Far more cargo is dangerous goods (DG) than most shippers expect — perfumes, aerosols, paint, power banks, a car battery, a cylinder of refrigerant, machinery with fuel residue. "Dangerous" is a regulatory definition, not a common-sense one: if you're unsure, check section 14 of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), which gives the transport classification. Delman moves DG out of the UAE by air under GCAA and IATA DGR rules, by sea under the IMDG Code, and by road under ADR and the applicable local regulations — getting the classification and paperwork right before the cargo reaches the airport or port, not after.

What's included

  • Classification & declarations — confirming the UN number, class and packing group from your SDS, and raising the correct declaration for the mode (IATA for air, IMDG for sea).
  • UN-spec packing, marks & labels — certified packaging within the per-mode quantity limits, with the right hazard labels and shipping marks.
  • Segregation — keeping incompatible classes apart, per the IMDG segregation table and IATA rules, so a load isn't held or refused.

The nine classes of dangerous goods

The UN Model Regulations sort all DG into nine hazard classes, several with sub-divisions and packing groups (PG I–III) that signal the degree of danger:

The nine UN hazard classes

  • 1 Explosives — fireworks, ammunition, airbag inflators
  • 2 Gases — aerosols, propane, refrigerants, oxygen cylinders
  • 3 Flammable liquids — paint, solvents, perfume, ethanol
  • 4 Flammable solids — matches, sulphur, some metal powders
  • 5 Oxidisers & organic peroxides — pool chemicals, certain resins, fertilisers
  • 6 Toxic & infectious substances — pesticides, diagnostic specimens
  • 7 Radioactive material — medical isotopes, certain instruments
  • 8 Corrosives — acids, alkalis, wet-cell batteries
  • 9 Miscellaneous — lithium batteries, dry ice, magnetised material

The rules change with the mode

The same substance can be governed by different rulebooks depending on how it travels — all trace back to the UN Model Regulations, but each mode has its own manual:

  • By air — IATA DGR: the strictest regime, with per-package quantity limits, "passenger aircraft" vs "cargo aircraft only" distinctions and a mandatory Shipper's Declaration. In the UAE this sits under the GCAA.
  • By sea — IMDG Code: governs ocean DG, including segregation between incompatible classes inside a container and stowage on board.
  • By road — ADR: the framework for the first/last mile and overland legs.

That's why classification and mode selection go together — an item that's fine by sea can be restricted by air. If you're weighing the two, see our air vs sea freight guide; for the modes themselves, see air freight and sea freight from Dubai.

Declarations, packing & lithium batteries

Most DG rejections are documentation failures, not packing failures. The core set is the SDS (which confirms UN number, class, packing group and proper shipping name), the Dangerous Goods Declaration — the Shipper's Declaration (DGD) for air or the IMDG declaration for sea, completed by a trained, currently-certified person — the AWB or B/L annotated with DG handling information, and a packing certificate for sea consignments. The single most important field is the UN number and proper shipping name: get that right and packaging, marks, labels and limits all follow from it.

Lithium batteries deserve their own mention — they're now one of the most common and most mishandled dangerous goods. They sit in Class 9 with their own UN numbers (UN3480/UN3481 lithium-ion, UN3090/UN3091 lithium-metal) and a fast-moving rulebook covering state of charge, watt-hour rating, whether they're shipped loose, packed with equipment or installed in it, and which aircraft can carry them. Undeclared lithium batteries are a leading cause of cargo incidents — they must never travel hidden inside "general cargo".

How we handle your DG shipment

  1. Send the SDS — with the destination. From it we confirm the UN number, class and packing group, and tell you quickly whether the cargo flies, sails or needs a different plan.
  2. Classify & declare — we raise the correct declaration for the mode (IATA DGR or IMDG) and check it against the SDS.
  3. Pack, mark & label — UN-spec packaging within the mode's limits, the correct hazard labels and shipping marks, and segregation of incompatible classes.
  4. Move & clear — compliant transport with the DG paperwork in order, plus customs clearance where we handle it.

Why ship dangerous goods with Delman

  • Caught before the airport, not after — classification, declarations and packing are checked up front, where most DG rejections are prevented.
  • Air, sea and land under one team — IATA DGR, IMDG and ADR handled together, so the mode decision and the DG rules stay joined up.
  • Compliant under GCAA & IATA — declarations, UN-spec packing and segregation to regulation.
  • SDS in, answer out — send the Safety Data Sheet and destination and we'll tell you whether it moves, and how.

Related guide: Shipping Dangerous Goods from the UAE

Request a quote