Storage as part of the shipment, not apart from it
Storage is rarely the reason a company calls a forwarder. It becomes necessary because a container arrived before the site was ready, because a consolidation is building for an export, or because a supplier ships in quantities the buyer cannot take in one delivery. Treating storage as part of the freight plan rather than a separate contract is what keeps those situations from turning into demurrage.
Because we also handle the clearance and the transport, cargo can move from terminal to storage without an extra handover, and out of storage to the consignee on the day the site is ready. The alternative — a container held at the port while a storage contract is negotiated — is the expensive version of the same week.
What storage can cover
Arrangements are quoted against the cargo and the duration rather than from a standard package, because a pallet of retail stock turning over weekly and a machine waiting six months for a site are different problems.
Storage and handling scope can include:
- Short-term storage while a site, permit or delivery window is prepared
- Longer-term storage for stock held against forecast demand
- Receipt, checking and recording of inbound cargo against the packing list
- Palletising, re-palletising, labelling and marking
- Consolidation of several inbound shipments into one outbound load
- Deconsolidation and order picking for staged deliveries
- Onward distribution across the seven emirates and into the GCC
Free zone and mainland storage
Where cargo is stored has a customs consequence, not just a cost. Goods held inside a free zone remain outside the customs territory for duty purposes, which is why free-zone storage suits stock that will be re-exported, consolidated for onward markets, or held before a buyer is confirmed.
Goods stored on the mainland have normally been imported for local consumption, with duty accounted for on entry. That is the right structure when the cargo is destined for UAE customers and the alternative would be paperwork on every withdrawal.
The decision is worth making before the cargo arrives, because moving it between the two afterwards means a further declaration and a further movement. We ask which way the stock is heading at quote stage.
Distribution across the UAE and GCC
Cargo held in Dubai can be released in whatever quantity and sequence the consignee needs, delivered across the seven emirates by road, or moved cross-border into Saudi Arabia via Al Ghuwaifat and into Oman via Hatta, subject to cargo type and border requirements.
For exporters, the same facility works in reverse: several suppliers deliver into storage, the cargo is checked and consolidated, and one export booking leaves for the destination with a single set of documents rather than several.
Frequently asked questions
Do you provide short-term and long-term storage in Dubai?
Yes. Storage can be arranged for a few days while a delivery window or permit is prepared, or over longer periods for stock held against forecast demand. Arrangements are quoted against the cargo, volume and duration.
Can you store cargo in a Dubai free zone?
Free-zone and mainland storage can both be arranged. Free-zone storage keeps goods outside the customs territory for duty purposes, which suits cargo intended for re-export or consolidation; mainland storage suits stock already imported for UAE customers.
Can you receive cargo, store it and deliver in stages?
Yes. Inbound cargo can be received and checked against the packing list, stored, then picked and delivered in the quantities and sequence the consignee requires, across the UAE or into the GCC.
How is warehousing charged?
Storage is normally quoted on the space or pallet positions used and the duration, with handling quoted separately. Rates are not published because they depend on volume, commodity, duration and the handling involved. Send the cargo details for a current quote.
Can you consolidate shipments from several suppliers?
Yes. Several inbound deliveries can be received into storage, checked and consolidated into a single outbound shipment with one set of export documents, which is usually cheaper and simpler than shipping each separately.