A bill of entry is the customs declaration for goods you import. Dubai Customs describes its declaration service as letting customers declare and obtain clearance for goods moving in and out of Dubai under import, export, transit, transfer and temporary admission. Its fee appendix is headed "Bill Of Entry (Declaration) Types", so in Dubai the two terms mean the same filing.
What does a bill of entry cost?
Dubai Customs lists the service fee as AED 15 to AED 100 for import declarations, varying by declaration type and shipping channel, with an extra AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fee on services costing AED 50 or more. In the 2025 guide's appendix, "Import to Local from ROW" is AED 70 for dutiable goods and AED 80 for non-dutiable goods. Duty, VAT and broker charges are separate; see how customs duty is calculated.
What documents does it need?
The listed required documents are the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and permits from restriction entities. The guide gives a completion time of 2 working hours for the declaration service. That is the service time, not door-to-door delivery. The full list for consumer products is in import clearance documents. You file under your importer code; the route is in how to get a Dubai Customs importer code.
What if the declaration is wrong?
An amendment costs AED 25, and an AED 500 fine applies to amending invoice-level goods information; amendment is not allowed if the declaration is under audit or the time limit has expired. Check your HS code and values before filing. Fees above are from the 2025 guide; confirm current rates with Dubai Customs.
How does a bill of entry link to product approvals?
Dubai Municipality's e-commerce guideline for consumer products lists the customs Bill of Entry among the documents for clearance, alongside the Montaji import request number and the airway bill or bill of lading; it says the declaration is required at inspection but a copy of the bill of entry is not. So for regulated goods, register the product first; see Montaji.
Keep the bill of entry. It is your record that the goods were declared, and a marketplace may ask for proof of import when it queries your stock. It also supports your VAT records if you are registered.
Not published on the pages we read: the all-in cost of a clearing agent, and the time goods wait at the port. Get both from your broker in writing.