Carrier notices

Maersk Middle East update 50: bookings to most UAE ports suspended, with exceptions for Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali

If your cargo is bound for the UAE or moving through it, read the carrier's notices this week before you confirm a booking. Maersk's Middle East Operational Update 50, updated on 2 October 2026, shows a picture still far from normal.

Updated 2 October 2026Khor Fakkan: imports onlyJebel Ali: via landbridge

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Published 2026-10-05 · Midtrans Shipping And Services

Reviewed by Khaldoun Al-Khouli, General Manager

Dry cargo

Bookings to and from the UAE suspended, except Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali.

Reefer, dangerous goods, out-of-gauge

Separate and wider restrictions apply to each cargo type.

Charges and routing changes

Emergency rates, a Hormuz transit fee and storage on the customer's account.

Three questions before you confirm

Port of discharge, cargo acceptance, and who pays the surcharges.

Dry cargo

Bookings to most UAE ports are suspended

According to the notice, Maersk has suspended all dry cargo bookings to and from the UAE, except for Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali, and to and from Iraq and the Saudi ports of Dammam and Al Jubail.

Bookings are accepted to and from Khor Fakkan for imports only, and Jebel Ali via landbridge. The notice also lists Jeddah and King Abdullah port, Jordan, Salalah and Sohar in Oman, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain as accepted. Maersk states that the information is subject to change because of the highly volatile situation in the region.

UAE: suspended except Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali
Khor Fakkan: imports only
Jebel Ali: via landbridge

Other cargo types

Reefer, dangerous goods and out-of-gauge cargo

Reefer: bookings are suspended to and from Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and the Saudi ports of Dammam, Al Jubail and King Abdullah, and to the UAE excluding Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali via landbridge.

Dangerous goods: bookings are suspended to and from the UAE, including Khor Fakkan, and to and from Salalah, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. For dangerous goods already accepted for the UAE local market, the notice describes routing through Khor Fakkan to Sajaa ICD, or through Fujairah to Jebel Ali Terminal, with exceptions for certain classes. Out-of-gauge: bookings are suspended to and from the UAE, including Khor Fakkan, and several other countries in the region.

Reefer: UAE only via Khor Fakkan or Jebel Ali landbridge
Dangerous goods: UAE suspended, including Khor Fakkan
Out-of-gauge: UAE suspended, including Khor Fakkan

Costs

Charges and changes of destination

The notice states that any vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz will incur an additional fee of USD 1,000 per container, invoiced to the local consignee for imports into the Middle East. An emergency freight rate applies to dangerous goods accepted for Jeddah.

For dangerous goods routed to Sajaa ICD or Jebel Ali Terminal, all storage charges are on the customer's account. For selected shipments, the final port of destination will change from Khor Fakkan to Jebel Ali, either directly or via Fujairah, with related transport, clearance and storage costs handled under Maersk's terms for carriage.

Hormuz transit fee: USD 1,000 per container
Storage at Sajaa ICD and Jebel Ali: customer's account
Some Khor Fakkan cargo re-destined to Jebel Ali

Before you confirm

Three questions before confirming any order

This is one carrier's position, and others have taken different ones. That is the point: the routing, the acceptance conditions and the cost structure now depend on who carries your cargo and on what is inside the container.

Before confirming any order, ask three questions. At which port will the cargo actually be discharged? Is my cargo type accepted on this routing? Which surcharges apply, and who bears them under the agreed Incoterms? Clarity at the start costs less than surprises on arrival.

Where will the cargo actually be discharged?
Is my cargo type accepted on this routing?
Which surcharges apply, and who bears them?

Sources

Maersk: Middle East Operational Update 50 (updated 2 October 2026) · 2026-10-02

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Has Maersk suspended bookings to the UAE?

For dry cargo, Maersk's update 50 (updated 2 October 2026) suspends all bookings to and from the UAE except Khor Fakkan and Jebel Ali. Khor Fakkan is accepted for imports only and Jebel Ali via landbridge.

Does the notice treat all cargo types the same?

No. Reefer, dangerous goods and out-of-gauge cargo each have their own restrictions. Dangerous goods and out-of-gauge bookings to and from the UAE are suspended, including Khor Fakkan.

What extra charges does the notice mention?

A fee of USD 1,000 per container for any vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, an emergency freight rate for dangerous goods to Jeddah, and storage at Sajaa ICD and Jebel Ali Terminal on the customer's account.

Does this apply to every shipping line?

No. This is Maersk's position; other carriers have their own notices. Check the notice of the carrier named on your booking before you confirm an order.

Cargo bound for the UAE or through it?

Send us your cargo details and our team will confirm the routing, the port of discharge and the applicable charges with your quote.

Request a freight quote Contact our operations desk