Jebel Ali Port Storage Charges & Free Days
Port storage is the daily charge the terminal operator, DP World UAE, makes for a container that stays in the Jebel Ali yard after its free storage period ends. It is separate from carrier demurrage and detention, which your shipping line charges for the use of its equipment. This page explains free days and storage rates. The figures are indicative, so always confirm the current tariff and any concession that applies to your shipment.
The storage calculator uses the same indicative rates for your container type, dwell days and number of containers.
1. Free days: when the storage clock starts and stops
- Starts at discharge, not berthing: for import containers, free time starts on the date the container is discharged from the vessel (tracking status
LANDED FROM VESSEL). If the ship berths on Monday but your container is lifted off on Tuesday, Tuesday is the start date. - Calendar days: free and chargeable days run on calendar days, including weekends and public holidays.
- Standard allowance: indicatively 10 days for full import containers. IMDG class 8 cargo gets 3 days, and IMDG class 5 cargo gets none.
- Volume concession: a consignee importing at least 30 containers on one bill of lading or vessel voyage gets 14 days, and at least 100 containers gets 20.
- Export and transhipment: these follow separate schedules in the tariff (items 511.2 and 511.3). Export free time starts when the container is received at the port.
- Stops at gate-out: port storage stops when the laden container leaves the terminal (status
TO TOWN). From then on, the shipping line's detention clock is what matters.
The tracking workspace shows each container's discharge date and the storage dates reported by the port, and flags containers whose free time is about to expire or has already expired.
2. Indicative storage rates after free time
Once free time ends, storage is charged per container per day. The rate for the first chargeable days is lower than the rate that applies after that:
| Container | Free storage from discharge | Next chargeable days | Thereafter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 20ft (dry or reefer) | 10 days | 82 AED/day (next 5 days) | 153 AED/day |
| Over 20ft (40ft / 40ft HC / 45ft, dry or reefer) | 10 days | 164 AED/day (next 5 days) | 306 AED/day |
| Out of gauge (OOG) up to 20ft | 10 days | 246 AED/day (next 5 days) | 459 AED/day |
| Out of gauge (OOG) over 20ft | 10 days | 492 AED/day (next 5 days) | 918 AED/day |
| IMDG class 8 (corrosive) up to 20ft | 3 days | 82 AED/day (next 5 days) | 153 AED/day |
| IMDG class 8 (corrosive) over 20ft | 3 days | 164 AED/day (next 5 days) | 306 AED/day |
| IMDG class 5 (oxidising), any size in gauge | None | 500 AED/day (next 10 days) | 1,000 AED/day |
Indicative only. Figures are taken from the DP World UAE Region Tariff Book (November 2023 edition, effective 1 Nov 2023), item 511.1 Import full containers â (reviewed 5 October 2026). Consignees importing at least 30 containers on one bill of lading or vessel voyage get 14 free days, and at least 100 containers get 20. Reefers also pay a monitoring charge of AED 155 per 24 hours. Carrier demurrage and detention are separate and set by your shipping line. Always confirm current charges with DP World UAE â or on Dubai Trade â.
3. Port free time vs shipping line free time
Your free time with the port and your free time with the shipping line are two separate allowances. DP World may give 10 days of yard storage while your carrier contract gives fewer (or more) days before demurrage starts. Check both before you plan collection. The storage vs demurrage guide explains the difference.
4. How to avoid storage charges
- Prepare customs early: have the customs declaration ready before the vessel arrives so duty and inspection decisions don't eat into free time.
- Get the delivery order early: settle freight and local charges with the shipping line so the electronic DO is released promptly.
- Book the e-token as soon as the container lands: once the status shows
LANDED FROM VESSEL, book collection through Dubai Trade for the correct terminal. - Watch the whole list, not one box: paste the full consignment into the batch tracker and filter by storage risk, or set arrival alerts so you know the day each container lands.
- Settle storage before collection: any storage due has to be paid before the gate appointment is released.
Official sources
- DP World UAE Region Tariff Book, November 2023 edition (PDF) â: Storage (item 511), free time (item 119) and reefer monitoring (item 515).
- DP World UAE (dpworld.com/uae) â: Port operator for Jebel Ali terminals T1 to T4: services, notices and customer care.
- Dubai Trade (dubaitrade.ae) â: Official single window: Container Enquiry, delivery orders, e-tokens and port payments.
- Container Tracer is independent and not affiliated with any of these organisations. Always confirm rules and charges with them directly.