Jebel Ali to Gdansk shipping route.

Jebel Ali to Gdansk is a 7,106 nautical mile shipping route via Suez Canal, heading north west from the United Arab Emirates to Poland. That is 13,161 km of water against 4,423 km as the crow flies. On the way the vessel passes Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Gibraltar and Strait of Hormuz, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.

At sea, the voyage lasts 24.7 days at 12 knots, 21.2 days at 14 knots and 16.5 days at 18 knots. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Jebel Ali and Gdansk to plan the full ocean transit time.

The shortest route goes through the Red Sea. Since attacks on shipping began there in late 2023, many carriers send ships via Cape of Good Hope instead. That route is 11,890 nautical miles, 4,783 more, and adds about 14.2 days at 14 knots. Longer voyages burn more fuel and tie up more ships, which is why freight rates on Red Sea lanes jumped when the diversions started.

3,185 nm of the route, 45% of it, lies inside North Sea ECA, Baltic Sea ECA and Mediterranean Sea ECA. In an emission control area ships must burn fuel with no more than 0.1% sulphur or clean the exhaust with scrubbers. That fuel costs more, and carriers add it to the ocean freight bill as a low sulphur or ECA surcharge.

Container freight rates on Jebel Ali to Gdansk move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Gdansk (PLGDN) carriers give about 7.5 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.

Of the 65 port to port routes from Jebel Ali in this directory, Gdansk is the 47th shortest. Closer destinations include Gothenburg (6,710 nm), Melbourne (6,666 nm) and Hamburg (6,532 nm).