airport (IST), one of the world's busiest airports, or Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) on Istanbul's Asian side. Antalya (AYT) serves the Mediterranean coast. Transit measured in days.
- Sea Freight: Direct eastern Mediterranean routing. Ambarli (Istanbul) is the primary container port. Mersin serves the Mediterranean coast and southern Turkey. Izmir serves the Aegean coast. Container, shared container, and RoRo available.
- Land Freight: Road transport from Turkey to the UAE, routing through Jordan and Saudi Arabia (or alternative overland routes). One industry source references Turkey to Sharjah road delivery in approximately 8 days. This option avoids port handling and offers a different timeline and cost profile.
What we need for a quote:
- Vehicle make, model, and running condition
- Vehicle location in Turkey
- Preferred transport mode: air, sea, or land (or guidance needed)
- Preferred timeframe
- UAE destination emirate (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or other)
Importing a Car from Turkey to the UAE
The Turkey to Dubai corridor is geographically closer than most European routes, and Turkey's position bridging Europe and Asia provides multiple departure options by air, sea, and land. Turkish ports on the Mediterranean and Marmara Sea offer direct routing to the Suez Canal, while the established overland corridor through Jordan and Saudi Arabia provides the only road freight option from any European origin country to the UAE.
Turkey is NOT a member of the EU, so Turkish export procedures follow the country's own customs framework through Gumruk (Turkish customs). Vehicle de-registration is processed through Trafik Tescil offices under the Emniyet Genel Mudurlugu (General Directorate of Security). FIDI Turkey (Sept 2025) confirms that a notarised vekaletname (power of attorney) is required for port brokers to represent the vehicle owner with Turkish authorities.
On the UAE side, the standard import framework applies: 5% customs duty on CIF value plus 5% VAT, with customs valuation based on UAE market prices. Turkish market vehicles are typically LHD, meeting the UAE's left hand drive requirement.
Air, Sea & Land Freight from Turkey
Air Freight from Turkey
Air freight offers the fastest transit. Istanbul Airport (IST) is one of the world's busiest airports with extensive cargo infrastructure. Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) on Istanbul's Asian side handles cargo and may offer routing advantages for vehicles sourced from Anatolia. Antalya (AYT) serves the Mediterranean coast.
Sea Freight from Turkey
Sea freight departs from Turkish Mediterranean and Marmara ports. Ambarli (Istanbul) handles the largest container volumes. Mersin is the major Mediterranean hub for southern Turkey, with direct routing toward the Suez Canal. Izmir serves the Aegean coast. Turkish ports' eastern Mediterranean position means vessels reach the Suez Canal without the extended transit required from Atlantic or North Sea origins.
Land Freight from Turkey
Land freight is a unique option on this corridor. Vehicles are transported by road from Turkey through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the UAE. This established commercial route avoids port handling entirely. One industry source references Turkey to Sharjah road delivery in approximately 8 days, making land freight competitive with sea freight on transit time while offering a fundamentally different logistics profile. Border crossing documentation at Turkish, Jordanian, Saudi, and UAE entry points is coordinated as part of the arrangement.
Sea Freight Method Options
- Dedicated Container: Sole-use sealed container for high-value vehicles. View Route
- Shared Container: Enclosed protection with consolidation scheduling. View Route
- RoRo: Port-to-port for drivable vehicles on active routes from Turkish ports. View Route
How Car Shipping from Turkey to Dubai Works
Quote & Route Planning
We review vehicle details, Turkish location, preferred transport mode (air, sea, or land), and UAE destination emirate. For land freight, we confirm the overland routing and border crossing logistics. We provide a landed cost assessment including UAE market-value-based customs valuation.
Turkish Export Documentation & De-registration
Turkish vehicle export involves de-registration and customs declaration under Turkey's own framework (NOT EU):
- Trafik Tescil De-registration: The vehicle must be de-registered at a Trafik Tescil office under the Emniyet Genel Mudurlugu (General Directorate of Security). Turkish licence plates are surrendered and a de-registration confirmation is issued.
- Vergi Numarasi / Foreign Citizen ID: FIDI Turkey confirms that a Turkish tax number (vergi numarasi) or foreign citizen ID number is required for export processing.
- Vekaletname (Notarised Power of Attorney): FIDI Turkey (Sept 2025) confirms that a notarised vekaletname is required to enable port brokers to represent the vehicle owner with Turkish authorities during the export process. This must be notarised by a public notary in Turkey.
- E-devlet: For Turkish citizens, FIDI Turkey notes that a criminal record from the e-devlet (government digital services) system is required.
- Gumruk Beyannamesi: Turkish customs export declaration.
- Passport copy of the vehicle owner.
- Flight ticket: FIDI Turkey notes this is required at Turkish customs.
Vehicle & Port/Transport Preparation
Condition report with photographs and VIN verification. Vehicle delivered to Ambarli, Mersin, or Izmir (sea), IST/SAW/AYT (air), or to the land freight departure facility. For land freight, loading onto a specialised vehicle transporter is arranged.
Loading/Transport & Departure
Vehicle loaded and Turkish export customs clearance completed. For land freight, the vehicle begins the overland journey through Jordan and Saudi Arabia toward the UAE. Border crossing documentation coordinated at each transit point.
Transit & Milestone Updates
Milestone-based updates for all three modes. Sea: departure, transit, Jebel Ali arrival. Air: departure, UAE airport arrival. Land: departure, border crossing confirmations (Turkey/Jordan, Jordan/Saudi, Saudi/UAE), estimated arrival.
UAE Arrival: Customs, Inspection & Registration
On arrival in the UAE (Jebel Ali sea, UAE airport air, or UAE border land), the vehicle enters UAE customs:
- UAE Customs Declaration: 5% customs duty on CIF value. UAE customs values at local market prices. Missing invoices incur USD 300 penalty (FIDI UAE).
- VAT: 5% on CIF + duty. Effective rate approximately 10.25%.
- Physical Inspection: Almost all shipments undergo inspection/X-ray (FIDI UAE).
- Technical Inspection: Safety, emissions, lighting, VIN. Turkish vehicles are LHD, meeting UAE requirement. GCC compatibility should be verified.
- Customs Clearance Certificate: Submitted to traffic authority.
- Traffic Authority Registration: RTA/Tasjeel (Dubai), ITC (Abu Dhabi), or SRTA (Sharjah). Emirates ID + residence visa required. One vehicle per consignee per year (FIDI UAE).
Documents & Customs for Turkey-to-Dubai Shipments
Turkish Export Side (FIDI Turkey, Sept 2025)
- Trafik Tescil de-registration: Confirmation from traffic registration office
- Vergi numarasi or foreign citizen ID number
- Vekaletname: Notarised power of attorney for port broker representation
- Gumruk Beyannamesi: Turkish customs export declaration
- Passport copy
- Flight ticket (required at Turkish customs - FIDI Turkey)
- E-devlet criminal record (Turkish citizens only - FIDI Turkey)
- Pre-shipment condition report
- For land freight: Border crossing documentation for Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE entry
UAE Import Side
- Commercial invoice / proof of value
- Original Bill of Lading (sea), Air Waybill (air), or road transport documentation (land)
- Passport copy with valid UAE residence visa
- Emirates ID
- UAE customs clearance certificate
- UAE motor insurance
- Authorisation letters: To clearing company and shipping line (FIDI UAE)
Turkish Departure & UAE Arrival Points
Turkish Departure
- Sea: Ambarli Port (Istanbul) - Turkey's largest container port, Marmara region
- Sea: Port of Mersin - Mediterranean hub, southern/central Turkey
- Sea: Port of Izmir - Aegean coast, western Turkey
- Air: Istanbul Airport (IST) - primary cargo hub, European side
- Air: Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) - Asian side, also handles cargo
- Air: Antalya Airport (AYT) - Mediterranean coast
- Land: Turkish border crossing to Jordan/Saudi Arabia overland route
UAE Arrival
- Sea: Jebel Ali Port (Dubai) or Zayed Port (Abu Dhabi)
- Air: DXB, DWC (Dubai), or AUH (Abu Dhabi)
- Land: UAE border crossing (Sharjah or other entry point, route-dependent)
Sea freight from Turkish ports routes through the eastern Mediterranean and Suez Canal. Turkey's proximity to the Suez Canal makes this one of the shorter sea corridors to Dubai. Land freight routes through Jordan and Saudi Arabia, with approximately 8-day transit referenced by industry sources.
Compare Transit Times
Vehicle Eligibility for Importing to the UAE from Turkey
Turkish-market vehicles
LHD, meeting UAE requirements. Turkey's automotive market includes both domestically assembled models (TOGG, various manufacturers with Turkish assembly plants) and European/Asian imports. Turkish-spec vehicles should be verified for GCC compatibility.
Used-vehicle trade
Turkey has a significant used-vehicle export industry supplying the Gulf and Middle East markets. Commercial shipments may follow different documentation and customs procedures than personal imports.
European-spec vehicles in Turkey
Some vehicles in Turkey were originally imported from Europe and may have European-spec configurations.
Classic vehicles
Container shipping recommended.
Brand-new vehicles under 500 km
May face UAE import restrictions (FIDI UAE).
Financed vehicles
Lender authorisation required before export.
Electric vehicles
Subject to carrier battery regulations. Turkey's growing EV market (including TOGG) may increase EV export volumes.
Land freight suitability
Land freight suits drivable, standard vehicles. High-value or sensitive vehicles may be better served by container sea freight for enclosed protection.
Tracking Updates, Vehicle Safety & Insurance
Tracking
Milestone-based updates for all three modes. Sea and air: departure, transit, arrival, clearance. Land: departure, border crossing confirmations (Turkey/Jordan, Jordan/Saudi, Saudi/UAE), UAE arrival.
Vehicle Safety
Condition report at handover. Container provides enclosed protection for sea. Land freight uses specialised vehicle transporters. For high-value vehicles, container sea freight is recommended over land freight for maximum protection.
Insurance
Transit insurance available for all three modes. For land freight, confirm coverage covers the entire overland route including border crossings. UAE motor insurance (trafik sigortasi equivalent) must be arranged before the vehicle can be registered and driven.
Read Insurance GuideWhat Shapes Your Turkey-to-Dubai Quote
Each shipment is quoted individually. Factors for this corridor:
- Transport mode: Air, sea (container/shared/RoRo), or land freight - three options unique to this corridor.
- Vehicle location in Turkey: Determines departure port/route.
- Vehicle dimensions, weight, and value.
- UAE destination emirate: Dubai (RTA), Abu Dhabi (ITC), or Sharjah (SRTA). Sharjah may be relevant for land freight arrivals.
- Service scope: Port-to-port, airport-to-door, or end-to-end overland.
- Insurance: Coverage for the chosen transport mode.
- Timing and seasonality.
- UAE customs valuation: Turkish-market vehicles valued at local UAE market prices.
- Turkish export documentation: Vekaletname must be notarised before departure, affecting scheduling.
- Border crossing logistics (land freight): Transit through Jordan and Saudi Arabia requires additional coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions - Turkey to Dubai Car Shipping
1. How long does it take to ship a car from Turkey to Dubai?
Sea freight from Turkish Mediterranean ports to Jebel Ali routes through the Suez Canal - one of the shorter European sea corridors. Air freight is measured in days. Land freight from Turkey to the UAE has been referenced at approximately 8 days by industry sources. After arrival, customs, inspection, and registration add 1 to 3 weeks.
2. Can I ship a car from Turkey to Dubai by road?
Yes. Land freight is available on this corridor. Vehicles are transported by road from Turkey through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the UAE. This method avoids port handling and offers a transit time competitive with sea freight. Border crossing documentation is coordinated at each transit point.
3. How much does it cost to import a car from Turkey to Dubai?
Total cost includes Turkish collection, port/road handling, freight (air/sea/land), insurance, UAE customs duty (5% of CIF), VAT (5% on duty-inclusive amount), inspection, and registration. UAE customs values at local market prices.
4. What Turkish documents do I need?
FIDI Turkey (Sept 2025) confirms: Trafik Tescil de-registration, vergi numarasi (tax number) or foreign citizen ID, notarised vekaletname, Gumruk Beyannamesi (customs declaration), passport copy, and flight ticket. Turkish citizens also need an e-devlet criminal record.
5. Is Turkey in the EU?
No. Turkey is not an EU member state. Turkish export procedures follow Turkey's own customs framework, not EU regulations. This affects documentation, customs declaration, and the overall export process.
6. Does UAE customs use the Turkish purchase price?
Not always. UAE customs values vehicles based on local market prices. If the vehicle's UAE market value differs from the Turkish price, duties and VAT are calculated on the UAE assessment.
7. Do I need UAE residency?
Yes. FIDI UAE confirms Emirates ID and residence visa are compulsory for customs clearance and registration.
8. What is a vekaletname?
A vekaletname is a notarised power of attorney required by Turkish customs and port authorities. FIDI Turkey confirms it must be notarised by a public notary in Turkey and enables port brokers to represent the vehicle owner with Turkish authorities during the export process.
9. Is land freight suitable for all vehicles?
Land freight suits standard, drivable vehicles. For high-value, classic, or sensitive vehicles, container sea freight provides enclosed protection throughout transit and is generally recommended. Land freight involves open or partially enclosed transport and multiple border crossings.
10. What happens after customs clearance in Dubai?
After duties/VAT settlement and inspection, UAE customs issues a clearance certificate submitted to the relevant traffic authority (RTA in Dubai, ITC in Abu Dhabi, or SRTA in Sharjah) with Emirates ID, passport, residence visa, and proof of UAE motor insurance.
Get Your Turkey-to-Dubai Shipping Quote
Ready to ship a vehicle from Turkey to Dubai? Share the vehicle's make, model, Turkish location, running condition, and preferred transport mode (air, sea, or land). Include your timeline and UAE destination emirate. For land freight, we'll confirm the overland routing and border crossing logistics. Our team will provide a corridor-specific quote covering Turkish export and UAE import across all three available transport modes.
Request Your Quote