Shipping from Dubai to Canada: A Business Guide

For a business shipping from Dubai to Canada, the Canadian importer's set-up matters as much as the transit time. Since CBSA's CARM system became the official system of record in October 2024, a buyer who is not registered can hold up clearance, however fast the goods travel.

The short answer for transit is that express couriers take 2-3 days, air freight takes 5-7 days, and sea freight takes 28-35 days. But the real answer is that your Canadian buyer must have a registered Business Number (BN) and an import-export (RM) account with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to receive commercial goods without delay. This guide walks you through the shipping modes, transit times, and the essential CBSA checklist for your Canadian partner. For a complete overview of our services, see our UAE to Canada shipping page.

Express, Air Freight or Sea Freight to Canada

Choosing the right mode for shipping from Dubai to Canada depends on your cargo's size, urgency, and value. Each option has a distinct cost profile and, more importantly, follows a different path through Canadian customs. For B2B shipments, understanding these differences is key to managing costs and delivery expectations.

How to Compare Shipping Modes

Use this framework to decide which mode best fits your shipment. The primary factors are speed, cost, and the customs clearance process in Canada, which varies significantly between low-value courier shipments and formal freight entries.

Mode	Best For	Typical Transit Time	Canadian Customs Process
Express Courier	Urgent documents, samples, e-commerce orders, and small, high-value goods.	2-3 business days	Cleared through the courier's own customs process. Commercial goods still need the buyer's BN/RM account, and any duties and taxes are billed to the importer unless you ship DDP.
Air Freight	Time-sensitive pallets, high-value commercial cargo, and shipments over 100 kg.	5-7 business days	Formal customs entry required. Handled by a customs broker using the importer's BN/RM account and CARM registration.
Sea Freight	Large, heavy, or non-urgent bulk shipments where cost per kg is the priority.	28-35 days	Formal customs entry required, identical to air freight. Ideal for Full Container Loads (FCL) and Less-than-Container Loads (LCL) via sea freight from Jebel Ali.

Courier Clearance for Business Shipments

Express shipments are cleared through the courier's own customs process, but commercial goods still go through the Canadian importer's accounts: the buyer needs a Business Number with an RM account (see below) and pays any duties and taxes that apply. Declare the full commercial value on the invoice.

Transit Times to Canadian Cities

Transit times combine the flight or sailing, handling and customs clearance. The times below are typical estimates for business shipments from Dubai.

Infinity Logistics publishes the following transit time estimates for major Canadian destinations. Note that these times exclude potential delays from customs inspections or incomplete documentation.

Destination City	Express Priority	Air Freight	Sea Freight
Toronto	2-3 days	5-7 days	28-32 days
Vancouver	2-3 days	5-7 days	28-33 days
Montreal	2-3 days	5-7 days	29-34 days
Calgary	2-3 days	5-7 days	30-35 days
Ottawa	2-3 days	5-7 days	29-33 days
Edmonton	2-3 days	6-8 days	31-35 days

UAE Export Paperwork

Before your goods can begin their journey, they must be cleared for export from the UAE. The process is straightforward for most commercial goods and is managed electronically. Infinity's customs team can file the export declaration for you.

Required Documents for Export

According to the Dubai Customs Customer Guide, goods exported from the UAE local market to a country outside the GCC need three key documents:

1. Export Declaration: This is the official customs filing submitted electronically. It details the exporter, consignee, cargo value, and HS codes.
2. Commercial Invoice: An invoice on your company letterhead that lists the buyer and seller, a detailed description of the goods, quantities, unit price, and total value.
3. Packing List: This document itemizes the contents of each package, including weights and dimensions, and must align with the commercial invoice.

Permits for Restricted Goods

Most standard commercial goods do not require an export permit. However, if you are shipping restricted items, you must obtain a permit from the relevant UAE authority before export. The exporter is responsible for securing this permit.

What the Canadian Importer Needs: BN, RM Account and CARM

CARM (the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management system) changed how importers account for and pay duties and taxes. If your Canadian buyer is not set up for it, clearance can be delayed however fast the goods travel.

Business Number (BN) and Import-Export (RM) Account

A Business Number (BN) is a nine-digit account number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that identifies a business. To import commercial goods, a business must attach an import-export program account to their BN. This is known as an RM account.

The combination creates a 15-character identifier (e.g., 123456789RM0001) that is required on all import documentation. According to the CBSA's Guide to importing commercial goods, obtaining a BN with an RM account is the first step for any commercial importer.

CARM: The New Reality of Canadian Customs

CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) is the digital platform that importers must use to account for and pay duties and taxes. As of October 21, 2024, CARM became the official system of record.

What this means for you:

• Registration: Your Canadian buyer registers on the CARM Client Portal (CCP), where importers account for and pay duties and taxes.
• Financial responsibility: The importer is responsible for its duties and taxes and pays them through CARM.

Financial Security for Release Prior to Payment

A major change introduced with CARM affects how goods are released. As of May 20, 2025, importers who want their goods released by CBSA before duties are paid must post their own financial security directly in the CARM portal. They can no longer use their customs broker's bond for this purpose.

This is a crucial point to confirm with your buyer. If they have not posted security, they will have to pay all duties and taxes before CBSA releases the goods, which can hold up delivery.

DDP or DAP to Canada

The Incoterm you choose determines who is responsible for transport costs, insurance, and, most importantly, Canadian duties and taxes. For B2B shipments, the choice is usually between Delivered at Place (DAP) and Delivered Duty Paid (DDP).

DAP (Delivered at Place)

Under DAP, you (the seller) are responsible for arranging and paying for transport to the buyer's named location in Canada. However, the buyer is responsible for:

• Acting as the Importer of Record.
• Handling Canadian customs clearance.
• Paying all import duties and taxes (GST/HST).

This is a common arrangement for B2B shipments, as the Canadian importer is best positioned to handle their own customs obligations with CBSA.

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)

DDP represents the maximum obligation for the seller. You are responsible for everything, including paying Canadian import duties and taxes. To ship DDP, you or your logistics partner must be able to act as the Importer of Record in Canada, which requires having a Canadian BN and being registered in CARM.

Infinity offers a DDP option on the UAE to Canada lane to prepay duties and taxes, so your Canadian buyer has nothing to pay on delivery. Confirm the details for your shipment when you ask for a quote.

How Infinity Handles Dubai to Canada Shipments

Infinity Logistics gives you one point of contact for express, air and sea freight to Canada. We are a WCA Inter Global member and were Highly Commended as Express Logistics Company of the Year at the Logistics Middle East Awards 2022.

Key Account Express Rates

As the #2 DHL partner in the UAE and a Key Account holder with FedEx and UPS, Infinity Logistics offers business express rates up to 65% below retail. Our AI agents compare all three networks in real time to find the right service for your worldwide express shipments.

Integrated Air and Sea Freight

For larger shipments, Infinity arranges air freight from Dubai to Toronto, Vancouver and other Canadian cities, and sea freight (FCL and LCL) from Jebel Ali. We also have warehousing in JAFZA, Dubai Investment Park and Al Quoz.

Expert Documentation and Fast Quotes

Our customs team can prepare your UAE export documents. Our AI agents compare DHL, FedEx and UPS in real time, so most enquiries get a quote in under 10 minutes.

Ready to ship? Get a Canada quote today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does shipping from Dubai to Toronto take?

The transit time for shipping from Dubai to Toronto depends on the mode. For express courier services like DHL, FedEx, or UPS, the typical door-to-door transit time is 2-3 business days. For standard air freight, it's approximately 5-7 days. For sea freight, you can expect a transit time of 28-32 days. These times do not include potential delays from Canadian customs clearance.

What is CARM?

CARM stands for the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management system. It is the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) system for how commercial importers account for goods and pay duties and taxes. It became the official system of record on October 21, 2024, and commercial importers register in the CARM Client Portal.

Does my Canadian buyer need a CBSA account?

Yes. To import commercial goods, your Canadian buyer needs a Business Number (BN) from the Canada Revenue Agency with an attached import-export (RM) program account, and should be registered in the CARM Client Portal. Without this set-up, clearance can be held up.

Can duties be prepaid for the buyer?

Yes, you can prepay Canadian duties and taxes by shipping under the Incoterm DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). This means you, the seller, take responsibility for all costs, including transport, customs clearance, and import duties and taxes. Infinity offers a DDP option on the UAE to Canada lane, so your Canadian customer has nothing to pay on delivery.

What documents do I need to export from the UAE?

For a standard commercial export from the UAE, you need three main documents: a completed Export Declaration (filed with customs), a Commercial Invoice detailing the transaction, and a Packing List specifying the shipment's contents, weights, and dimensions. If the goods are classified as restricted by UAE law, an additional export permit from the relevant government authority is also required.

Sources & References

Official and industry sources referenced in this guide:

1. [PDF] Customer Guide
2. Guide to importing commercial goods into Canada
3. Canada - Import Requirements and Documentation
4. CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) - FedEx
5. Emirates SkyCargo expands freighter network to Toronto ...
6. dubai customs
7. Delivered at Place (DAP) Definition | UPS Supply Chain Solutions