Your Customs Agent in Egypt for Freight Forwarders

What does a destination customs agent in Egypt do for a forwarder?

A destination agent in Egypt receives your pre-alert and checks that the ACID and the documents match the ACI request before the cargo loads. On arrival it files the customs declaration, follows inspection and release, and arranges delivery to the consignee. Al-Rouby does this at the main Egyptian sea ports and at Cairo International Airport.

• Pre-alert review: draft B/L or AWB, invoice, packing list and the 19-digit ACID
• Customs declaration on NAFEZA, with the importer's authorisation
• Inspection follow-up and release at the port or airport
• Delivery to the consignee's warehouse or factory, and return of the empty container to the line
• Status updates to you in English or Arabic; in Chinese and German by email and written messages

Why must the ACI check happen before loading?

Egypt's Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system needs the shipment data before the goods leave the export country. For sea cargo, the data is due at least 48 hours before shipment, and an ACID cannot be obtained after the goods have been shipped. ACI has been mandatory for sea cargo since October 2021 and for air cargo since 1 January 2026.

From our files

A wrong digit in the ACID on the shipping documents 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.

How does the hand-over work?

The hand-over runs in six steps, from your pre-alert to the release documents. The earlier the pre-alert arrives, the more can still be corrected at origin.

1. Pre-alert. You send the draft B/L or AWB, the invoice, the packing list, the ACID and the consignee's contact.
2. ACI check. We compare the ACID, HS codes, quantities, weights and values with the ACI request and tell you what to correct before loading.
3. Arrival. We file the declaration on NAFEZA with the importer's authorisation.
4. Inspection and release. We follow any inspection and coordinate release at the port or airport.
5. Delivery. The cargo goes to the consignee; for FCL, the empty container goes back to the line.
6. Report. You get the status at each step and the release documents at the end.

Which gateways and cargo do we handle?

Al-Rouby handles forwarder cargo at Ain Sokhna, Alexandria and Dekheila, Port Said, Port Tawfik and Adabiya, the Suez Canal Economic Zone and Cairo International Airport, for commercial and industrial goods.

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Commercial and industrial cargo: machinery and production lines, raw materials, plastic sheets and films, and textiles and fabrics.

What should a forwarder send with the pre-alert?

Send the draft transport document showing the ACID, the commercial invoice and packing list, the consignee's details, the container or AWB numbers with the ETA, and any import approval the goods need.

• Draft B/L or AWB showing the ACID
• Commercial invoice and packing list (final or draft)
• The ACID (19 digits) and the consignee's name and contact
• Container numbers and size, or the AWB number, with the ETA
• Any import approval the goods need (the ACID is not issued without it)

Content reviewed: 13 November 2026 · Al Rouby Customs Clearance & Logistics