Clearing cargo through Dubai Customs at Jebel Ali is procedural, but the sequence matters. Get the order wrong and every step stalls — the vessel berths, the gate pass waits, and the importer pays for the delay. Here is the sequence our brokers execute daily.

The Clearance Sequence

1. Pre-arrival documents: original Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, HS classification confirmed
2. Mirsal 2 declaration: lodged electronically with Dubai Customs using your licensed broker's code
3. Duty & VAT assessment: 5% VAT plus any applicable customs duty, or exemption proof (e.g., MOIAT) attached at lodgement
4. Inspection (if triggered): physical or document inspection coordinated to avoid demurrage windows
5. Gate pass & release: VCC issuance and container collection from the terminal, with onward delivery or bonded storage

What Actually Causes Holds

In our experience, holds are rarely about the cargo — they are about the paperwork: mismatched HS codes between the invoice and the declaration, consignee name misalignment, missing certificate of origin, or a late-attached exemption reference. Each correction consumes terminal free time. That is why documentation vetting happens before the vessel berths, not after.

"Customs clearance is 90% preparation and 10% declaration. Prepare the file before the berth, and the gate pass follows the vessel off the quay."