Asia – Middle East trade lane
The Asia–Middle East lane ties Chinese and South Asian ports to the Gulf hubs of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, anchored by the transshipment giant Jebel Ali.
Main routes on the Asia – Middle East lane
The 176 port-to-port routes of this lane, ranked by carrier coverage at both ends. Each links to the full distance page with route map and speed table.
| Route | Distance |
|---|---|
| Shanghai Jeddah | 6,597 nm |
| Shanghai Port of Dubai | 5,702 nm |
| Shanghai Jebel Ali | 5,710 nm |
| Qingdao Jeddah | 6,861 nm |
| Qingdao Port of Dubai | 5,966 nm |
| Ningbo Jeddah | 6,483 nm |
| Shanghai Abu Dhabi | 5,800 nm |
| Qingdao Jebel Ali | 5,974 nm |
| Shanghai Aqaba | 7,135 nm |
| Ningbo Port of Dubai | 5,588 nm |
| Shanghai Bahrain | 5,922 nm |
| Shanghai Bahrain | 5,922 nm |
| Ningbo Jebel Ali | 5,596 nm |
| Shanghai Khor Al Fakkan | 5,571 nm |
| Xiamen Jeddah | 6,047 nm |
| Qingdao Abu Dhabi | 6,065 nm |
| Xingang Jeddah | 7,152 nm |
| Qingdao Aqaba | 7,400 nm |
| Xiamen Port of Dubai | 5,152 nm |
| Yantian Jeddah | 5,843 nm |
Understanding the Asia – Middle East lane
The lane rides two engines: Gulf import demand for consumer and construction goods, and the region’s role as a transshipment crossroads relaying cargo toward East Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Red Sea. Every route passes the Strait of Malacca and then the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most strategically watched waterway — regional tension translates directly into war-risk premiums and insurance costs on this trade.
Main ports on this lane
Safecube gives you door-to-door visibility on container shipments, with live vessel positions and predictive ETAs on every trade lane.
Frequently asked questions
How many shipping routes does the Asia – Middle East lane cover?
Seadex covers 176 port-to-port routes on the Asia – Middle East lane, with sea distances ranging from 604 to 7,690 nautical miles.
How long is transit on the Asia – Middle East lane?
The average route on the Asia – Middle East lane is 4,480 nautical miles, which at typical commercial speeds of 14–18 knots means roughly 10.4 to 13.3 days of sailing, excluding port calls.
Which chokepoints does the Asia – Middle East lane depend on?
Routes on the Asia – Middle East lane transit the following chokepoints: Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.