Advisories Tags: United Arab Emirates

Please note that the below Local Charges in UAE locations will now be revised for shipments with an ETD/ETA on or after 15th July 2025, as follows:

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our local customer service and sales representatives.

Thank you for your support and partnership with ESL.

The Maritime Preload Cargo Information (MPCI) program, led by the UAE’s National Advance Information Centre (NAIC), is a government initiative designed to enhance cargo security. NAIC, a federal entity dedicated to collecting cargo and passenger information for risk evaluation and security screening, manages this program.

Note: The MPCI filing process is separate from customs filing and does not replace or impact existing customs requirements.

TIMELINE:
Effective 31st July 2025, MPCI program requires that shipping lines and freight forwarders submit Bills of Lading electronically to NAIC before loading at the last foreign departure port outside the UAE. This requirement applies to all containerized maritime cargo
destined for import, transshipment, transit, or Freight Remaining on Board (FROB) in the UAE.
This regulation will be in full force from 31st March 2026. To ensure smooth transition and adherence, ESL is planning a trial run of the MPCI submission in Q3 2025. This trial will allow us to identify and address any potential issues before full implementation. Further information with regards to revised SI timelines etc. will be shared in due course.

SCOPE:
• Shipping Lines: Responsible for filing the carrier’s Bill of Lading.
• Freight Forwarders or Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs): Responsible for filing the House Bill of Lading. (HBL)

In cases where the Carrier Bill of Lading is consigned to a Forwarder or NVOCC, both the
Carrier and the NVOCC are required to file their respective documents: the Carrier Bill of Lading and the corresponding House Bill of Lading.

HOW TO FILE?
Shipping Lines: File directly with NAIC or through certified service providers
Freight Forwarders: File through certified service providers.

WHAT DATA IS REQUIRED FOR FILING?
The following standard Bill of Lading (BOL) data must be submitted:

• Bill Number
• Issue Date and Location
• Ports (Loading, Discharge, Transshipment, Receipt, and Delivery)
• Container Details & Seal Numbers
• Goods Details & HS Code
• Involved Parties (Shipper, Consignee, Notify Party, Freight Forwarders and Agents)
• Vessel and Voyage Information: mandatory for shipping lines
• Identifiers: Shipping lines and freight forwarders must provide their own identifiers (MPCI Party ID) Additionally, freight forwarders must include identifiers for the master co-loader or shipping line. Shipping lines or master co-loaders must include identifiers for any consolidating(child) freight forwarders in cases of consolidation.
• Other Standard Information: Any additional standard information typically included in the BOL.

HOW WILL NAIC RESPOND?

After filing, NAIC will respond with one of the following main status codes:

• ACT (Accepted): Approved to proceed with loading
• DNL (Do Not Load): Loading is not permitted
• RFI (Request for Information): Additional information is needed for approval.

CAN LOCAL FREIGHT FORWARDERS DELEGATE THE FILING?
Local freight forwarders can delegate the filing responsibility to their overseas partners,
However, the liability remains on the local freight forwarder (for bills issued by a freight forwarder or NVOCC).

We would like to inform you that, effective 15 June 2025 (Departure Date), the export free
time and advancement policy will be revised as follows:

− Free Time: 10 calendar days
− Export Detention & Demurrage (Combined): Will apply until the vessel’s load date

The Combined Demurrage and Detention (D&D) free days structure for shipments from Abu
Dhabi is as follows:

Combined Detention and Demurrage for Export will be calculated from the time of ‘actual’ empty
pull out from our appointed empty container depot to the ‘actual’ loading of the laden container
on the vessel.
Port storage is collected separately as per port tariff.

Please be informed of the upcoming change to the quantum of the Combined Detention and
Demurrage tariff for shipments to Abu Dhabi. The revised tariff will take effect on June 15th,
2025, based on the actual arrival date of the cargo.

Combined Detention and Demurrage charges for imports are calculated from the time of ‘actual’
discharge from the vessel to the ‘actual’ gate-in of the empty container at our appointed empty
container depot.

We appreciate your continued support. Should you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact us. Thank you.

Date: 10th April 2025

We would like to inform you that, effective 10 May 2025 (Departure Date), the export free time and advancement policy will be revised as follows:
−Free Time: 10 calendar days
−Export Detention & Demurrage (Combined): Will apply until the vessel’s load date
The Combined Demurrage and Detention (D&D) free days structure for shipments from the UAE (excluding Abu Dhabi) is as follows:

−All days are calendar days or running days. (i.e. including weekends and public holidays)
−Port storage will continue to be collected separately.
We appreciate your continued support. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you.