Montreal to Jebel Ali shipping route.

Ships leaving Montreal for Jebel Ali head north east and cover a sea distance of 8,176 nautical miles (15,142 km), via Suez Canal. The straight line between the ports is 10,611 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. 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 28.4 days at 12 knots, 24.3 days at 14 knots and 18.9 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 Montreal and Jebel Ali 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 12,077 nautical miles, 3,901 more, and adds about 11.6 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.

3,001 nm of the route, 37% of it, lies inside North American 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 Montreal to Jebel Ali move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Jebel Ali (AEJEA) carriers give about 4 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 Montreal in this directory, Jebel Ali is the 39th shortest. Closer destinations include Karachi (8,102 nm), Durban (8,047 nm) and Vancouver (7,543 nm).