Shipping Arabia, October 6, 2026 – Container transport and related logistics costs serving the UAE and Gulf markets have risen by around three to five times, or 300% to 500%, following disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UAE’s National Shipping and Logistics Committee. The committee stressed that the increase does not reflect a similar rise in basic ocean freight rates alone, but rather the accumulation of additional costs across disrupted transport chains.
Ahmed Abdul Razak, deputy chairman of the National Shipping and Logistics Committee and general manager of Maltrans Emirates, said it remains difficult to establish a uniform container transport rate after the problems affecting the Strait of Hormuz. Costs vary depending on the shipping line, port, routing and the way cargo ultimately reaches its destination.
Alternative routings reshape Gulf cargo flows
Disruption to maritime corridors has forced some cargo bound for Gulf markets onto alternative routings. While some containers continue to arrive directly at their intended ports, others are being discharged at intermediate ports before completing their journeys by sea or road.
Abdul Razak said cargo has reached ports including Khor Fakkan and Fujairah in the UAE, as well as Sohar and Salalah in Oman. Some of these containers were then transported overland to UAE ports and destinations, including Jebel Ali.
He said the UAE’s logistics infrastructure and its developed network of ports and roads have helped the country manage the disruption and redirect cargo arriving through different gateways.
Shipping lines have also activated provisions allowing cargo to be discharged at the nearest available port when problems affect normal maritime routes. As a result, some vessels have discharged containers in Oman before the cargo subsequently moved through Fujairah or Khor Fakkan and onward to its final destination.
Additional charges drive 300–500% cost increase
According to Abdul Razak, the overall cost of container transport has increased by between three and five times during the recent period. However, he emphasized that this does not mean basic ocean freight itself has risen by the same percentage.
Instead, the final cost reflects the accumulation of multiple charges associated with longer or more complex transport arrangements. These include war risk surcharges, conflict-related emergency charges and emergency fuel surcharges, which vary from one carrier to another.
Inland transport costs have also risen significantly. Additional customs clearance charges and higher fuel expenses have further increased the total cost of moving containers when cargo must be redirected through alternative ports or transferred between sea and road transport.
Longer routings and transshipment operations have also contributed to higher fuel consumption, adding further cost to the container transport chain.
Gulf shipping capacity remains tight
The increase in UAE container transport costs is also linked to reduced shipping capacity available for Gulf-bound cargo.
Abdul Razak said the challenge is not limited to price levels but also involves the availability of space aboard vessels. Some sailings have reached full capacity, while other voyages have been canceled.
He added that cargo bookings being rolled to later sailings have become common on some services, further complicating transport planning.
Costs also differ between Gulf ports because of variations in routing, port choice and the method used to complete container movements. As a result, the final cost can vary considerably from one shipment to another.
Abdul Razak said shipping costs have not yet declined and remain at peak levels. He added that a return of maritime routes to normal conditions would help reduce both shipping costs and associated logistics expenses, particularly those generated by alternative routing and additional charges.
UAE infrastructure supports cargo continuity
Despite the disruption, Abdul Razak said essential goods remain available in the UAE.
He said authorities have prioritized customs clearance for essential materials, helping maintain their availability in the domestic market.
The disruption has also not forced all cargo onto a single alternative corridor. Instead, shipping companies and carriers have used multiple options, including different Gulf ports, short-sea transport and road transport.
According to Abdul Razak, the UAE’s logistics infrastructure, together with its road and port network, has supported the movement of containers arriving through different ports and allowed them to continue to their final destinations.
Source: Emarat Al Youm