Everyone knows that using a nominated freight forwarder under FOB terms is expensive. Why? Because the costs are passed from the destination port back to us. So what can you do when the charges are too high? Do you just pay whatever the forwarder asks, because you’re afraid they won’t release the telex release if you don’t pay? That doesn’t mean you have no choice.

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Not long ago, Hassan shipped a small (air freight to middle east) – just one cubic meter, actually only 0.85 cubic meters. When the nominated forwarder sent the invoice, Hassan was speechless: 1200 (currency). For less than one cubic meter, they wanted 1200, and they kept pushing him to confirm quickly. The forwarder sent the invoice pretty late, only about ten days before the cargo would arrive at the port.

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Hassan immediately emailed the forwarder, saying he could not confirm the charges – they were ridiculously high. Then he called them and said, “You are the most expensive and outrageous forwarder I have ever dealt with.” After about three or four days of back-and-forth, the forwarder reached out again. They said all other parties had already confirmed their charges, and only Hassan was left, because this container was shared by several shippers. Finally, they agreed on 900. Hassan paid unwillingly, feeling like he had been ripped off.

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So, whether you’re shipping air freight to Dubai, air freight to UAE, or any air freight to middle east, freight forwarders vary greatly. Most are small operations with just three to five people in a village office, ready to overcharge whenever they get the chance.

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In the past, people found forwarders through friends’ recommendations. But sometimes, the logistics conditions in the customer’s country are tough – like in Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc. So people search online by typing the country name plus the keyword “freight forwarder” to find many local options.

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But here’s a tip: this is just one way to find forwarders. The communication process is key. You need to separate the real from the fake, filter out the shell companies and tiny forwarders, and look for truly reliable and large forwarders. During the conversation, you’ll directly feel their strength and professionalism.

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Just be straightforward: “I want to visit your company.” If they hesitate or stammer, they are probably a small forwarder – the kind that rents a tiny 20-square-meter office in some commercial building with only 3 or 4 people working.

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If they confidently agree, that’s usually fine – they are likely a large forwarder. Take our company, DL, as an example. We have nearly 100 employees, and we bought the entire 8th floor of Block B, Rongde Times Square, Longgang District, Shenzhen, with full payment. Our dedicated foreign trade warehouse in Yantian is 20,000 square meters, six floors high, with strict management. Foreign visitors give us thumbs up. We are now one of the top 5 air freight to middle east forwarders. You need a forwarder like this to feel at ease – they won’t overcharge you arbitrarily.