When you request a wholesale quote, the price only means something once you know the Incoterm attached to it. Incoterms are the internationally recognised rules that define exactly where the seller’s responsibility ends and yours begins. Getting them right protects your landed cost and avoids surprises at the port.
EXW — Ex Works
Under EXW, the goods are made available at our facility in Dubai and everything after that is arranged by you: collection, export clearance, freight and insurance. EXW gives you maximum control over the logistics chain and is often the cheapest headline price — but only makes sense if you have a reliable freight forwarder handling UAE export formalities on your behalf.
FOB — Free On Board
With FOB (for us, typically FOB Jebel Ali), we handle export clearance and deliver the goods loaded onto the vessel you nominate. Risk transfers to you once the goods are on board. FOB is the most common basis for container-load orders because it splits responsibility cleanly: we own the origin side, you own the sea freight and destination side.
CIF — Cost, Insurance and Freight
Under CIF, we arrange and pay for the sea freight and marine insurance to your named destination port. Risk still passes at the origin port, but the freight and basic insurance are already in the price. CIF is the simplest option for buyers who prefer a single all-in figure to the port and don’t want to manage the ocean leg themselves.
Which should you choose?
- New to importing, or want simplicity: ask for CIF to your nearest major port.
- Have your own forwarder and freight rates: FOB usually lands cheaper.
- Consolidating from multiple suppliers in the UAE: EXW lets your forwarder collect everything together.
What no Incoterm covers
All three terms stop at the port. Beyond duty, VAT and excise, the following stay with you as the importer on every basis:
- Customs clearance in your own market
- Licensing and permits to import and trade the goods locally
- Pack format, marking and health warning requirements for your market
That last point causes more delays than freight ever does. Marking and pack rules vary from market to market, so raise them when you request pricing rather than after the order is confirmed.
Documentation
Every order ships with full export documentation whichever term you choose: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading, plus any market-specific attestations your side requires. Tell us the destination when you request a quote and we will confirm what that route needs.
Order size and consolidation
Freight is charged on the shipment, not the line item, so how you structure an order affects your landed cost as much as the Incoterm does. Our minimum is 25 master cases and they can be mixed freely across SKUs and brands — bringing several lines into one shipment under a single term is almost always cheaper per case than placing separate orders, and it is the cheapest way to test a new market properly.
Whatever your preference, tell us the destination and the term you want and we’ll quote on that basis. Duty, VAT and any excise at the destination remain the importer’s responsibility under all three terms.
