Postal Services in Dubai: P.O. Box, Makani & Package Delivery Guide

How to send a package, receive an online order, and make sense of P.O. Boxes and Makani numbers. Dubai is a city where the future arrives every day. Here, flying taxis are being tested, and houses are printed on 3D printers. But try ordering something online and look for a "Postal Code" field in the address form. You won’t find it. This paradox stumps anyone who encounters local logistics for the first time. How does a system that seems stuck in the past work in one of the world’s most digital megacities? Believe it or not, there’s no chaos here, there’s its own ironclad, in its own way brilliant, logic. In this guide, we’ll crack the code of Dubai’s postal system: we’ll figure out why P.O. Boxes are still king, what the magical Makani number is, and how to ensure that your souvenirs and online purchases always reach their intended recipient.

The main mystery: Why doesn’t Dubai have postal codes?

The key feature that initially baffles any newcomer is the complete absence of postal codes in the way we’re used to. Historically, Dubai never had a “street-house-code” addressing system, and the city has found two elegant solutions to this challenge—one traditional, the other ultramodern.

The traditional way: why P.O. Box still rules the roost

To understand Dubai’s postal system, you first need to forget everything you thought you knew about addresses and embrace a simple idea: here, mail doesn’t go to a person, but to their post office box. The P.O. Box system is not an archaic relic; it is the foundation upon which all official correspondence still rests. Imagine this: it’s not the postman who comes to you, but you—or your representative—who goes to the post office to collect your mail. It is the box number, not the street address, that receives bills, government notifications, and magazine subscriptions. Until you grasp this principle, the Emirate’s postal logic will remain a mystery to you.

The digital answer: Makani - your unique address in the world of the future

With the rise of e-commerce and courier services, the post office box system has become increasingly inconvenient. Dubai’s response to this challenge is the advanced geoinformation system Makani (which translates from Arabic as “my location”). Essentially, it provides a unique digital address for every building in the emirate. Each house, villa, or office complex is assigned a unique 10-digit number (for example, 28349 91234), which pinpoints its location on a map with meter-level accuracy. It is this code that couriers use to deliver packages directly to your door.

Dubai address: forget the postal code: Unlike most countries, Dubai does not use postal codes. To receive mail, you traditionally need a post office box number (P.O. Box), and for precise door-to-door courier delivery—a 10-digit building number in the Makani system. Both are often included in the address.

Emirates post: Everything you need to know about Dubai's main postal service

If the P.O. Box is the foundation, then the chief architect and builder of the emirate's entire postal system is, of course, Emirates Post. It is the local state-owned postal operator, similar to "Russian Post" or Royal Mail—but in a Dubai version: with air conditioning, an electronic queuing system, and dozens of spotlessly clean post offices across the city. This is where you'll go to send a postcard with a view of Burj Khalifa or a parcel of dates for your grandmother. It's a reliable, time-tested, and somewhat conservative way to stay connected to the world.

Key services for tourists and expats

Sending letters and postcards: A classic and highly popular service among tourists for sending greetings with a view of Burj Khalifa to friends and family.
Sending parcels: Emirates Post offers both standard and express (EMS) parcel delivery within the UAE and to any destination worldwide.
"General Delivery" Service: This is an ideal option for travelers who don’t have their own P.O. Box but need to receive a package. You can send the package to the address of the central post office, and the recipient can pick it up there by presenting their passport and the tracking number.

How to send a package via Emirates post: a step-by-step guide

Packaging: You can bring your package in your own packaging or purchase all the necessary materials (boxes, envelopes, packing filler) directly at the post office.
Filling out information: You will need to provide the recipient’s full address (including the postal code, if used in the destination country!), your return address (you can use your hotel address), and a contact phone number.
Documents: To send a package abroad, you will need a valid ID, either a passport or an Emirates ID for residents.
Payment and tracking: After paying for the service, you will receive a receipt and a tracking number, which you can use to track your shipment online.

Don’t expect lattes and croissants here: Emirates Post offices are all about efficiency, not comfort. Don’t look for a coffee corner or cozy sofas to wait in here. This is a place people come to get a specific task done: to send, receive, or pay.] Everything works like clockwork-fast, precise, and without unnecessary talk.

Alternatives and courier services: When speed and specialized service are needed

The delivery market in Dubai is highly competitive, and in addition to the national postal service, many private companies operate here. Your choice depends on your specific needs: do you require maximum speed, the best price, or assistance with customs clearance?

Global giants: DHL, Aramex

If you need to send something truly urgent or valuable, whether it's an important contract or an expensive purchase, global heavyweights such as DHL and Aramex come into play. Forget about visiting a post office: their signature service is "door-to-door" delivery, where a courier picks up the package directly from your hotel. Yes, you'll have to pay a premium for such speed and reliability, but when time and peace of mind are at stake, they are your foolproof choice.

Intermediary services for CIS countries: CDEK and others

These are the best choice for those who want to deliver purchases from Dubai online stores to CIS countries, especially Russia. Such companies specialize in handling customs issues and often offer more favorable rates for individuals for delivering goods than global courier services.

Estimated costs and delivery times

Sending a standard 0.5 kg parcel from Dubai to a CIS country via Emirates Post will cost an average of 120–150 dirhams and take 7–14 days.
Express delivery of the same package will already cost 250–350 dirhams, but it will arrive within 3–7 days.

Prices are approximate, current at the time of writing, and subject to change. For accurate information, always check the official websites of postal and courier services before sending.

Cheat sheet for shippers

So, how do you choose? Here’s a simple cheat sheet:

Sending a postcard or a leisurely package with souvenirs? Your best option is Emirates Post. It’s the most budget-friendly and yet completely reliable choice.
Deadlines are tight, and you need to deliver documents “yesterday”? Don’t hesitate-call a DHL or Aramex courier. It’s fast and comes with a guarantee, but be prepared for a corresponding bill.
Want to ship purchases from Dubai Mall to Russia or the CIS? Pay attention to CDEK and similar services. They know all about customs procedures and often offer the most competitive rates specifically for such shipments.

How to receive a package in Dubai if you’re a tourist?

Receiving a package without being a resident is entirely feasible. Here are three main methods:

Option 1 (Ideal): Arrange delivery via an international courier service (such as DHL or Aramex) directly to your hotel address. Be sure to include the hotel name, room number, and your active mobile phone number in the address.
Option 2 (For postal mail): Use the "General Delivery" service from Emirates Post. The package will be delivered to the specified post office, where you can pick it up using your passport.
Option 3 (Complex): Check with your hotel’s front desk to see if they have a corporate P.O. Box and whether they will accept a package addressed to you.

Your phone number is your primary address: In Dubai, couriers almost always call before delivery to confirm the time and location. Therefore, when placing any order or sending a package, always provide an active local or roaming phone number. This is often more important than a perfectly written address.

Dubai’s postal system: Complicated at first glance, simple in practice

As you can see, Dubai’s postal system is not chaos but a perfectly streamlined mechanism,just one that operates according to its own rules, which may seem unfamiliar to us. Like the city itself, it manages to exist simultaneously in two eras: honoring the tradition of paper letters delivered to P.O. Boxes while guiding couriers using satellites and a 10-digit digital code. Yes, this may be confusing at first, but once you grasp the logic, the system starts working for you. So, if we boil it down to a simple rule for getting by, it goes like this: know your P.O. Box (or your hotel’s P.O. Box) for paper mail, keep your building’s Makani number handy for couriers, and always, always provide your active phone number. These three keys will open any logistical door in Dubai. Don’t be intimidated by the system—give it a try by sending a package through Emirates Post or receiving an order using Makani. This isn’t just a mundane task, it’s a small cultural quest that will allow you to understand this amazing city a little more deeply, not only from the vantage point of skyscrapers, but also at the level of a simple postal shipment flying across the desert into the future.