Sending and receiving packages in the United Arab Emirates

Hello,

For convenience sake, I'll provide answers next to each question listed below.


How easy is it to send and receive packages in the United Arab Emirates?: Relatively easy

Is the public postal system efficient?:  I can't say because I've never used it.

Do people tend to prefer using private shipping services? Which ones?: Yes I think so due to their ubiquity. Aramex, Fetchr, and DHL appear to be the most commonly used, but there are a dozen others too frequently seen around delivering parcels

How do the costs of the private shipping services compare?: Domestic shipping is quite inexpensive, but international shipping are somewhat pricey.

How long does it take generally to receive packages from abroad in the United Arab Emirates?: I should say the services are efficient once the package arrives in the UAE

Do you have to pay taxes on items received by mail from abroad?: 5% VAT applies to most items

Are packages delivered right to your doorstep, or do you usually have to go collect them somewhere?: Yes, in most cases. However, at certain times, I did them a favour of going to their outlet to pick up my parcel to save time (approx one day)

Hope you find those answers helpful.