How to Import From Turkey to the UAE in 2026: CEPA Duty Treatment, Proof of Origin, VAT and Clearance Steps

Goods of Turkish origin imported directly from Turkiye into the UAE are exempt from customs duty under the UAE-Turkiye Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), according to Abu Dhabi Customs, following the duty exemption and reduction schedules in the agreement's Market Access Offer. The agreement took effect on 1 September 2023. You have to claim the preference on each declaration, with proof of origin. VAT at 5% still applies, and goods that are not Turkish-origin pay the usual duty.

Do you pay customs duty on goods from Turkey?

It depends on origin, not on where the shipment leaves from. Abu Dhabi Customs says goods of Turkish origin are exempt when imported directly, following the duty exemption and reduction schedules in the Market Access Offer. Abu Dhabi Customs does not reproduce the line-by-line schedule on that page, so check your HS code against the agreement annexes or ask your broker for the CEPA rate in writing.

Three practical consequences:

• Not every product is at zero. Abu Dhabi Customs refers to exemption and reduction schedules, so some lines may be reduced rather than exempt. The customs page does not reproduce the schedule, so you must look up your HS code in the agreement annexes or ask your broker for the rate in writing.
• Goods made elsewhere do not qualify. A Turkish trader reselling Chinese or European goods is not a Turkish origin source. Those goods follow the normal rate: 5% of CIF in Dubai.
• Alcohol and tobacco are different. Dubai applies 50% and 100% to those goods. This page does not say how the CEPA treats them. Ask before you ship.

For the standard arithmetic, use the UAE customs duty calculator.

How do you prove Turkish origin?

Abu Dhabi Customs names two forms of proof: a certificate of origin in paper or electronic form, or an origin declaration made by an approved exporter, which it treats as equivalent to the certificate. The owner of the goods, their delegate or an authorised customs broker must submit the proof and related documents electronically. You must keep the originals and show them to customs on request. The page gives no retention period, so ask your broker how long to keep them.

Ask your Turkish supplier early for:

1. The certificate of origin, or confirmation that they are an approved exporter who can issue an origin declaration.
2. An invoice that names the HS code and the manufacturer.
3. A statement of where the goods were made if the supplier is a trader, not the factory.

The origin rules are in the agreement itself. Abu Dhabi Customs does not summarise them, so the test for goods made from imported components has to be checked in the agreement text for your product.

How do you claim the CEPA preference at the border?

Preferential treatment has to be requested at the time of importation. Abu Dhabi Customs says entering special code 59 in the exemption field of the customs declaration and selecting Apply counts as the application. If your broker files without that code, you pay duty at the normal rate at clearance. The page does not explain whether you can reclaim it afterwards, so settle this before the shipment arrives, not after.

That page belongs to Abu Dhabi Customs. Dubai, Sharjah and other emirates run their own systems. Dubai Customs' own guide does not describe the CEPA claim, so ask your broker how the code is entered where you clear. This is the largest gap on this topic, and an honest answer is that the Dubai procedure is not published in the sources used here.

What are the steps to import from Turkey?

1. Check the product is allowed and approved. Cosmetics, food, toys and electronics often need approvals before sale. Read Dubai Municipality product registration and ECAS certificate.
2. Get a customs business code. A license holder must register with Dubai Customs to obtain one. See how to get a Dubai importer code.
3. Confirm the HS code and CEPA rate with the supplier and your broker.
4. Collect documents. Dubai Customs lists an invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any permit from restricting entities. See import documents required in Dubai.
5. Declare with code 59 and the proof of origin.
6. Pay import VAT. The FTA says import VAT is calculated on the value of goods including any customs duty. Non-registered importers pay before clearing, while registered importers account for it in their return.
7. Submit declaration documents within 30 days, as Dubai requires.

Freight options, transit times and freight prices from Turkey are not published by customs, so get them from forwarders. Compare quotes line by line, as explained in customs broker fees.

Worked example: AED 50,000 of Turkish-origin goods

Illustrative. CIF value AED 50,000, with VAT at 5%.

The difference is AED 2,625 on one shipment. It is the reason to confirm the HS code and file code 59 correctly. Fees and broker charges are not included; see customs duty calculation.

Which goods from Turkey need extra approval?

The CEPA removes or lowers duty. It does not remove product rules. Categories such as food, cosmetics and electronics often need approvals or conformity certificates before you can list them. Dubai Customs asks for a permit from the restricting entity when a good is controlled, and lists it among the declaration documents. The marketplaces apply their own rules on top, so check noon prohibited products before you buy stock. Which authority controls which product is not listed in the customs sources used for this page, so ask your broker to name it for your HS code.

What goes wrong on Turkey imports?

• Supplier is a trader, not the maker. Origin is the factory's, and a trader's paperwork may not prove it.
• Goods routed via a third country. The exemption wording is for goods imported directly from Turkiye. Ask your broker whether a transhipment stop affects your claim.
• Code 59 missing. No code, no preference at clearance.
• Wrong HS code. Dubai lists a AED 500 fine for a wrong HS code with no duty loss.
• Free zone stock moved to the mainland. Duty can be due on exit from the free zone; see free zone to mainland customs duty.

FAQ

Is there customs duty on goods from Turkey to the UAE? Turkish-origin goods imported directly from Turkiye are exempt from customs duty under the schedules of the UAE-Turkiye CEPA, according to Abu Dhabi Customs. Some product lines are reduced rather than zero, and goods of other origins pay the normal rate.

When did the UAE-Turkiye CEPA start? Turkiye's Ministry of Trade says the agreement was signed on 3 March 2023 and entered into force on 1 September 2023. Duty treatment for each product follows the schedules, so check your HS code rather than relying on a headline share.

What is code 59 on the customs declaration? It is the special exemption code that Abu Dhabi Customs says you enter in the declaration, then select Apply, to request CEPA preferential treatment. Without it, the preference is not requested at importation.

Do I still pay VAT on Turkish goods? Yes. The CEPA concerns customs duty. Import VAT of 5% is charged on the value of the goods including any duty, and non-registered importers pay it before clearing.

What proof of origin do I need? A certificate of origin, paper or electronic, or an origin declaration from an approved exporter. Submit it electronically through the owner, delegate or authorised broker and keep the originals for customs on request.

Can I import from Turkey without a trade license? Importers need a customs business code, and Dubai Customs says a license holder must register to obtain it. Individuals can clear personal effects, which does not cover goods for resale.

What to do next

Ask your Turkish supplier for the HS code and proof of origin, get your broker to confirm the CEPA rate and the code 59 procedure in writing, then calculate landed cost. When the stock is in the UAE, Blooprint, an Amazon SPN verified partner, manages catalogue and listing optimization and ads on Amazon.ae and noon. Compare with importing from China.