What does a freight forwarder do?
A freight forwarder plans a shipment and books it with carriers. It does not own the ships or the aircraft. It chooses them, prepares the documents and follows the cargo to delivery.
A good one saves you from dealing with a shipping line, an airline, a trucker and a customs agent one by one.
Do freight forwarders handle customs?
Many do, and you should ask how. In Dubai a declaration is submitted by the importer or by a licensed customs broker.
Ask whether the forwarder clears the cargo with its own team or passes the file to another company. A second company means a second contact and often a second invoice.
Does the forwarder have its own people at origin?
Most delays start before the cargo leaves. A forwarder with its own office near your supplier can check the goods and the papers there.
Ask which countries it has offices in and which it covers through agents. Both can work. You should know which one you are getting.
What should a freight quote include?
Ask for the quote in writing with each charge on its own line. Then ask what is left out.
- Freight from origin to the UAE port or airport
- Charges at origin, such as pickup and export papers
- Charges at the UAE port or airport
- The customs clearance fee
- Duty and VAT, which are paid to the government
- Delivery to your door
- Cargo insurance, if you want it
How much do freight forwarders charge?
There is no fixed rate. The cost depends on the mode, the size of the load, the route, the season and the trade term on your order.
Compare quotes line by line. A low total often leaves out charges at the UAE end, and those are billed later.
Does the forwarder know your company type?
Free zone and mainland companies clear goods under different procedures. Ask the forwarder which of the two it handles most, and for which zones.
Which trade term are you buying on?
The trade term on your order decides who books the freight. Under EXW and FOB you choose the forwarder. Under CIF the supplier books the freight to the UAE port and you arrange clearance and delivery.
Tell each forwarder the term before it quotes, so every quote covers the same legs.
Can the forwarder handle your goods?
Some goods need approval from a UAE authority before they arrive. Ask whether the forwarder has moved your type of product before and which permits it needed.
Which questions should you ask a freight forwarder?
Put the same five questions to every company.
What are the warning signs?
Walk away if you see any of these.
- A quote with one total and no breakdown
- No clear answer on who files the customs declaration
- A promise of a fixed arrival date for sea freight
- Advice to declare a lower value to cut duty
Written by the Gxpress Dubai team on 10 October 2026. We are a freight forwarder, so read this as our view and check the answers you get against it.
