Postal Services in Dubai

How Mail Works in Dubai

Dubai's postal system works very differently from most Western countries. There is no street-level residential mail delivery in Dubai — postmen do not deliver letters to individual apartments or villas. To receive official mail, you must have a PO Box registered in your name or use your workplace's address.

No Door-to-Door Mail Delivery

Unlike the UK, US, or Europe, the UAE postal system does not deliver to residential addresses. All official correspondence — including government letters, bank statements, visa documents, and utility bills — requires a PO Box or workplace address. Most digital-first services in the UAE use email instead of physical mail for statements.

What Most Residents Do

Use employer's PO Box or address:Companies maintain a PO Box and distribute mail to employees. Most common for salaried workers.

Get a personal PO Box:Register your own PO Box at Emirates Post. Recommended for freelancers, business owners, or those expecting regular official mail.

Use building mailroom:Some larger apartment buildings have a mailroom managed by the building. Packages may be accepted here. Not universal.

Use courier services for parcels:For online shopping deliveries, couriers (Aramex, DHL, etc.) deliver directly to your GPS location or apartment building — this is NOT the same as official mail delivery.

Getting a PO Box

PO Boxes in Dubai are managed by Emirates Post (empost.ae). You can apply online or visit any Emirates Post branch. Processing takes 1–2 business days and the box is assigned to a specific Emirates Post office from which you collect your mail.

Small PO Box

AED 230/yr

Suitable for letters, documents, small parcels

Best for: Single person; minimal mail volume

Medium PO Box

AED 345/yr

Accommodates A4 envelopes and small packages

Best for: Families; regular online shoppers

Large PO Box

AED 520/yr

Handles larger parcels and high mail volume

Best for: Businesses; frequent parcel recipients

Documents Required

Valid Emirates ID (mandatory)
Passport copy with valid UAE visa
For businesses: trade license copy
Payment for annual fee (online or at branch)

Applying Online

You can register for a PO Box at empost.ae without visiting a branch. Complete the application, pay online, and collect your keys from the designated Emirates Post office. Renewal is annual and can also be done online.

Emirates Post Services & Rates

Emirates Post (formerly known as Emirates Post Group, operating as empost.ae) handles official domestic and international mail in the UAE. It also operates a network of post offices offering additional financial and government services.

Service	Cost	Transit Time
Domestic Mail (standard)	AED 1–5	1–3 business days
Domestic Registered Mail	AED 10–15	1–3 business days, signed delivery
EmPost Express (domestic)	AED 20–35	Same or next business day
International Documents	AED 15–30	5–10 business days
International Parcels (standard)	AED 30–80	7–21 business days
International Express Mail	AED 50–120	3–7 business days

Courier Services — Comparison

For most parcel deliveries, online shopping orders, and urgent documents, private couriers are the standard in Dubai. They deliver directly to your apartment or building — unlike Emirates Post which delivers only to PO Boxes.

Aramex

Domestic: AED 20–40International: AED 80–250

UAE-based; strong domestic network; real-time tracking; Shop & Ship service for US/UK/EU addresses

Best for: Domestic delivery; Shop & Ship users; e-commerce

DHL

Domestic: AED 40–80International: AED 100–300

International gold standard; fastest international transit times; excellent tracking; broad customs expertise

Best for: Urgent international shipments; documents; high-value items

FedEx

Domestic: AED 40–80International: AED 80–250

Reliable international service; good overnight options; strong B2B presence

Best for: International express; business-to-business shipments

UPS

Domestic: AED 50–90International: AED 90–280

Strong global network; reliable tracking; good for heavier commercial shipments

Best for: Business logistics; heavy or bulky international shipments

iMile

Domestic: AED 15–30

UAE last-mile specialist; same-day delivery option; high volume capacity; used by major e-commerce platforms

Best for: Same-day or next-day delivery within UAE; e-commerce fulfillment

Fetchr

Domestic: AED 15–35

GPS-location based delivery — drops to your exact GPS pin instead of an address; app-based scheduling

Best for: Residents without a fixed address or PO Box; flexible delivery windows

Delivery to Your Location

Most couriers in Dubai now use GPS-based delivery. When placing an order, you can often pin your exact location on a map — ideal for residents in large complexes where building numbering can be confusing. WhatsApp delivery updates are standard with many local couriers.

Receiving International Packages & Customs

UAE Customs inspects international shipments arriving at Dubai's ports and airports. While most personal parcels pass through without issues, understanding the rules saves time and avoids unexpected charges.

Customs Duties

Under AED 1,000: Generally exempt for personal use items
Over AED 1,000: 5% customs duty applies on declared value
VAT: 5% VAT may apply on imported goods in addition to duty
Declare accurate values — undervaluing is a customs offense

Inspection Process

UAE customs x-rays and inspects international parcels
Prohibited items are confiscated without refund
Inspection can add 1–3 days to delivery time
Courier handles customs paperwork for you

Prohibited Imports — Do Not Send These to the UAE

Weapons, firearms, ammunition (without special permit)Illegal drugs and narcoticsPork products and pork-derived itemsAlcoholic beverages (duty applies; limited quantities personal use)Gambling devices and lottery materialsCounterfeit goods and pirated mediaCertain medications (without prescription or prior approval)Material deemed offensive to Islamic values or UAE cultureE-cigarettes and vaping devices (restrictions apply)Radioactive materials without appropriate permits

Medications Require Care

Some common medications are controlled substances in the UAE. If ordering prescription medications from abroad, carry your original prescription and check the UAE Ministry of Health approved medications list (mohap.gov.ae) before shipping.

Shop & Ship — Buying from US, UK & EU Stores

Many international online retailers — particularly US and UK stores — do not ship directly to the UAE. Shop & Ship services solve this by giving you a local address in those countries, then forwarding your packages to Dubai. This opens up Amazon US, ASOS, B&H Photo, and thousands of other stores.

Aramex Shop & Ship

aramex.com/shop-and-ship

Virtual AddressesUS, UK, UAE, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, India, Canada

Approx. CostAED ~50/kg (US); AED ~60/kg (UK)

Most popular in UAE. Consolidation service allows combining multiple packages. Good tracking. Required membership (free).

MyUS

myus.com

Virtual AddressesUS address

Approx. CostVariable; weight + dimensions

US-focused forwarding service. Good for heavy items. Membership fee applies. Strong reputation.

Emirates Delivers

emiratesdelivers.com

Virtual AddressesUK, US

Approx. CostAED ~45/kg

Emirates Airlines service. Integrates with flights between UAE and UK/US. Useful for those travelling frequently.

Consolidation Saves Money

Aramex Shop & Ship allows you to consolidate multiple packages into one shipment before they ship to Dubai. If you are buying several items from different US stores, wait until they all arrive at your US address and ship them together — you pay one shipping fee instead of several.

Sending Packages from Dubai

Sending items internationally from Dubai is straightforward via Emirates Post or any major courier. Couriers are faster and better for valuable or time-sensitive items; Emirates Post is cheaper for documents and non-urgent parcels.

Via Emirates Post

Documents: From AED 15 internationally
Small parcels: From AED 30–80 depending on weight and destination
Express: AED 50–120 for 3–7 day delivery
Tracking: Available via empost.ae

Via Courier (DHL/Aramex/FedEx)

Documents: From AED 80 internationally
Parcels: AED 100–350 depending on weight and destination
Express overnight: AED 200–500+ to major cities
Tracking: Real-time tracking with notifications

Prohibited Exports from the UAE

UAE currency exceeding AED 100,000 without declaration
Cultural artifacts and archaeological items without DCAM permit
Controlled substances without export authorization
Items subject to international embargo

Sending Legal Documents

For legal documents, government papers, or contracts requiring signature confirmation, always use registered mail (Emirates Post) or a courier that provides proof of delivery. Keep the tracking number and delivery confirmation receipt for your records.

Tracking Your Packages

Most couriers operating in Dubai provide real-time tracking via their websites and mobile apps. Emirates Post also offers tracking for registered and express mail items.

Emirates Postempost.ae/track

Track domestic and international Emirates Post shipments

Aramexaramex.com/track

Real-time GPS tracking; WhatsApp notifications available

DHLdhl.com/track

Excellent real-time tracking; proactive delay notifications

FedExfedex.com/track

Detailed tracking with estimated delivery windows

Dubai Trade Portaldubaitrade.ae

For commercial and customs-related shipment tracking

17track.net17track.net

Universal tracking tool — works across most carriers worldwide

Practical Tips

Always get a tracking number for any shipment — even domestic. Never send valuables untracked.

Declare accurate customs values. Undervaluing is illegal and can result in fines or confiscation.

Allow 3–5 days for international couriers; 7–21 days for Emirates Post international parcels.

Consider shipping insurance for items worth over AED 500. Most couriers offer it for 1–3% of item value.

If a parcel is held at customs, contact your courier immediately — delays can result in storage fees.

For business imports, register with UAE Customs via the Federal Customs Authority portal (fcaportal.ae).

Avoid sending perishables internationally — UAE customs may hold items for inspection causing spoilage.

Many UAE banks and government offices no longer send physical mail — check your online portals regularly.