Al Faisal HVAC · Import Guide · Kenya
How to Import AC Spare Parts
from Dubai to Kenya
A practical guide for Kenyan HVAC importers, dealers and workshops — covering the full process from placing your Dubai order to clearing at Mombasa port and delivering to Nairobi.
Importing AC spare parts from Dubai to Kenya is more straightforward than most first-time importers expect. The Jebel Ali to Mombasa sea freight corridor is one of the most established trade routes in East Africa — the documentation is well-understood, the clearing agents in Mombasa handle Dubai imports routinely, and the logistics companies running the LCL consolidation service have frequent sailings specifically for the East African market.
What makes the process feel complicated for first-timers is unfamiliarity with the steps, the terminology and the documents. This guide walks through every stage from initial enquiry to goods delivered in Nairobi — so that by the time your first shipment arrives at Mombasa, nothing is a surprise.
💡 The most important first step is engaging a Mombasa clearing agent before your shipment arrives. A licensed customs clearing agent in Mombasa is the professional who lodges your import declaration with KRA, pays your import duty on your behalf, and releases your goods from the port. Without a clearing agent, your goods sit in the port accumulating storage charges. Engage your clearing agent before you place your first Dubai order — not after the vessel has docked.
Why Kenyan HVAC Businesses Import from Dubai
The commercial case for Dubai import is built on three advantages that together outweigh the complexity of the import process — especially once that process becomes familiar.
Product Range
Dubai’s HVAC wholesale market stocks the complete range of compressors, refrigerant types, copper pipe brands and spare parts for all major AC brands. The Nairobi local market carries perhaps a third of this range. Kenyan workshops that source from Dubai complete more first-visit repairs and win service contracts that require parts local suppliers cannot provide.
Wholesale Pricing
Dubai wholesale pricing for GMCC, Invotech and LG compressors — bought direct from regional distributors — is significantly lower per unit than Nairobi retail pricing for the same products. Regular Kenyan importers consolidating monthly orders consistently land goods in Mombasa at prices that allow profitable resale to Nairobi and upcountry dealers.
Consolidated Shipment
Compressors, refrigerant gas, copper pipe, spare parts and tools — all from one Dubai supplier, in one LCL container, through one Mombasa clearance. The administrative simplicity of a single supplier covering the complete HVAC product range is a genuine operational benefit for Kenyan HVAC businesses that previously used multiple Dubai sources.
The Complete Import Process — Step by Step
Stage 1 — Prepare Your Order List
Before contacting Al Faisal, compile your product list. For compressors: model numbers from the nameplates of failed units, or AC outdoor unit brand and model if the compressor nameplate is unreadable. For refrigerant gas: types (R22, R410A, R32, R134a) and approximate quantities in cylinders. For spare parts: part numbers or brand/model descriptions. For copper pipe: sizes in inches and quantities in metres or coil units. A detailed list produces an accurate quote — a vague list produces a vague estimate.
Stage 2 — Get Your Quote from Al Faisal
WhatsApp your list to +971 55 874 7919. We return a consolidated quote within 24 hours covering product pricing in USD, Jebel Ali to Mombasa LCL freight estimate, and DG documentation cost for refrigerant gas. The quote gives you the FOB Dubai price and freight estimate — from these you calculate approximate CIF Mombasa value, which your clearing agent uses to estimate import duty.
Stage 3 — Calculate Your Landed Cost
Total landed cost = FOB Dubai price + sea freight + insurance + KRA import duty + VAT + clearing agent fees + inland transport Mombasa to Nairobi. Your clearing agent can provide an estimate of the duty and VAT component based on the CIF value and the HS codes for your goods. Compare this total landed cost against your current Nairobi supplier pricing — this comparison is what confirms whether the Dubai import makes commercial sense for your order.
Stage 4 — Confirm Order and Pay
Confirm your order by WhatsApp or email. Al Faisal sends a proforma invoice with bank details for telegraphic transfer (TT) payment in USD. Once payment is confirmed, we proceed to packing. Allow 1–3 banking days for international TT transfers to clear. For first-time orders, payment before shipment is standard — this protects both parties and is the industry norm for Dubai-Kenya wholesale trade.
Stage 5 — Packing and Shipment Booking
Al Faisal packs your order within 3–5 working days of payment confirmation. We prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, DG declaration for gas, certificate of origin and MSDS sheets. We book the LCL slot with our freight forwarder for the next available Jebel Ali to Mombasa sailing. You receive the vessel name, voyage number and estimated sailing date.
Stage 6 — Sea Transit
Transit time is 10–16 days Jebel Ali to Mombasa. Al Faisal sends you the complete shipping document set — bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, DG manifest — by email as scanned copies. Forward these to your Mombasa clearing agent so they can prepare the import declaration before the vessel arrives. Original bills of lading are courier-sent or sent via the shipping line’s agent in Mombasa.
Stage 7 — Mombasa Port Clearance
Your Mombasa clearing agent lodges the customs entry with KRA using the shipping documents. KRA assesses import duty and VAT on the CIF value. Your clearing agent pays the duty and VAT on your behalf, arranges for any port inspections, and releases the goods for collection. Mombasa port clearance typically takes 3–7 days depending on KRA inspection selection and port workload. Your clearing agent advises you on the clearance timeline and cost.
Stage 8 — Inland Transport to Nairobi
Once cleared, your goods are collected from Mombasa port and transported to Nairobi by road — typically 8–10 hours. Your clearing agent arranges the truck or you can use your own transport. The Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is also an option for faster, more reliable inland transport for cleared goods. Most regular Kenyan importers have an established Mombasa clearing agent and a Nairobi delivery arrangement that makes this stage routine.
Handling Refrigerant Gas as DG Cargo
Refrigerant gas is classified as Dangerous Goods Class 2 — compressed gas. This classification requires specific documentation and handling procedures, but it does not prevent refrigerant gas from shipping by sea freight LCL alongside general cargo. The process is routine for Al Faisal and for experienced Mombasa clearing agents.
Al Faisal’s responsibility
We prepare the DG declaration, assign the correct UN numbers (UN 1018 for R22, UN 3337 for R410A, UN 3252 for R32, UN 3159 for R134a), prepare MSDS for each gas type, and ensure correct DG segregation in the container. You receive a complete DG document set.
Clearing agent’s role
Your Mombasa clearing agent includes the DG goods in the customs entry. Experienced Mombasa clearing agents handle DG Class 2 cargo from Dubai regularly — refrigerant gas imports are routine. Confirm your clearing agent has DG handling experience before engaging them for your first shipment.
Gas cannot ship by air
Compressed gas cylinders are prohibited as air cargo under IATA regulations. All refrigerant gas must move by sea freight. If you need a compressor urgently by air, we can split the order — compressor by air to Nairobi, gas by the next LCL sea freight consolidation to Mombasa.
Kenya import of refrigerant
Kenya permits the import of R22 for servicing existing equipment under Montreal Protocol servicing allowances. R410A, R32 and R134a are not restricted. Your clearing agent handles the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) declaration for refrigerant gas as part of the standard import process.
⚠️ Common first-timer mistakes — and how to avoid them
The three most common mistakes Kenyan first-time importers make are: not engaging a Mombasa clearing agent before the shipment arrives (goods sit in the port accumulating storage charges); not calculating total landed cost before confirming the order (the Dubai price plus freight plus duty plus clearing fees is what matters, not just the FOB price); and not providing accurate HS codes to the clearing agent (incorrect HS codes result in incorrect duty assessment which requires correction under KEBS or KRA — a time-consuming process). All three are straightforward to avoid with a little preparation. Al Faisal is happy to advise first-time Kenyan importers on the documentation process — WhatsApp us with any questions before placing your first order.
🌍 Ready to Import from Dubai to Kenya?
WhatsApp us your product list — we handle the rest
Consolidated quote · DG documentation · Jebel Ali → Mombasa · complete document set for KRA clearance
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an import licence to import AC parts from Dubai into Kenya?
For general HVAC goods — compressors, spare parts, copper pipe, tools — no specific import licence is required beyond the standard business registration and KRA PIN number that any registered Kenyan business holds. Refrigerant gas imports may require compliance with Kenya’s Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) regulations under the Standards and Enforcement Act — your clearing agent advises on any current permit requirements for specific refrigerant types. The import of R22 specifically is subject to quota controls under Kenya’s Montreal Protocol commitments — your clearing agent and the Kenya National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) are the correct resources for current R22 import permit requirements.
What HS codes apply to AC compressors and refrigerant gas for Kenya import?
AC compressors (of the hermetic type used in air conditioning) fall under HS code 8414.30. Refrigerant gases — HFCs and HCFCs — fall under Chapter 29 of the Harmonised System (organic chemical products), with specific codes depending on the gas type: R22 (HCFC-22) under 2903.71, R410A and R32 (HFCs) under 2903.79, R134a under 2903.73. Copper pipe for AC/refrigeration falls under 7411.10. Your clearing agent applies the correct HS codes to the customs entry — provide them with the product descriptions from Al Faisal’s commercial invoice and they classify correctly. Incorrect HS codes result in incorrect duty assessment, so this step matters.
How do I find a reliable Mombasa clearing agent for HVAC imports?
Licensed customs clearing agents in Kenya are registered with the Kenya Revenue Authority. The Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) maintains a directory of licensed members. Ask other Kenyan HVAC importers in your network who they use — a clearing agent recommended by a business already importing HVAC goods from Dubai is more reliable than a cold search. Key criteria: the agent must have DG handling experience for the gas component of your shipment, must be familiar with the Mombasa port LCL clearance process, and should be responsive to communication. Al Faisal can share references of clearing agents that existing Kenya buyers have used successfully — WhatsApp us and ask.
Related Pages
- Order & Shipping — Dubai to Kenya — ordering process detail
- AC Spare Parts Wholesale Kenya — full product range hub
- AC Compressors Wholesale Kenya
- Refrigerant Gas Wholesale Kenya
- Copper Pipe & Tube Kenya
- AC Spare Parts Price Guide Kenya 2026
- Kenya HVAC Industry Guide
- About Al Faisal — Dubai HVAC exporter since 2005
Ready to Start Importing from Dubai?
WhatsApp Al Faisal your product list — compressors, refrigerant gas, copper pipe, spare parts. We send a consolidated quote within 24 hours. You compare total landed cost against Nairobi pricing. If the numbers work, we pack and ship. Full DG documentation, complete shipping document set for KRA clearance, weekly LCL consolidation from Jebel Ali to Mombasa.
📞 +971 55 874 7919 · ☎ 04 2340 337 · Shop No S03B, Al Wasl Building, Deira – Al Rigga, Dubai · Mon–Sat 8AM–8PM (GMT+4)