The United Arab Emirates is rolling out a major regulatory reform in maritime trade with the implementation of Maritime Pre-Load Cargo Information (MPCI), under National Advance Information Centre (NAIC), part of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP). This move reflects the UAE's commitment to enhance border security, align with global best practices, and streamline trade flow.

MPCI is a mandatory advance-cargo manifest system that requires containerized cargo destined for the UAE to be declared 24 hours before loading at the last foreign port of departure. The system covers not just imports, but also transshipments, transit, and Freight Remaining on Board (FROB) cargo.

Cargo data to be submitted includes Bill of Lading information (master and house, depending on the type of shipment), information about shipper, consignee, ports involved, container & vessel details, HS codes, seal numbers, etc. Registrations with NAIC and unique identifiers for forwarders/carriers are mandatory.

Timeline & Phases

• Go-Live Date: Full enforcement of MPCI is effective from July 31, 2025.
• Grace Period: Until March 31, 2026, during which stakeholders can adapt operations and ensure compliance.
• Soft Launch & Operational Guidelines: Major carriers (such as Maersk & CMA) have already issued guidelines reflecting changes in shipping instructions, SI submission procedures, and roles of forwarders vs carriers.

Who Is Impacted

• Shipping Lines / Vessel Operators
• Freight Forwarders / NVOCCs

What Companies Should Do Now

1. Register with NAIC early, obtain required MPCI Party IDs.
2. Align internal documentation, ensure Bill of Lading data is complete and accurate.
3. Set up or select accredited service providers (if not doing filings directly).
4. Train staff in shipping, forwarding, documentation teams about new deadlines, cut-offs, Sl requirements.
5. Review tech systems / ERP / TMS to ensure they can produce and transmit data to NAIC in the required format (API, EDI, etc.). 
6. Monitor policy changes during the grace period and anticipate enforcement dates, especially "No Doc No Load" enforcement.