When you have goods ready to ship by air freight to middle east and you directly ask, “How much does it cost to ship to UAE?” forwarders will immediately think you’re unprofessional—like an easy target—and may try to overcharge you.

There are many untrustworthy forwarders on the market. You ask for direct air freight to UAE, but they secretly send your shipment via a connecting flight through Bangkok. Worse, some bad forwarders may mix sensitive goods into your general cargo. Here are some tips to help you avoid being scammed by forwarders.

When sending goods, tell the forwarder whether it’s for an overseas warehouse or FBA. This is very important. Most FBA shipments are consolidated, so forwarders usually offer lower prices for these.

Second, provide the exact delivery address. Let them know if your products are general cargo or sensitive goods—such as liquid, battery-powered items, or powder. Also check if there is anti-dumping duty for that product in the destination country. If none of these apply, there usually won’t be extra fees.

Next, confirm the airline: EK, CA, CZ, TK, etc. Different airlines have different transit times, services, and prices. Most importantly, make sure whether it’s direct air freight to UAE or a connecting flight. Direct flights cost $25 per kg, connecting flights $18 per kg. Some dishonest forwarders will use connecting flights but tell you your shipment is held by customs, delaying delivery for days while they profit quietly.

Compare several well-known forwarders and communicate with them professionally—mention product details, anti-dumping rules, material type, extra fees, address, and more. Many forwarders have gone out of business suddenly in recent years. If you sound professional during negotiations, some forwarders may even offer you credit terms. The longer you cooperate, the better credit terms you can get.

Take DL International Logistics as an example. We have purchased 20 weekly board positions from 2 major airlines and are among the top 5 providers for air freight to middle east. We are exactly the “well-known forwarder” I mentioned. However, you might not be impressed—even small 3-5 person forwarders run more eye-catching ads than us. Ads alone don’t tell the whole story; anyone can make big promises.

I’m telling you this from my own experience in the industry. So what can you do? Simple—visit the company in person. If you can’t go in person, do a video tour. Many forwarders will make excuses to refuse: “I’m on a business trip” or “I’m at an exhibition.”

The real reason is their small 20-square-meter rented office looks nothing like their advertised image. At DL, we have nearly 100 employees and own the entire 8th floor of Block B, Rongde Times Square, Longgang District—a Class A office building we purchased outright. This is real strength. Many customers first thought we were a shell company, but they felt completely assured after visiting our office.