In early August, a shipment I sent to Dubai got held. The problem wasn't the product — it was the bubble wrap inside the box. Since August 2026, UAE Customs has been cracking down on single-use plastic packaging. Air pillows, bubble wrap and polybags are all on the list.
This isn't an ESG slogan. It's a real checkpoint. Violating parcels sit in customs for 1-3 days, and storage runs AED 20-40 per day. On a 200-carton order, the delay plus repacking ate about 6% of my margin.
Personally, I don't gamble on inspection probability anymore. For UAE-bound freight, I've switched all inner cushioning to kraft paper and honeycomb paper, and paper-based tape for sealing. Material cost is roughly 15% higher, but delivery windows stay intact.
Another trap: a supplier's verbal claim of eco-friendly means nothing. Keep the S 5009 test report ready and attach it to the customs declaration. Without the document, your broker won't take the risk.
Saudi is running parallel spot checks; Riyadh has started. Egypt and Iraq haven't followed yet. Leftover bubble wrap? Use it on non-Middle East lanes — no need to throw it away.