Customs Duty Dubai to Egypt: How It Works

Updated 13 August 2026

When a parcel arrives in Egypt from the UAE, two things drive the cost: a customs duty rate that varies widely by product — from low single digits to 40% or more — and 14% VAT on top. There is also a hard rule to know before you ship: commercial cargo needs advance cargo information (ACI) filed through Nafeza before it leaves. This guide explains each layer in plain English, shows a worked example, and links to the official source. All figures are indicative for 2026 — verify before you quote a landed price.

How Egypt import charges are built up

Egypt stacks charges on top of the value of your goods including freight and insurance — the customs (CIF) value. The HS code of your product sets the duty rate, and in Egypt that rate swings more than in most markets, so the code matters more than usual.

In order: customs establish the customs value in pounds (item value plus freight and insurance). They apply customs duty at the rate for your HS code — which can be low or very high depending on the goods. Then they charge 14% VAT on the value plus that duty, and add service and clearance fees. Because the duty rate varies so much, getting the code right is the single biggest factor in the landed cost. To find your commodity code, see our export documentation checklist.

Thresholds and the 14% VAT

Egypt gives little relief for imports, so do not plan around a duty-free allowance.

• Customs duty: the personal-use allowance is low and limited, and customs decide whether a shipment qualifies. Commercial goods get no de-minimis — duty applies from a low value.
• VAT: there is no free threshold for commercial goods. Budget 14% VAT on the duty-inclusive value for nearly every import.

So a commercial parcel is charged both duty and VAT even at modest value. Confirm the current personal-use threshold with the Egyptian Customs Authority before relying on it.

Worked example table

Here is roughly how charges scale with value, using a range of duty rates to show the spread, plus 14% VAT. Your product’s HS code could land it anywhere across this range.

AED to EGP conversions are approximate and move with the exchange rate. Figures exclude some service fees and are illustrative for 2026 only.

ACI and Nafeza: file before you ship

Egypt’s most important import rule is not about duty at all — it is a paperwork deadline. Miss it and the goods can be turned away at the port.

• ACI (Advance Cargo Information): commercial cargo must be declared before it is shipped. The Egyptian importer registers on the Nafeza single-window platform and obtains an ACID number, which must be on the shipping documents.
• No ACID, no entry: if the ACI is not filed before departure, the shipment can be refused on arrival. This applies to commercial cargo, not genuine personal parcels.

If you are selling to a business in Egypt, confirm they have registered on Nafeza and given you a valid ACID number before you ship — the deadline is before the goods move, not on arrival.

How to keep duty predictable

You cannot avoid legitimate charges, but you can stop them becoming a surprise that kills the sale.

• Get the HS code right — Egyptian rates swing widely, so the code is the biggest driver of the quote. A wrong code means a wrong price.
• Declare the honest value — under-declaring risks penalties and reassessment by customs.
• File ACI on time — sort the ACID number before shipping, or the goods may never clear.
• Decide who pays — shipping DDP means you cover duty and VAT so your buyer is not surprised. Compare in our DDP vs DAP guide.

Note: the same value plus duty plus VAT logic applies to most destinations, but Egypt is unusual on two fronts — the very wide duty range and the pre-shipment ACI rule. Both need checking before you quote.

Related guides: UAE export documentation checklist · DDP vs DAP explained · Dubai to Egypt shipping · all guides