Moving from the UAE to Lebanon
In short
Shipping household goods from the UAE to Lebanon takes 8–16 days port to port for a full container to Beirut, or 2–5 days by air through Beirut Rafic Hariri. Clearance is handled by Lebanese Customs Administration under Returning resident personal effects relief. Beirut port clearance can be slow and unpredictable; budget extra free time and confirm storage rates before the vessel arrives.
| Capital | Beirut |
|---|---|
| Arrival port | Beirut |
| Airport | Beirut Rafic Hariri |
| Sea — full container | 8–16 days |
| Sea — shared container | 16–26 days |
| Air freight | 2–5 days |
What is different about moving to Lebanon?
Beirut port clearance times have been unpredictable since 2020, and free-time allowances are short relative to the delays. Lebanon requires customs charges to be settled in specific currency terms that have shifted repeatedly; costs are confirmed at the time of arrival rather than at booking.
Who clears your shipment in Lebanon?
Lebanese Customs Administration, under Returning resident personal effects relief. Power and lift availability at the destination affects delivery: many buildings run on generators with limited hours.
How long does it take, and by which route?
A full container runs 8–16 days port to port to Beirut; shared container space takes 16–26 days because it must be consolidated before departure and unpacked on arrival. Air freight through Beirut Rafic Hariri is 2–5 days. Add roughly two weeks across packing, clearance at both ends and final delivery.
What happens when it arrives?
Beirut delivery is planned around generator hours and narrow streets in Achrafieh, Hamra and Gemmayzeh, where a full-size truck often cannot reach the door. We survey the destination access before quoting rather than discovering it on the day, because a street a full-size vehicle cannot enter means a shuttle, and an upper floor without a lift means a longer carry. Both are priced at survey.
Documents you need
- Passport copy — Photo page, plus the UAE residence visa and exit stamp.
- Itemised and valued packing list — The document customs actually reads. We produce it as the goods are packed.
- Proof of residence in Lebanon — Visa, residence permit or property documents.
- Bill of lading or air waybill — Issued once the shipment is loaded.
- Authorisation for the clearing agent — Lets our destination agent clear on your behalf.
Shipping a vehicle
Vehicles are always declared and cleared separately from household goods, even when they share a container, because they follow a different duty and registration process. The UAE side is the same everywhere: deregistration, surrender of plates and an export certificate, all blocked until any finance is settled and traffic fines are paid. On the Lebanon side, confirm the age limit, the drive-side rule and the conformity requirement before you ship, because a non-compliant vehicle can be refused entry.
Taking pets
Cats and dogs travelling to Lebanon need a microchip, a current rabies vaccination and an international veterinary health certificate, and most destinations also require an import permit obtained in advance. Where a rabies antibody titre test is required, it carries a fixed waiting period after the sample is taken that cannot be compressed — which is why a pet move is planned around the animal's calendar rather than your flight date.
Restricted and prohibited items
- Meat, dairy and fresh produce
- Plants, seeds and soil
- Counterfeit goods
- Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols and paint
- Fireworks, ammunition and explosives
- Narcotics and controlled substances
- Endangered species products (CITES)
What affects the price
Volume is the main driver, then whether you take shared container space or a full container — the crossover usually sits around fifteen cubic metres. Destination charges at Beirut are billed separately from the ocean freight and vary more than people expect. Delivery to an address a full-size vehicle cannot reach needs a smaller shuttle, and that is quoted at survey rather than added afterwards.
Questions about Lebanon
How predictable is Beirut clearance?
Less than most destinations. Free time at the port is short and demurrage accrues quickly, so we build in a buffer and agree storage terms before the vessel arrives rather than negotiating them under pressure afterwards.
Will lift access be available for delivery?
Often only during generator hours. We confirm the building's power schedule before the delivery date and plan the crew around it, because arriving during an outage means a stair carry nobody priced.
What will hold my shipment up at Beirut?
A vague inventory, more than anything else. "Kitchen items" invites an officer to open the box; "6 dinner plates, 8 glasses, 1 blender, AED 450" does not. After that it is missing residence documentation, which is why we assemble it before the vessel sails rather than after it berths.
What cannot be shipped to Lebanon?
Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols, paint and ammunition are refused on every route we run. Lebanon adds its own restrictions, including meat, dairy and fresh produce and plants, seeds and soil. Anything on your inventory that will cause a problem is flagged before it is packed.
Who decides whether I pay duty in Lebanon?
Lebanese Customs Administration, applying Returning resident personal effects relief. Goods you have genuinely owned and used abroad normally qualify; anything new, unused or bought shortly before the move is assessed on its own, and alcohol and tobacco are excluded almost everywhere. We confirm your position in writing before booking.
Customs, vehicle and pet import rules change, and transit bands are corridor averages rather than promises. We confirm what applies to your shipment in writing before booking.
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