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What it costs to import from the US to the

Forwarder fees, shipping, customs duty and VAT for a phone, compared across 6 US package forwarders. Cheapest estimated total first.

Duty
No duty up to AED 1,000. Above it, 5% on most goods and 0% on electronics.
VAT
VAT 5% on the price plus shipping, also below AED 1,000.
Duty-free limit
AED 1,000, about $272.
Batteries
Used devices with lithium batteries cannot go by USPS, so expect DHL, FedEx or UPS.

Checked October 2026

Show totals in
$600 phone to the UAE, 0.3 kg (0.6 lb) Estimated totals include the item, US sales tax, forwarder fees, shipping, duty and VAT.
# Forwarder Courier Fees + sales tax Shipping Duty + taxes Total Link
1 MyUS FedEx Economy5-9 days · From a quote AED 0 AED 82 AED 114 Shipping AED 82 · Fees and sales tax AED 0 · Duty and taxes AED 114 AED 2,399$653 Visit
Florida charges 7% sales tax in Sarasota, but this address is on the state list of certified forwarding agents, so sellers that apply the list do not charge it. A seller that ignores the list will charge 7%. Premium membership is free for 30 days, then $9.99 a month. This estimate assumes the free month.
2 Forwardme Aramex8-15 days · From a quote AED 0 AED 92 AED 115 Shipping AED 92 · Fees and sales tax AED 0 · Duty and taxes AED 115 AED 2,410+AED 11 Visit
No sales tax in Delaware. Free membership and free package processing. Consolidation is $3.25 per package on the free plan; Premium, $9.50 a month, promises lower shipping rates.
3 Ship To Box DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote AED 62 AED 70 AED 114 Shipping AED 70 · Fees and sales tax AED 62 · Duty and taxes AED 114 AED 2,449+AED 50 Visit
No sales tax in Delaware. Free standard membership, $2 receiving fee per box, plus a $15 lithium battery fee on devices. Free consolidation.
4 Stackry DHL Worldwide Express2-5 days · From a quote AED 53 AED 147 AED 118 Shipping AED 147 · Fees and sales tax AED 53 · Duty and taxes AED 118 AED 2,521+AED 122 Visit
No sales tax in New Hampshire. No membership, $2 receiving fee per package, plus a $12.50 hazmat fee on phones and smartwatches. Consolidation is $3 per package.
5 Planet Express DHL Express Worldwide1-6 days · From a quote AED 7 AED 280 AED 124 Shipping AED 280 · Fees and sales tax AED 7 · Duty and taxes AED 124 AED 2,615+AED 216 Visit
No sales tax in Oregon. Planet Express also has a tax-free address in Fort Pierce, FL and one in Torrance, CA, where sales tax applies. Free mailbox, $2 mail-out fee per package. Consolidation needs Premium, $10 a month.
6 Shipito DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote AED 45 AED 421 AED 131 Shipping AED 421 · Fees and sales tax AED 45 · Duty and taxes AED 131 AED 2,801+AED 402 Visit
No sales tax in Oregon. Oregon is the default address for Premium members; free accounts default to Torrance, CA, where sales tax applies. Premium membership, $10 a month, for the tax-free Oregon address, plus a $2.25 processing fee per package.

Shipping comes from each forwarder's own calculator, quoted at 1 lb and 5 lb and interpolated in between, so it is an estimate, not a live price. Check the forwarder's calculator before you buy. Devices with lithium batteries only go by services that accept them, usually DHL, FedEx or UPS, so most postal and budget services are left out.

Buying a refurbished iPhone? Compare prices from US sellers

Before you buy a phone in the US

  • iPhone 14 and later models sold in the US have no SIM tray and work only with eSIM. Check that your carrier offers eSIM, or pick an iPhone 13 or earlier, which takes both.
  • Pick an unlocked phone. One locked to a US carrier will not work with your local SIM or eSIM.
  • Any charger in the box has a US plug. Most phone, tablet and laptop chargers accept 100 to 240 V, so a plug adapter is enough.
  • The warranty and returns are the US seller's. The return window starts when the parcel reaches your forwarder's US address, and a repair or return means paying to ship it back to the US.

How the UAE taxes this phone

Duty and taxes for the cheapest option above, in the order customs applies them.

Charge Rate Amount
Customs duty AED 0
VAT 5% AED 114
Total duty and taxes AED 114

Importing to the UAE: common questions

Is there a duty-free limit for courier parcels to the UAE?

Yes, AED 1,000 for online purchases cleared in Dubai. Dubai Customs raised it from AED 300 on 3 August 2026 (Notice 16/2026).

Do I pay VAT on a parcel under AED 1,000?

Yes. Couriers charge 5% VAT on the price plus shipping even when no duty is due, and this estimate includes it.

How much duty applies above AED 1,000?

5% for most goods, on the whole price plus shipping, not only on the part above the limit. Phones, laptops, headphones and smartwatches are 0%.

Which forwarder is cheapest to the UAE?

For a $600 phone weighing 0.3 kg (0.6 lb), MyUS comes out cheapest in our estimate at $653 delivered, using FedEx Economy. The order changes with weight and item type, and shipping prices are estimates, so check the forwarder's calculator before you buy.

Can I use a forwarder to buy from Apple's online store?

No. Apple's US online store ships only to US addresses and cancels orders sent to freight forwarder addresses. Retailers such as Amazon, Back Market or eBay sellers are the usual route, and their return and warranty terms can change once a parcel leaves the US.

The same phone, shipped elsewhere

Cheapest estimated total for a $600 phone in each country we cover. Each country has its own page.

Sources

Rules checked in October 2026. Exchange rates from 1 Oct 2026, Rates By Exchange Rate API. RefurbMe has no referral deals with these forwarders; the order is always the cheapest estimated total.