To export car from UAE to Africa successfully, the first decision is not the shipping line or the price. It is whether your destination country can legally register the car at all. The UAE drives on the right and sells left-hand-drive vehicles. Large parts of Africa drive on the left and require right-hand drive. Get this wrong and you will ship a car that cannot be registered when it lands.
That single structural fact eliminates more UAE-to-Africa export plans than paperwork problems, customs delays and shipping costs combined. This guide starts there, then covers the process.
Which African countries can accept a UAE car?
UAE-market vehicles are left-hand drive. This is the first filter.
| Drive side | Examples | UAE car suitable? |
|---|---|---|
| Right-hand traffic (LHD vehicles) | Nigeria, Ghana, DR Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Angola | Yes |
| Left-hand traffic (RHD vehicles) | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana | Generally no |
This is why UAE vehicle exports flow overwhelmingly toward West Africa and the Horn of Africa, while East and Southern Africa source right-hand-drive stock from Japan and the UK.
There are exceptions: some countries permit LHD for specific vehicle categories, and rules change. But as a planning assumption, if your destination drives on the left, a UAE car is the wrong starting point. Import rules are set by the receiving country, not the UAE, and they change with little notice.
Age limits and import restrictions
Most African countries impose an age limit on imported used vehicles, measured from year of manufacture. Limits commonly fall between five and fifteen years depending on country and vehicle category, and several have tightened recently.
Do not rely on a figure you read anywhere, including here, without verifying it with the destination customs authority. These rules change frequently, differ between passenger and commercial vehicles, and an out-of-date number can mean refusal of entry after you have already paid to ship.
Other restrictions to check before purchase:
- Emissions or technical standards for the destination market
- Salvage or accident-history restrictions, because several countries refuse write-offs
- Pre-shipment inspection, since some countries mandate a certificate issued before departure, not on arrival
- Duty and tax rates, which in some markets exceed the vehicle's value
Check any accident history before you buy using our guide to checking accident history in the UAE, and verify identity with a free VIN check.
The UAE side: export certificate and customs
The UAE process has two components: releasing the vehicle from UAE registration, and clearing it for export.
1. Own the car outright and clear all encumbrances. Outstanding finance blocks export. Traffic fines block export. Settle both first.
2. Obtain the vehicle export certificate. For a Dubai-registered car this is issued by the RTA and de-registers the vehicle from the UAE system. Temporary export plates are typically issued alongside it. Check current requirements and fees at rta.ae.
3. File the customs export declaration. Handled through Dubai Customs for shipments leaving via Dubai ports. The declaration links the vehicle's chassis number to the shipment. Current procedures and fees are published at dubaicustoms.gov.ae.
4. Cancel insurance and Salik. Straightforward, but easy to forget, and you will keep paying if you do.
5. Provide documentation to the shipping line. Typically the export certificate, customs declaration, original purchase invoice, passport or Emirates ID copy, and the bill of lading details.
Our general guide to exporting a car from Dubai covers the UAE-side mechanics in more depth; this article focuses on what is specific to African destinations.
Shipping from Jebel Ali: RoRo vs container
Jebel Ali is the primary export port, with services to West African and Horn of Africa destinations.
| RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) | Container | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Car is driven onto a vehicle carrier | Car is loaded and secured inside a container |
| Typical cost | Lower per vehicle | Higher, unless sharing |
| Security | Car is accessible during transit | Sealed, significantly more secure |
| Personal effects | Generally not permitted | Often permitted, subject to customs rules |
| Best for | Standard vehicles, cost-sensitive shipments | High-value cars, or consolidating multiple vehicles |
| Vehicle condition | Must be drivable | Non-runners can be loaded |
For a single high-value car, container shipping is usually worth the premium. For volume trade in standard vehicles, RoRo is the economic choice, and consolidating two or three cars into a 40-foot container often lands between the two on cost per vehicle. Transit times vary by destination and routing; get them in writing from the shipping line.
What it costs
Export costs are highly variable and depend on destination, vehicle size, shipping method, fuel prices and season. Rather than publish figures that will be wrong by the time you read them, here is what to budget for:
| Cost component | Notes |
|---|---|
| Vehicle purchase | The largest item |
| RTA export certificate and plates | Confirm current fees at rta.ae |
| Customs export declaration | Confirm current fees at dubaicustoms.gov.ae |
| Inland transport to Jebel Ali | Depends on where the car is |
| Port handling and documentation | Charged by the port and agent |
| Ocean freight | Varies most, get multiple quotes |
| Marine insurance | Strongly recommended, particularly for RoRo |
| Destination duty and taxes | Often the largest single cost after the car itself |
| Destination clearing agent | Required in most markets |
Get at least three written quotes covering the full door-to-port or door-to-door chain, and make sure each quote states explicitly what is excluded. The most common unpleasant surprise in vehicle export is destination duty, which in some African markets can approach or exceed the value of the vehicle itself.
If you are sourcing the vehicle here, the free car valuation tool helps you check you are paying a fair UAE market price before adding export costs on top.
Which cars actually sell in Africa
Demand patterns are consistent and worth understanding before you buy speculatively.
Strong demand: durable body-on-frame Toyotas such as the Land Cruiser, Hilux and Prado, along with Hiace vans and similar commercial vehicles. Parts availability and mechanical simplicity matter far more than specification in most African markets.
Moderate demand: mainstream Japanese and Korean sedans and SUVs with good local parts networks.
Weak demand: complex European luxury cars with expensive electronics, low-volume models with no local parts supply, and anything requiring specialist diagnostic equipment.
CarsClub carries strong stock in exactly the categories that travel well, so browse the Toyota listings, the Hilux pickups and Land Cruisers that dominate the trade, or go straight to the dedicated export section.
Note also that GCC-specification vehicles are generally well suited to African conditions, because heavy-duty cooling and dust protection are built in. Our guide to GCC versus American specs explains why this matters.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export a UAE car to Kenya or Tanzania?
Generally no. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and much of Southern Africa drive on the left and require right-hand-drive vehicles, while UAE cars are left-hand drive. These markets typically source from Japan and the UK instead. UAE exports flow mainly to West Africa and the Horn of Africa, which use left-hand-drive vehicles.
What documents do I need to export a car from the UAE?
You will typically need the vehicle export certificate from the RTA (which de-registers the car), a customs export declaration filed with Dubai Customs, the original purchase invoice, identification, and shipping documentation including the bill of lading. All finance and traffic fines must be cleared before the process can begin.
Is RoRo or container shipping better for exporting a car?
RoRo is cheaper and suits standard vehicles where cost matters most. Container shipping costs more but the vehicle is sealed and far more secure, personal effects can often be included subject to customs rules, and non-running vehicles can be loaded. For high-value cars, container shipping is usually worth the premium.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Dubai to Africa?
Costs vary widely by destination, vehicle size, shipping method and season, so obtain at least three written quotes covering the full chain. Budget separately for destination duty and taxes, which in several African markets can approach or exceed the vehicle's own value and are frequently underestimated.
Which cars are best to export from the UAE to Africa?
Durable body-on-frame Toyotas such as the Land Cruiser, Hilux and Prado, and commercial vans such as the Hiace have consistently strong demand, because parts availability and mechanical simplicity matter more than specification in most African markets. Complex European luxury cars are considerably harder to sell.
Start your export sourcing
Exporting from the UAE to Africa is a well-established trade, but it rewards checking the destination rules first and the shipping quote second. Confirm drive side, age limits and duty rates with the destination customs authority before you buy anything.
Browse the CarsClub export section for vehicles suited to export, or start with Toyota listings in the UAE, consistently the strongest-demand brand across African markets.
