Car Shipping Time from Dubai to Lagos and Tema: Stage by Stage

Maersk's published timetable for its MESAWA service puts Tema 38 days after Jebel Ali, because the loop calls in India, Sri Lanka and South Africa on the way, as the Maersk MESAWA MEA to WAF schedule shows. Other sailings are quicker, and the sea is only part of the wait. This guide breaks down car shipping time from Dubai to Lagos and Tema stage by stage: the export paperwork, the wait for a vessel, the ocean leg and the port release, with the sources behind each figure.

In practice, a car bought in Dubai typically reaches the port gate in Tema or Lagos five to ten weeks after you pay. Roughly one to two weeks go on paperwork and waiting for a sailing, three to six weeks on the water depending on the routing, and the rest on clearance at the destination port.

Car shipping time from Dubai, stage by stage#

The Dubai side and sailing figures come from our Dubai to Ghana shipping guide, which also sets out the cost of each method.

The Dubai side: one to two weeks#

Most of the Dubai time is paperwork, and it only runs fast when nothing blocks it. The RTA will not cancel a registration while fines are unpaid, and a financed car needs the bank's release first. Once those are clear, the export certificate and customs declaration follow within days, and on our UAE to Africa shipping service we prepare them for you, as our car export documents checklist explains.

Then the car waits for its vessel. A RoRo car is delivered to the terminal before the cut off, while a container car is loaded and sealed at a yard first. Missing a cut off by a day can push the car to the next sailing, which is why we book the vessel as soon as the documents are ready.

The ocean leg: three to six weeks#

Ocean time depends far more on the routing than on the distance. A direct sailing typically takes three to four weeks to West Africa, while a container loop that stops at several ports takes longer: on Maersk's MESAWA rotation the ship calls at Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Colombo, Durban and Pointe Noire before it reaches Tema on day 39.

Lagos sits close to Tema on most West African rotations. The joint MIDAS 1 and MESAWA service run by CMA CGM and Maersk has been reported calling at Tema and then Lagos (Apapa), according to Container News, so a car on that loop typically arrives in Lagos within days of Tema. Our Dubai to Nigeria import guide puts the Lagos water time at roughly three to four weeks on a direct routing.

RoRo or container: which is faster?#

Neither is always faster. RoRo is simpler to book for a single running car, while containers sail on more frequent schedules but may tranship on the way. Our RoRo vs container guide compares both on cost, risk and frequency.

Gulf routing in 2026#

Shipping in the Gulf has been disrupted for much of 2026. Maersk's Middle East operational update of October 2026 lists land bridge options for UAE export cargo via Khor Fakkan and Salalah and warns of longer transit and delivery times on affected shipments. Ask for the confirmed routing and sailing date on your booking rather than relying on any average.

At Tema and Lagos: release takes longer than you think#

Port release is the stage buyers most often underestimate. A Ghana Revenue Authority time release study found that cargo at the Golden Jubilee and Safebond car terminal took an average of about 14 days to leave customs control after berthing, as the Ghana News Agency reported. Complete paperwork, a duty payment ready on arrival and a car that is not flagged for examination all shorten that wait.

For Ghana, used cars shipped from 1 October 2026 also need a Certificate of Conformance before they sail, as the GSA vehicle import FAQs explain. Our agent arranges it, so it runs alongside the Dubai paperwork instead of adding time later. For Lagos, the Form M and PAAR steps set the pace, and we have not found a published average release time for cars at the Lagos terminals, so your clearing agent's estimate is the best guide.

How to keep your car on schedule#

1. Clear fines and finance before you pay. A car that cannot be deregistered cannot sail.
2. Match the VIN everywhere. One wrong character on the invoice or bill of lading can hold the car at the port.
3. Prepare destination documents early. Ghana's Certificate of Conformance and Nigeria's Form M should be ready before the vessel arrives.
4. Track the shipment. Follow the car by VIN or bill of lading number on our VIN tracking page.

A car such as this 2022 Toyota Prado TX L follows exactly the same timeline as a saloon; only the freight rate changes with its size.

Frequently asked questions#

How long does it take to ship a car from Dubai to Ghana?#

The ocean leg from Jebel Ali to Tema typically takes three to four weeks on a direct sailing and up to 38 days on a multi port loop such as Maersk's MESAWA. With paperwork, the wait for a vessel and release at Tema, plan for roughly five to ten weeks from payment. The live MESAWA timetable shows each port call on that loop.

How long does it take to ship a car from Dubai to Nigeria?#

Plan for roughly three to four weeks on the water to Lagos on a direct routing, plus one to two weeks of Dubai paperwork and the wait for a vessel. Clearance in Lagos depends on Form M and PAAR being ready, which our Nigeria import guide explains step by step.

How long does it take to clear a car at Tema port?#

A Ghana Revenue Authority study found an average of about 14 days from berthing to release at the Tema car terminal. Cars with complete documents and duty paid promptly typically clear faster, while a physical examination or a valuation query adds time.

Is RoRo faster than container shipping?#

Not always. RoRo needs no container loading, but containers often sail more frequently and may tranship on the way, so the faster option depends on the next available sailing. Our export cost guide compares what each method typically costs.

Can I track my car while it is shipping?#

Yes. Once the car is loaded, the bill of lading number and the VIN let you follow it until it reaches the destination port. Ask us for both on the day of loading so you can check progress yourself.

Browse 700+ cars or send the car you want#

Choose a left hand drive car from the current inventory and ask for a quote that includes the next sailing to Tema or Lagos. Or send us the car you want with your budget and destination port, and we will come back with options and a realistic timeline, or use the WhatsApp button below.