Cairo International Airport — Air Cargo Customs Clearance & Support

How does air cargo clearance work at Cairo International Airport?

Al-Rouby Customs Clearance & Logistics manages air cargo clearance at Cairo International Airport from pre-departure document review and aviation ACI coordination through Delivery Order collection, Nafeza declaration submission, physical examination attendance at the Cargo Village and final release to inland transport.

Air freight is chosen when production schedules or commercial deadlines cannot wait for sea transit. Once the flight lands and the cargo is logged at the Cairo Cargo Terminal, the customs file goes through the same electronic Nafeza assessment and regulatory checks as maritime cargo — which means pre-flight file preparation is what protects the speed of air freight.

Clearance is completed very quickly for shipments without regulatory holds; otherwise, the timeframe depends entirely on the specific regulatory agency's requirements.

How does mandatory aviation ACI apply to Cairo Airport shipments?

Advance Cargo Information (ACI) became mandatory for air freight into Egypt on 1 January 2026, following the trial operation phase that ran until 31 December 2025. Importers and foreign suppliers must coordinate the ACID request on Nafeza and align electronic documents before the shipment departs.

• Importer registration and ACID request: The Egyptian importer submits the ACI request on Nafeza — or authorises Al-Rouby to prepare and submit it — before cargo is dispatched (NAFEZA — aviation ACI notice).
• Automatic ACID notification: When the 19-digit ACID is issued, Nafeza emails it automatically to both the Egyptian importer and the foreign exporter (NAFEZA — ACID steps).
• CargoX and Air Waybill alignment: The foreign exporter uploads the shipment documents through CargoX, and the carrier shows the ACID on the Master/House Air Waybill and flight manifest.
• Postal and luggage scope: Postal and express parcels up to 50 kg, and personal belongings a traveller hands in at the departure airport as excess baggage, are exempt from air ACI, whereas commercial air freight requires full pre-shipment compliance.

What cargo typically clears through Cairo International Airport?

Cairo International Airport handles time-sensitive industrial spares, production components, high-value instruments, commercial samples and urgent inventory replenishments destined for factories and businesses across Cairo, 10th of Ramadan, 6th of October, Sadat City, Alexandria and the Suez corridor.

• Urgent spare parts and replacement components preventing factory downtime
• High-value electronic, medical or laboratory instruments requiring careful handling
• Production samples, textile swatches and technical prototypes
• Time-critical raw materials or components when sea schedules cannot meet a contract window

When comparing whether a shipment should move by air into Cairo Airport or by container into Ain Sokhna or Alexandria, review our guide on choosing between sea freight and air freight to Egypt and our air freight service page.

What documents and checks are required before the flight departs?

Before the airline accepts the cargo, the Air Waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, ACID number and any origin or regulatory certificates must match in consignee details, HS codes, weights, package counts and invoice value.

How does Al-Rouby coordinate Cairo Airport release and factory delivery?

Our team reviews your draft air documents remotely, coordinates the Nafeza declaration, attends physical inspections at Cairo Airport in person, provides duty and tax estimates before submission, and connects terminal release directly to inland delivery.

• Written list of findings from our remote pre-shipment review of your draft AWB, invoice and packing list.
• Status updates by WhatsApp or email when documents are reviewed, ACID is confirmed, the Nafeza declaration is submitted, inspection is scheduled and cargo is released.
• Handover of a copy of the customs declaration, official payment receipts and release confirmation.
• Direct coordination with inland transport to deliver from Cairo Cargo Village to factories in Greater Cairo, TEDA Suez, SCZone or the Nile Delta.

What have we seen in real files?

Wrong digit in the ACID. We often find an ACID with a wrong digit on the shipping documents. This is critical: in our files it has led to customs holds and penalties for the importer, and sometimes for the shipping agent. We have it corrected with the carrier before arrival. More cases from our files: common problems in Egypt-bound shipments.

Content reviewed: 12 October 2026 · Al Rouby Customs Clearance & Logistics