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Aerial view of container cranes and stacks at Jebel Ali Port, Dubai

Freight forwarder · USA to the Middle East

Shipping from the US to the Gulf and the Middle East

Ocean, air and project cargo from every major US port to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan, with each country's documents handled before your cargo sails. We also bring Gulf imports into the US.

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  • FMC-licensed NVOCC
  • IATA accredited
  • Released within 60 minutes of payment
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Photo: Jebel Ali port, Imre Solt, CC BY-SA 3.0

Gulf routing update · November 2026

Container traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is heavily restricted, and most carriers now route Gulf cargo through ports outside the strait with onward trucking. We can route your cargo via Khor Fakkan and Fujairah in the UAE, Sohar and Salalah in Oman, or Jeddah on the Red Sea, and move urgent shipments by air. Transit times and surcharges are changing week to week, so call us before you book and we will walk you through the current options. Read the routing update.

Where we ship

Every Gulf market, one team

Full containers, consolidated LCL and air freight to every GCC country and the wider region. Air cargo to DXB, AUH, RUH, JED, DMM, DOH, KWI, MCT and BAH. Plus Egypt and Türkiye via the Mediterranean.

Gulf ports

Gulf ports we ship to

We plan each booking around your buyer's port. While Hormuz is restricted, cargo for these ports moves via gateways outside the strait.

  • Jebel Ali Port, Dubai

    The largest port in the Middle East, next to the Jebel Ali Free Zone. FCL, LCL, vehicles and project cargo, cleared for delivery anywhere in the UAE.

  • King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam

    Saudi Arabia's main port on the Gulf, linked by rail to Riyadh. We make sure the SABER and SFDA certificates are in place before your cargo sails.

  • Hamad Port, Qatar

    Qatar's main container port, south of Doha. Full and shared containers, with the certificate of origin and any legalization Qatar requires.

  • Shuwaikh Port, Kuwait

    Kuwait's main commercial port, on Kuwait Bay. Containers, vehicles and general cargo, with documents prepared for Kuwaiti customs.

Tanker trucks on a desert road with an industrial plant behind them
Onward truckingFrom gateway ports outside the strait to your buyer in the Gulf

Routing around Hormuz

Gateways outside the strait, trucked the rest of the way

Most carriers now discharge Gulf cargo at ports outside the Strait of Hormuz and truck it on to the final destination. We book the sailing, the gateway port and the onward truck as one move, so you deal with one coordinator and one set of documents.

Each option has its own transit time and surcharges, and both change week to week. We lay out the current choices for your cargo before you commit.

  • Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, UAE
  • Sohar and Salalah, Oman
  • Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea
  • Air freight for urgent cargo to all major Gulf airports
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What we move to the Gulf

Cargo we ship to the Middle East

From a single car for a family member to machinery for a construction site, we plan the routing, the container and the paperwork around your cargo.

Container cranes and a container ship at Hamad Port, Qatar
Hamad Port, QatarPhoto: Ministry of Transport Qatar, CC BY 3.0

Documents

Paperwork done before the cargo sails

Gulf customs authorities are strict about documents. We prepare and check everything before your booking is confirmed, so cargo is not held when it arrives.

  • Commercial invoice and packing list
  • Certificate of origin, certified by the chamber of commerce
  • Embassy or consulate legalization where the destination requires it
  • Saudi SABER and SFDA certificates for regulated products
  • US export filing (AES / EEI)
  • Bills of lading and air waybills matched to your letter of credit
Document attestation

Freight calculators

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Questions

Shipping to the Gulf: common questions

How long does ocean freight from New York and New Jersey to the Gulf take?
It depends on the carrier, the destination port and the current routing. With the Strait of Hormuz restricted, routings via the Red Sea or Oman are taking longer than usual. We confirm the expected transit time for your booking before you commit.
Can my buyer pay by letter of credit?
Yes. We prepare and check the documents your letter of credit calls for and work with your bank so payment is not delayed by discrepancies.
Can urgent cargo go by air?
Yes. We are IATA accredited and book air cargo to all major Gulf airports, airport to airport or door to door.
Can you ship my car to the UAE or Saudi Arabia?
Yes. We ship vehicles in containers or by RoRo and handle the US export paperwork, including the title documents US Customs requires before export. Import rules differ by country and by vehicle age, so check with us before you buy.
Do you handle attestation and legalization?
Yes. We arrange chamber of commerce certification and embassy or consulate legalization for commercial invoices and certificates of origin when the destination requires it.
Do you ship smaller loads to the Gulf?
Yes. Smaller shipments travel as LCL in shared containers, which keeps the cost down when you do not need a full container.
How quickly is cargo released after I pay?
Once your invoice is paid online through PayCargo, we release your cargo within 60 minutes of payment. VCS is Lightning-rated on PayCargo.

Still have a question? Call (908) 440-0999 or email info@vipcargoservices.com.

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  • Cargo released within 60 minutes of payment
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