Importing handmade rugs from India to the UAE

General information, not legal or customs advice. This page summarises public official sources we opened on 31 October 2026. Tariffs, taxes and product rules change. Your customs broker or compliance adviser decides the classification, duty and labelling for your shipment.

The UAE government's customs page says the UAE uses the Harmonized System and that HS codes can be extended nationally or within the GCC, and links to information on the GCC Customs Union (u.ae, customs duty and tariff, 31 October 2026). Chapter 57 headings (WCO HS Nomenclature 2022):

Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2021 created the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), which regulates customs work, and each emirate has its own customs department, including Dubai (ICP, overview of UAE customs, 31 October 2026). Dubai Customs offers an HS code search. Your broker decides the code.

Duty rates. We do not quote a rate. The u.ae page gives general statements, not a rate for these headings, and rates and rules differ by emirate. Look up your exact HS code with Dubai Customs or the customs department of the emirate where you clear.

As standard we provide the commercial invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin. We do not issue a phytosanitary certificate; a buyer who needs one for jute or seagrass should check the destination's rules with their broker. Additional compliance declarations and material-composition documents are prepared based on your market and requirements. We confirm the full document set for your order before production begins. See export and logistics and our standards.

We do not issue fire-test, flammability or other test certificates unless they are arranged for a specific order and confirmed on your quote.

We found no official source that sets Arabic or bilingual label wording for rugs, so we do not state any. Confirm with Dubai Customs, the emirate's authorities or your adviser what your channel needs. For restricted goods, Dubai Customs lists a permit from the restricting entity among the declaration documents; ask whether anything applies to your goods.

On request from us: your own woven or sewn-in label, a barcode or QR sticker (you supply the numbers), your own packaging or polybag, and country of origin and fibre content on the label. Tell us any language wording before sampling is approved. See OEM and private label.

VAT. The Federal Tax Authority's VAT page includes a calculator with a "VAT 5% (AED)" field and describes VAT as a consumption tax (tax.gov.ae, VAT, 31 October 2026). That page does not explain import VAT, so ask your broker how it is assessed and paid on imports and whether you can recover it.

Declaration. Dubai Customs says its import service lists the invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin and any permit from a restricting entity as required documents (Dubai Customs, submit customs declaration, 31 October 2026). Your clearing agent files it.

For trade orders the buyer is the importer of record. For RS Living retail orders, duties and taxes, if any, are paid by the customer on delivery; see shipping to the UAE.

The usual default for this route is FOB Nhava Sheva (JNPT, Mumbai). Under FOB we clear the goods for export and load them on board at the Indian port; from that point cost and risk pass to you, and you arrange the ocean freight, destination clearance and delivery. We work to all Incoterms 2020 terms, and the term, named place and cost breakdown are confirmed on your quote before production. See export and logistics for the full list.

Retail orders are different. For orders placed through RS Living shipping to the United Arab Emirates, import duties and taxes, if any, are paid by the customer to the carrier or customs on delivery, and RS Living does not collect or refund them.

1. NDA and brief. We sign an NDA as standard before designs are shared, then you send construction, material, size and quantity.
2. Sample. 5 to 20 days. The sampling cost is credited against your order. See the sampling process.
3. Approval and PO. The approved sample becomes the reference for bulk. Label, barcode or QR sticker and packaging choices are confirmed here (OEM and private label).
4. Bulk production. 8 to 16 weeks.
5. Export documents and loading. We prepare the document set and clear the goods for export at Nhava Sheva under FOB.
6. Ocean freight and import clearance. Arranged by you or your forwarder and broker. Transit time depends on the carrier and service you book.
7. Air freight. Air freight for samples and urgent small orders is typically around Rs 1,000 per kg door to door (indicative, owner estimate; varies by route, weight and season).

Constructions and materials are listed in rug specifications. For ordering see how to order and wholesale rugs. New to importing? Read how to start a rug brand.

Archived with a DOI: Importing handmade rugs from India: HS headings 5701, 5702, 5703 (Zenodo, CC BY 4.0).

Core references: OEM and private label, rug specifications, how to order, wholesale rugs and the sample program.

See also: Export and logistics · OEM and private label · Rug specifications · Rug sampling process · Wholesale rugs · Importing to the USA · Importing to the UK · Importing to the EU · Importing to Germany · Importing to France · Importing to Canada · Importing to Australia · Sea freight transit finder · Container loading calculator · Rug trade data · How to export rugs from India · Carpet exporters from India: buyer guide