Shipping to Romania from Dubai by air, by sea, door to door
We collect your cargo anywhere in the UAE, handle the export paperwork and coordinate Romanian customs, so it reaches your address in Romania. You see the price before anything moves.
To ship cargo from Dubai to Romania, choose air freight (about 6 to 8 days door to door) or sea freight (about 30 to 40 days), book a freight forwarder and have the customs paperwork ready at both ends. Aeron Shipping collects from anywhere in the UAE, prepares the export documents, coordinates Romanian customs clearance and delivers to the address in Romania. The price depends on weight, volume, mode and cargo type, so you get a quote for your actual shipment.
The route
Why Businesses and Families Ship from Dubai to Romania
Romania has one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU, with a large number of Romanians working in the Gulf and a growing import market. Romanian buyers purchase textiles, car parts and general goods from the UAE, and families returning home or relocating ship household goods to Bucharest, Cluj and Timisoara.
Romania is in the EU, so customs follows EU law and is applied by the Romanian customs authority (Vama Romana, under ANAF). Business importers need an EORI number, and Romania raised its standard VAT rate to 21% in 2025, so it pays to check current rates. The Black Sea port of Constanta is the country's main sea gateway.
This page explains how shipping from Dubai to Romania works in practice: the options, realistic timings, what Romanian customs expects, how freight is priced and what to prepare. If you would rather skip the reading, send your details on WhatsApp and we will work it out for you.
Pick the mode that fits your cargo and deadline. If you are not sure, message us what you are sending and we will tell you which one makes sense.
Air freight to Romania
The fastest way to get cargo from Dubai to Romania. It flies from Dubai or Abu Dhabi into Bucharest and goes on by truck to the final address. A good fit for urgent orders, samples, spare parts and valuable goods.
Cargo sails from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to Constanta, then moves inland by rail or truck. Choose LCL for a few boxes or pallets, or a full 20 ft or 40 ft container for larger loads. It is by far the cheapest per kilo.
We pack at your home in the UAE, ship everything and help with the inventory and proof-of-residence paperwork Romanian customs (Vama Romana, ANAF) asks for, so your household goods can enter without duty if you qualify.
Cars travel in a container or on a roll-on roll-off vessel to a European port and on to Romania. A car you have owned and used abroad may qualify for relocation relief, but local registration and technical checks still apply.
Pallets, machinery parts, trade goods for buyers or your own warehouse in Romania. We prepare the commercial invoice and packing list and line up customs clearance so the goods are not held at the border.
Contracts, product samples and small parcels move as express air cargo with tracking. Quick to book, and usually delivered to the address in Romania within days.
Five steps, one point of contact, from your door in the UAE to the address in Romania.
01
Tell us what you are sending
Share what the cargo is, roughly how much of it there is and where in Romania it needs to go. Photos or a packing list help.
02
Get a quote and book
You get an itemised price for air or sea, with the pickup date. Nothing moves until you say yes.
03
We collect and prepare the export
We pick up anywhere in the UAE, pack if you want us to, and prepare the UAE export documents.
04
Transit and Romania customs
Your cargo flies or sails towards Romania while we coordinate import clearance with Romanian customs (Vama Romana, ANAF) and work out duty and VAT in advance.
05
Delivery in Romania
It goes on by truck to the address. You get updates on WhatsApp until the signature.
Air freight
Air Freight from Dubai to Romania: How It Works
Air is the right choice when time matters. Your cargo is collected in the UAE, checked in at Dubai International (DXB), Al Maktoum (DWC) or Abu Dhabi (AUH), and flown to Bucharest (OTP), Romania's main cargo airport, usually with a connection in Europe. From there it clears customs and goes on by truck to the final address.
Air freight is billed on chargeable weight, which is the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. Light but bulky cargo therefore costs more than its weight suggests, and dense cargo costs less. Good packing that keeps the carton size down is the easiest way to cut the bill.
We do not carry cosmetics, batteries, liquids, food or jewellery. Tell us what is in your cargo and we confirm what can travel.
Who air freight suits
Urgent business orders, spare parts and replacement stock
Samples, documents and small parcels
High-value or fragile goods that need fewer handling stages
Anything that must reach Romania in under two weeks
A typical air freight timeline
From the day we collect your cargo.
Day 0Pickup in the UAEWe collect, check and weigh the cargo, and confirm the documents.
Day 1Export clearance and bookingUAE export paperwork is completed and a flight is booked.
Days 2 to 4Flight to RomaniaDirect or connecting cargo flight to Bucharest.
Days 3 to 6Customs clearance in RomaniaImport declaration is filed, and duty and tax are settled where due.
Days 4 to 8Delivery by truckDelivered to the address you gave us, with a signature on receipt.
Sea Freight from Dubai to Romania: FCL and LCL Explained
The cheapest way to move large, heavy or non-urgent cargo, and the usual choice for household moves.
Sea cargo leaves from Jebel Ali in Dubai or Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi and usually transfers at a Mediterranean hub before the final leg to Constanta on the Black Sea. From there it moves on by truck or rail, and a full journey door to door normally takes 30 to 40 days for a full container.
Sailing schedules change, and carriers sometimes reroute around the Red Sea and Suez Canal, which can add days. We check the current schedule before we book, so the dates we give you are realistic.
Container options for sea freight from Dubai to Romania
Option
Approximate capacity
Best for
How it is priced
LCL (shared container)
From one box to a few cubic metres
A few pallets, boxes or a small move
Per cubic metre or per tonne, whichever is greater
20 ft container
About 33 cubic metres
A one to two bedroom home, or several pallets
A flat rate for the container
40 ft container
About 67 cubic metres
A larger home or big commercial loads
A flat rate for the container
Capacities are approximate and vary by container. We will tell you which size fits your cargo.
Air Freight or Sea Freight to Romania: Which Should You Choose?
Speed, cost and cargo size decide it. A mix of both often works best.
Choose air freight if
You need the cargo in Romania within about two weeks
The shipment is small, light or high in value
You are replacing stock, parts or samples urgently
You want fewer handling stages for fragile goods
Choose sea freight if
The cargo is heavy, bulky or a full household
You can wait 30 to 40 days
Cost matters more than speed
You are sending machinery, furniture or large pallets
Many people use both. Urgent essentials such as documents, work equipment and a few weeks of clothes go by air, and the rest of the household goes by sea. Tell us your deadline and we will price both.
Romania customs
Customs, Duty and Tax for Shipments to Romania
What customs in Romania expects depends on whether you are moving your belongings or importing goods for business.
Moving to Romania with your belongings
Duty-free relocation can save a lot, if you qualify.
You lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and are setting up your normal home in Romania.
The items were yours and in use for at least 6 months before you moved.
Clear them within 12 months of arriving. Customs expects a detailed inventory signed by you.
Do not sell, lend or hire out the goods for 12 months after clearance, or duty can become payable.
Alcohol and tobacco are excluded from the relief. Cars can qualify, but local registration rules apply.
Romanian import VAT (TVA) is 21% on most goods, with reduced rates of 11% on items such as some food, books and medicines. Rates change, so we confirm the current figure.
Duty depends on the product code (HS code) and country of origin. Consignments under 150 euros enter duty-free but still carry VAT.
Business importers in Romania need an EORI number.
Paperwork: commercial invoice, packing list, airway bill or bill of lading, and a certificate of origin for preferential rates.
Romania changed its VAT rates recently, so check the current rate with us before you price your goods.
Common Mistakes and Packing Tips for Shipping to Romania
Most delays at customs in Romania come from a short list of avoidable problems.
Mistakes that hold cargo up
Vague goods descriptions such as "spare parts", or the wrong HS code
Under-declaring the value on the invoice, which customs can check and penalise
No EORI number for a business importer in Romania
No phone number or email for the consignee, which carriers need to arrange delivery
Assuming the VAT rate is unchanged, when Romania has revised its rates recently
Assuming household goods are automatically duty-free without meeting the 12 and 6 month conditions
Packing and insurance tips
Use export-grade cartons or wooden crates for heavy or fragile items
Number every box and match the numbers to your packing list
Label each box with the consignee name and delivery address
Photograph valuable items before they are packed
Wrap furniture and use corner protectors to avoid transit damage
Take transit insurance for high-value goods and household moves
Pricing
What Decides the Cost of Shipping to Romania
We quote each shipment on its own because a single box and a full container are priced in very different ways. These are the things that move the price.
Chargeable weight. Air freight is billed on whichever is higher, the actual weight or the volumetric weight (length x width x height in cm, divided by 6,000). A 60 x 40 x 40 cm box weighing 12 kg is billed as 16 kg.
Sea volume. Sea LCL is billed per cubic metre or per tonne, whichever is greater. A full container has a fixed rate for the container.
Pickup and delivery. Where the cargo is collected in the UAE and how far it travels inside Romania.
Customs, duty and tax. Paid on import into Romania and depends on the goods. We estimate it for you before shipping.
Extras. Packing, insurance and storage if you need them.
Quick chargeable weight check
Enter one box or a whole pallet to see what air freight would bill.
Chargeable weight (air)16 kgVolumetric weight is higher than actual weight.
Moving from the UAE to Romania: A Step-by-Step Timeline
Moving country is easier when the shipment is planned backwards from your arrival date. Here is the order that works for most people moving from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE to Romania.
Start with sea freight for the bulk of your things, and use air freight only for what you will need in the first weeks. Keep your inventory and proof of ownership in one folder from the start. It saves hours at customs.
8 to 10 weeks beforeDecide what to ship and what to sellGet quotes, decide what comes with you and sell or donate the rest. Less cargo means a lower bill.
6 to 8 weeks beforeMake your inventory and gather proofWrite a detailed inventory and collect receipts that show you owned the items for six months or more.
5 to 6 weeks beforeBook your shipmentBook sea freight now, as it takes 30 to 40 days. Book air freight later for urgent essentials.
1 to 2 weeks beforePacking and collectionWe pack at your home or collect your boxes, label everything and complete the UAE export paperwork.
On arrivalRegistration and customsSettle your address in Romania, then present your signed inventory and proof of residence abroad to customs within 12 months of moving.
After clearanceDelivery and unpackingThe goods are delivered to your new home. Keep your declaration documents, as the 12 month rules apply after clearance.
Delivery in Romania
Where We Deliver in Romania
Cargo clears customs at a Romania gateway and goes on by truck to your address, anywhere in the country.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Romania take?
Air freight usually takes 6 to 8 days door to door, depending on express or standard service. Sea freight takes about 30 to 40 days, since cargo sails from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port, often via a Mediterranean hub, to Constanta and then moves inland. Customs checks and peak season can add days, so we confirm dates when you book.
How much does it cost to ship from Dubai to Romania?
The price depends on the weight or volume of your cargo, whether you ship by air or sea, what you are sending, where it is collected in the UAE and where it is delivered in Romania. We do not publish flat rates because a 20 kg box and a full container are priced very differently. Send us the details and you get an itemised quote with the freight, handling and any extra services listed separately.
Is air freight or sea freight better for Romania?
Choose air freight for urgent, small or high-value cargo and when you need it in under two weeks. Choose sea freight for heavy or bulky cargo, household moves and anything that is not time-critical, because it costs much less per kilogram. If you are unsure, tell us the weight, size and deadline and we will recommend one.
Can I ship my household goods to Romania duty-free?
Often yes. Romanian customs follows EU rules that allow duty-free import of personal belongings if you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and are moving your normal home to Romania. The items must have been yours and in use for at least 6 months, and they must be cleared within 12 months of your arrival. Alcohol and tobacco are not covered.
How much is import VAT in Romania?
The standard Romanian VAT (TVA) rate is currently 21%, calculated on the customs value plus any duty, with a reduced rate of 11% on some goods. Rates have changed recently, so we confirm the current figure before you ship. Consignments under 150 euros are duty-free but still carry VAT.
What documents do I need to ship to Romania?
For business shipments you need a commercial invoice, a packing list and an airway bill or bill of lading, plus an EORI number for the importer and a certificate of origin if you want preferential duty rates. For a household move you need your passport, proof of your address, a signed inventory and proof of your residence abroad. We prepare the export side in the UAE and tell you what the local side needs.
Can you ship a car from the UAE to Romania?
Yes. We ship cars in containers or by roll-on roll-off vessel to a European port and on to Romania. A car you have owned and used abroad can qualify for relocation relief, but local registration and technical checks still apply. Send us the make, model and year and we will list what is needed.
Which Romanian port is used for sea cargo?
Constanta on the Black Sea is Romania's main container port and the usual entry for sea cargo. From there it moves on by truck or rail to Bucharest and other cities.
Do you deliver to my door in Romania?
Yes. Cargo arrives at a Romanian airport or seaport, clears customs and goes on by truck to the final address in cities such as Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi and Brasov, or to smaller towns and business parks.
How is volumetric weight calculated for air freight?
Multiply length, width and height in centimetres, then divide by 6,000 to get the volumetric weight in kilograms. The airline bills whichever is higher, the actual weight or the volumetric weight. A 60 x 40 x 40 cm box weighing 12 kg is billed as 16 kg. The calculator on this page does the sum for you.
Do you ship to Romania from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates too?
Yes. We collect from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and consolidate everything for the same flight or sailing to Romania.
Can I ship less than a full container?
Yes. LCL (less than container load) lets you ship a few boxes or pallets in a shared container and you pay only for the space you use. Transit is a little longer than a full container because cargo is consolidated before sailing and separated after arrival.
Is cargo insurance available?
Yes. We can arrange transit insurance for air and sea shipments. It is worth taking for high-value goods, household moves and anything fragile. Tell us the declared value of your cargo and we will include the cost in your quote.
How far in advance should I book?
For air freight, a few days before the cargo is ready is usually enough. For sea freight, plan one to two weeks ahead, and longer before the end-of-year peak season when space is tight. For a house move, start getting quotes eight to ten weeks before you leave.
Can I track my shipment from Dubai to Romania?
Yes. Every shipment gets a tracking number you can check on our Track Shipment page, and our team sends updates on the key milestones by phone and WhatsApp, including pickup, departure, customs clearance in Romania and delivery.
Keep exploring
Shipping from Dubai to Other European Countries
The same pickup, paperwork and delivery service, with each country's customs rules covered.
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