Source: Splash247 
Date: 1st October 2026 

Shipping lines and freight forwarders must now submit cargo information before shipments depart their port of loading under the UAE’s new Maritime Pre-Load Cargo Information programme.

A new cargo filing requirement has come into force across the United Arab Emirates, changing when shipment information must be provided for cargo moving to or through UAE ports.

Under the Maritime Pre-Load Cargo Information (MPCI) programme, shipping lines and freight forwarders are required to submit shipment details to the UAE’s National Advance Information Centre (NAIC) before cargo departs its port of loading.

The requirement covers not only imports into the UAE, but also transit and transhipment cargo, as well as freight remaining onboard vessels calling at UAE ports.

Cargo Information Required Before Loading

Required shipment information includes details relating to the shipper, consignee and cargo.

Once the information has been submitted, NAIC can issue one of three responses:

• Acceptance
• Request for additional information
• Do-not-load instruction

Where a do-not-load instruction is issued, the affected cargo cannot be loaded onto the vessel until the issue has been resolved.

This represents an important change from the previous process, under which cargo information was submitted to individual port customs authorities at least 48 hours before arrival. That existing local filing requirement will continue alongside the new MPCI system.

The MPCI rollout had initially been planned for earlier this year but was postponed amid disruption in the Middle East. Enforcement is now expected to be introduced progressively as the industry adapts to the new requirements.

There is no government filing fee, although accredited third-party service providers may charge for handling submissions.

What This Means

• The most important change is timing.
• Accurate shipment information will need to be available earlier in the export process, before cargo leaves its origin port rather than shortly before arrival in the UAE.
• Incomplete or missing information could result in additional queries, loading delays or cargo being rolled to a later sailing.
• This is particularly important for shipments using the UAE as a transhipment or transit hub, since the requirements extend beyond cargo whose final destination is within the country.
• Shippers should therefore ensure that complete shipper, consignee and cargo information is provided to their freight forwarder as early as possible before departure.

Advance cargo filing requirements are becoming an increasingly important part of international trade compliance.

For businesses shipping to or through the UAE, the new MPCI programme makes early and accurate documentation essential to maintaining smooth cargo flows.

Planning and ensuring shipment data is complete before loading can help reduce the risk of queries, rolled cargo and avoidable delays at origin.