How to Get the Lowest Quote When Inquiring About Air Freight to UAE
When you inquire about air freight to UAE, the freight forwarder will ask what products you’re shipping. Your casual reply can instantly reveal whether you’re a seasoned shipper or a newbie—and the forwarder will immediately decide whether they can charge you more. If your first response is simply “small items,” the forwarder will know right away: an easy target has arrived!
If you don’t want to be taken advantage of, throw all your product details at them at once. Send everything in one go—origin, destination, specific addresses, delivery time requirements, carton dimensions, product photos, and so on—just like playing your trump card. Then simply say, “Give me a quote!”
When the forwarder sees this, they’ll think, “Wow, this person knows what they’re doing—they’re a pro. Maybe I should just give them a competitive price right away.” That’s because in the industry, this is how experienced shippers inquire—often without even formalities, just straight to the point. Plus, what used to take you three days to inquire about can now be done in 30 minutes.
Then you sit back and wait for the quotes. You can tell who’s a reliable forwarder by how fast they respond. Here’s why: a common practice in the industry is called “sub-contracting.” Some forwarders don’t actually operate the UAE route themselves—instead, they pass your shipment to another company and earn a margin in between. They won’t have a rate sheet on hand, so they have to check with their partners and then get back to you. That’s why they’re slower.
If a forwarder specializes in air freight to UAE, they’ll have the rates ready and can quote you immediately. This is what we call a direct operator. For example, we secure 20 pallet spaces per week from two major airlines—something 90% of forwarders can’t do. The information gap always exists; you never know who’s a middleman and who’s a direct operator. But this is exactly how you can spot a direct operator like us.
Don’t celebrate too soon, though. Avoid choosing a forwarder whose price is much lower than the market average. Nine times out of ten, they’re using low quotes to attract customers—only to hit you with various extra charges later, such as customs inspection fees, fuel surcharges, and more, once your goods are already on the way.
If you’ve never been tricked while looking for the cheapest air freight to UAE, consider yourself incredibly lucky. A common tactic among forwarders is the “bait and switch.” They might promise a direct flight but secretly reroute your shipment with a transfer. For example, a direct flight could cost $30/kg, while a transshipment via Bangkok or Singapore is only $22/kg. If you don’t ask, the forwarder quietly pockets the difference. If you do ask, they’ll have all sorts of excuses ready: “Sandstorms in UAE, all direct flights grounded,” or “Cargo has arrived, but customs clearance will take three days.”
So, when shipping via air freight to UAE, keep your eyes open. Follow the tips above to find a reliable forwarder and avoid the pitfalls.
DL Logistics, one of the top five air freight to Middle East providers. We secure 20 pallet spaces weekly from two major airlines, enjoy priority customs clearance channels at UAE airports, skip the queue at warehouses, and offer 24/7 local support—with calls answered even at 2 a.m. Deliveries made in the morning arrive by noon; shipments sent at noon arrive in the afternoon. Truly one of the top five.
DL Air Freight to Middle East—smooth shipping, trusted by all who’ve tried it.