The UAE is the closest of our international markets, one hour behind Lahore. Our UAE customers have mostly ordered lehenga choli. Everything is made to order in our Lahore atelier and shipped free by DHL or SkyNet.
Here is what to expect on timing, UAE duty and VAT, payment in dirhams, and sizes.
Timing for UAE orders
Because Lahore and the UAE are so close, shipping is the short part. Delivery takes 4 to 11 days once the parcel leaves us, free and tracked. The making time is what you plan around:
- Ready to Ship: dispatched in 24 to 48 hours
- Luxury Pret: about 4 weeks
- Luxury Formals: 5 to 6 weeks
- Bridals: 10 to 12 weeks, delivery included
If a family wedding is coming up fast, tell us the date before you order and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Duty and VAT on UAE orders
Your order is shipped DDU — delivered duty unpaid — so UAE import charges are payable by you, not by us.
What applies. The UAE follows the GCC Common Customs Tariff, under which the standard customs duty on most goods, including clothing, is 5%. Import VAT is then charged at 5% on the customs value plus the duty already added.
How the value is worked out. The UAE uses CIF valuation — cost, insurance and freight. That means the shipping cost forms part of the taxable base, even though we do not charge you for shipping.
On the low-value threshold. You will find conflicting figures online. Dubai Customs has applied a threshold as low as AED 300 for courier parcels, while the wider GCC standard sits nearer AED 1,000, and Abu Dhabi has used the higher figure. We are not going to pretend to settle that argument. In practice it rarely matters for our customers, because almost every piece we make sits well above both figures — so you should expect the 5% duty and 5% VAT to apply.
How it works in practice: The courier clears your parcel and contacts you directly before delivery to collect what is owed. You pay the courier, not us, and the parcel is released once that is settled.
We cannot tell you the exact figure in advance, since it depends on the commodity code for your piece and its declared CIF value. What we can do is declare your order accurately and provide the documentation the courier needs, so clearance is as quick as possible.
Paying in the UAE
Dirham prices on the site are a guide only. Your card is charged in Pakistani rupees: Shopify Payments does not operate in Pakistan, so our gateway settles in rupees. Many UAE cards add a 2 to 3% foreign transaction fee, so check yours. We can work out the dirham total with you on WhatsApp.
UAE sizing
Shops in the UAE use both UK and EU sizes, so we list both. Our range is XXS to XL, with anything else made to measure:
XXS — UK 2 / EU 30
XS — UK 4–6 / EU 32–34
S — UK 8–10 / EU 36–38
M — UK 12–14 / EU 40–42
L — UK 16–18 / EU 44–46
XL — UK 20–22 / EU 48–50
Fittings without a fitting room
Most designs are made to your measurements at no extra cost. With only an hour between us, a measurement call on WhatsApp is easy to fit into your day, and replies usually come the same day. WhatsApp +92 310 0001250.
The Waqas Shah Experience shows how consultation, fitting and progress updates work when you order from the Gulf.
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Guides for our other markets: The USA · The UK · Canada · Australia · Europe · All guides for brides abroad
Contact
WhatsApp +92 310 0001250 or email waqasshahofficial@gmail.com. Full terms: our Shipping Policy and Refund Policy.