Customs may face widespread shutdowns! Transit times through the Red Sea and between India and Pakistan could be delayed by another 20 days.

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2026-05-29 17:42

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As the 2026 Eid al-Adha—expected to fall around May 27—approaches, several Muslim-majority countries will enter their annual extended holiday period. As a result, Customs and port administration systems, as well as cross-border land transport services, in the Middle East, along the Red Sea coast, in North Africa, South Asia, and certain Southeast Asian countries, will gradually experience reduced efficiency or even temporary suspension.

Industry estimates suggest, Starting in late May, overall logistics lead times in the region may deteriorate, with congestion at some ports likely to intensify further, potentially resulting in cargo delays of up to 20 days.

More than 50 countries have entered holiday mode, with administrative and customs‑clearance efficiency declining significantly.

Eid al-Adha, a major festival in the Islamic world, is observed as a public holiday in more than 50 countries and regions.

During this period, the customs, commodity inspection, port management, and cross-border transport coordination authorities of the relevant countries will operate at reduced capacity, with some agencies remaining entirely closed. The affected regions include the Gulf Cooperation Council states, the Red Sea littoral countries, North African markets, the Indian subcontinent, the overland routes through Central Asia, as well as certain Muslim‑populated areas in Southeast Asia.

Due to variations in the start and end dates of holidays across countries, the overall impact is expected to last anywhere from several days to more than ten days, with cumulative disruptions to the flow of import and export goods.

Pressure on Middle Eastern hub ports is mounting, and risks associated with transshipment and inland connectivity are rising.

Against the backdrop of rerouting through the Red Sea, ports in the Middle East are already grappling with schedule disruptions, yard congestion, and equipment shortages. With the addition of holiday-related surges, operational pressures at several key hubs are set to intensify further.

United Arab Emirates Meanwhile, the ports of Khor Fakkan and Fujairah on the East Coast have become key transshipment hubs for alternative shipping routes within the Gulf, with yard utilization remaining persistently high. During the holiday period, customs clearance, bonded‑yard trucking, and last‑mile delivery efficiency are expected to decline, leading to longer dwell times for transit cargo and potentially significant delays in overall delivery timelines to Dubai.

Saudi Arabia Meanwhile, major ports such as Jeddah and Dammam are already operating at high capacity. During the Eid al-Adha holiday period, customs and public-sector agencies will observe extended closures, leading to a corresponding contraction in inland trucking and rail capacity. The market is closely watching for potential issues, including declining clearance efficiency, slower container repositioning, and rising storage charges, which are expected to significantly lengthen inland delivery lead times.

Kuwait Due to the reduction in capacity on certain direct air routes, the region is currently heavily reliant on transshipment through neighboring countries and cross-border road transport. During holiday periods, regional land border crossings and cross-border trucking are expected to slow significantly, potentially leading to congestion at borders and transit hubs.

Egypt The market itself imposes stringent requirements for document approval and foreign‑exchange management; with administrative processing speeds slowing during holidays, inbound cargo may face extended waiting periods. Industry insiders caution that if critical documents—such as the ACID number—are not properly prepared in advance, the time vessels spend at port could increase further.

The chain reaction is spreading to the port of origin, with rising risks of container shortages and port‑stay fees.

In addition to disruptions in destination‑port customs clearance, holiday‑related delays will also ripple backward through the logistics chain. Slower turnaround at Middle Eastern ports will slow the return of empty containers, potentially leaving some domestic origin ports once again under pressure from container shortages.

If demand picks up in tandem during the peak season, freight rates and booking congestion could continue to rise. Moreover, port free‑container‑use periods are limited, and holiday‑related delays in cargo pickup will quickly accumulate detention and demurrage charges; these cost risks should be factored into budgets well in advance.

With the pre-holiday shipping window narrowing, companies should prioritize preparing contingency plans.

The period leading up to Eid al-Adha is typically a key peak season for consumer demand in Middle Eastern markets. If shipments cannot be cleared and delivered on time, some buyers may miss critical sales windows, thereby increasing trade risks. Relevant foreign‑trade and freight‑forwarding companies are advised to implement the following measures:

Confirm in advance with the destination port the policies on free demurrage and free detention periods, and assess the associated cost implications.

Complete the filing and approval of core customs clearance documents before the holiday begins.

For sailings scheduled from late May to early June, secure space and capacity in advance.

Closely monitor port congestion indices and temporary adjustment notices issued by shipping lines.

Clearly communicate potential delivery delays to the customer and adjust the expected delivery timeline.

At present, the capacity erosion caused by the Red Sea detour has yet to be fully offset, and the administrative shutdowns associated with the Eid al-Adha holiday will further exacerbate vulnerabilities in regional supply chains. For the Middle East, Red Sea, and India–Pakistan markets, the key challenges over the coming weeks extend beyond freight rate volatility to include operational risks such as declining customs‑clearance efficiency, escalating port congestion, delayed last‑mile deliveries, and imbalances in container turnaround. In the short term, logistics lead times and operational reliability in these regions are expected to face significant pressure.

Faced with customs shutdowns and port congestion in the Middle East, the Red Sea, India, Pakistan, and other regions during Eid al-Adha, timely delivery at the destination port has become increasingly difficult to manage. The greater the external uncertainty, The customs clearance process at the port of loading must therefore be as efficient and standardized as possible. —— Only when the outbound process runs smoothly can we buy valuable time for subsequent logistics buffering.

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