Job Discussion Forums

redcliff · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 46

I received some info from the shipping company I'm considering for my move to the UAE.

They said that they "highly recomend not bringing any CD's books or DVDs" as any box containing these items will be open and checked to make sure it is not offensive.

Is this true?
Does anyone have any experience with this?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

What about electrical appliances? Should someone bring them and buy adapters/converters or leave them?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I have never heard of problems with books, but videos and DVDs may have to make a trip to the censor. You might consider carrying them in your baggage when you fly in... and be sure to leave the porn at home. (or bury it on your laptop)

The electric in the UAE is 220 and the plugs are usually the bulky British style. Personally I only took dual voltage items that only needed the readily available plug adaptors. Definitely don't bring TVs unless they are multi-system... printers often give problems. Appliances are cheap and available, and unless your employer is paying the shipping, it is not worth the cost to get them there and not have them work at their max.

When you get near organizing your move, you might want to ask about specific things.

VS

redcliff · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 46

Gordon,
does this mean you're on the way?!!

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

are not usually a problem unless they are pornographic. However, if you have books on art which contain photos of the great masters who always liked those chubby naked ladies - you might want to leave it at home just so that no one with a black marker ruins the book (or cuts the pictures out).

I don't know anyone in 7 years who has had anything confiscated, the customs guys have looked at the covers of CDs DVDs etc. but usually never even ask a question. You will be present when your goods are opened and may have to answer some questions, but that's about it.

As for electrical appliances, check the plug to see if they can run on either 110 or 220 - most computers will be OK for example. You can buy step down converters at Carrefour for about USD25.00 which will work with appliances of up to 500 watts (there may be some available for higher wattages but I haven't been looking for one so can't be authoritative on this point)

DVD players are cheap and plentiful here, hardly worth shipping one from home unless you're really attached to it (or it's something really special). TVs are also relatively inexpensive (and remember, you don't have to pay tax on anything here either - that's quite a saving in itself).

If you are coming in before the end of June you may be able to pick up some used items (including appliances & TVs) at bargain prices from expats who are leaving. If you are acquainted with or can make connections with someone from any HCT, they should be able to hook you up with the electronic staff for sale bulletin board. Also, DMC has a "yard sale" usually in late May where you can pick up some good deals.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

redcliff · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 46

so if I have to be present for customs to open the items (and I'm assuming that means I go to them), does this mean its not worth paying for the door to door shipping.

I'll be settling in RAK. Does anyone know offhand ifshipments come there or do I have to travel to one of the bigger ports?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

In all of my moves in and out of various countries, only in Oman the first time was I ever there when they went through my stuff. Kuwait and UAE and 2nd time to Oman, nope. Check with your shipping company. My later moves they took it through customs for me. It is worth paying them to do it if there is an extra charge.

VS

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

a colleague had stuff shipped from the US to UAE - we're located about 2 hours out of Dubai and the goods were shipped via Dubai and then delivered to the final destination. Yes, this person did have to go to Dubai for the customs clearance. Maybe she was a random check where the owner had to be present? I can't say.

Most shipments would be via Dubai - the main port on that coast and then trucked to RAK, however, if you're paying for door to door shipping it would be included in the cost but check with your freight forwarder

Afra · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 389

It's common be have to clear your shipping at Customs. A colleague who was summoned said that if they caused her problems, she'd just leave everything for them to dispose of. She was cleared without any check. Maybe she was lucky!

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

It might be worth noting, too, that shipping your car--if it happens to be a vehicle you really wish to hold on to--from the US to Dubai is inexpensive and easy. I did that in returning to the UAE in 2005. I have a 1997 Infiniti Q45 that I bought in Houston in 2004 for $15,000. If I had sold it in Houston, in 2005, I would have taken at least a $3000 hit on the resale price. Shipping it from Houston to Dubai, however, cost only $1600 plus the 5% import duty of $550 (since the car was worth the same in the Dubai market as in the USA market)...total, $2150 to ship the car.

Since it's a premium car that I love to drive, it was a no-brainer for me to hold on to it and ship it over. It's a rare vehicle over here in the UAE so I would not have been able to find it. Like the big Lexus, it does not really need Gulf specifications to survive the climate--it's top-quality already.

So if you hate to get rid of your car, shipping it from the US, especially from Houston, is an alternative--although ordinary cars without Gulf specs, such as a Taurus or a Buick, will not stand up to the climate more than 3 years or so.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Gauguin · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 54 Location: At the Cutting Edge

Redcliff, if you are shipping all you household goods in a container or several larger packing cases you may want to consider packing them first in smaller boxes. These can easily be man handle and placed in the large x-ray scanners they have at the shipping custom warehouse, so speeding up the process. I had to empty both my large packing cases much to the embarrassment of the young customs officer. and my annoyance as I couldn't get it all back in the way I had three weeks before.

Secondly, when you go to collect your shipment ask your school to help. Here at HCT we have a college pick up and willing hands who can be used (costs covered). The truck rental chaps at the customs were like vultures and quite overbearing.

Last thought, if you�re not shipping everything including the Fido�s kennel, second spare TV and the wife�s whole wardrobe and shoe collection you could, as one of our newbies recently did and post the lot over. Good Luck.

gauguin

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

In this morning's Gulf News a Japanese engineer is before the courts in Dubai charged with bringing in nearly 100 pornographic DVDs - his defence is (a) that he didn't know porn was illegal here and (b) he is neither from an Arab country nor is he muslim and (c) porn is acceptable in Japanese culture. He is looking for a reduced sentence because of these reasons

No decision has yet been made. I'm rather surprised that the customs people didn't make things tougher on the person who told them if they caused her problems she'd just leave the stuff for customs to dispose of? In my experience, customs people have zero sense of humour and tend to be even more "thorough" when the importer is belligerent or uncooperative.