The Port Outside the Gulf
Customs Clearance at Khor Fakkan
Khor Fakkan sits on the UAE's east coast, on the Gulf of Oman rather than the Arabian Gulf. Cargo calling there never passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is why it matters to shippers thinking about route risk and to transhipment traffic that wants a deepwater call without entering the Gulf. We clear cargo there and move it onward by road, including into Dubai and across the GCC. Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali are cleared differently in practice; the step-by-step is in our guide to customs clearance at Jebel Ali. The work is run from our site inside Jebel Ali Free Zone, next to the port.
Why Shippers Use Khor Fakkan
What the East Coast Offers
The port is chosen for reasons that have little to do with the UAE market itself.
- No transit through the Strait of Hormuz
- Deepwater berths for large vessels
- A major transhipment hub in its own right
- Direct road access to Dubai and the northern emirates
- An alternative when Gulf ports are congested
- A shorter call for east-west services
Cargo Calling at Khor Fakkan?
Tell us what is landing and where it needs to go
Get a Khor Fakkan Quote Call +971 4 239 7107Khor Fakkan or Jebel Ali?
Most UAE cargo goes through Jebel Ali, and for most importers that is right. Khor Fakkan wins in specific circumstances.
Route and risk
Khor Fakkan is reached without entering the Arabian Gulf. Where the routing itself is a consideration, that is the whole argument.
Transhipment rather than import
Much of the traffic here is being moved between vessels rather than landed into the UAE, which is a different customs situation to an import.
Destination inside the UAE
For goods destined for Dubai, Jebel Ali is usually closer and simpler. Khor Fakkan adds a road leg.
Congestion and schedule
When Gulf ports are busy, an east coast call plus a road move can beat waiting for a berth.
Cleared and Moved
What Happens After the Berth
Clearance at Khor Fakkan almost always has a road leg attached, because the cargo is rarely staying there.
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Onward to Dubai
Road movement from the east coast into Dubai on our own fleet, into our warehouses or direct to the consignee.
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Onward into the GCC
Cargo continuing to Oman, Saudi Arabia or the northern Gulf by road - see cross-border trucking.
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Held where needed
Goods that must wait can be stored rather than left standing at the port.
Why Cannata
Both Coasts, One Company
Few UAE brokers work both coasts. Cargo arriving on the east side usually needs a road leg west, and that is two suppliers unless one company does both.
Clearance at both ports
Khor Fakkan on the east coast and Jebel Ali on the Gulf, handled by the same brokerage team.
The road leg is ours
The east-to-west move is on our own trucks, which is the part that usually gets subcontracted.
Storage at the other end
Three Dubai warehouses for cargo arriving from the east coast that is not going straight to a consignee.
Rate Request
Get a price for this shipment
Give us the route and the cargo and we will come back with a rate, usually within one working day.
Our FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What shippers ask about Khor Fakkan.
