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Middle East Shipping Delays: What Shippers Need to Know
Last updated: May 12, 2026
Geopolitical instability in the Middle East is disrupting global logistics, and if you ship internationally, you may already be feeling the effects. Major carriers are adjusting operations in response to the evolving situation, and Middle East shipping delays are now affecting customers shipping to, from, and through the region.
Here’s a carrier-by-carrier breakdown of where things stand right now.
What’s happening with each carrier
UPS
UPS is actively monitoring the situation. No formal service suspension has been announced, but the carrier may adjust operations as conditions change. Check the UPS service alerts page for the latest.
FedEx
Customers shipping to or from the region should expect extended transit times. FedEx has confirmed that the situation is impacting delivery times. Visit the FedEx service alerts page for current details.
DHL Express
DHL Express is actively maintaining service across the Middle East and has published a dedicated updates hub for the region. Air freight routes have improved significantly since early 2026, but ocean freight via the Arabian Gulf remains severely disrupted. Surcharges may be elevated, and transit times vary widely by destination. Visit the DHL Middle East Crisis Situation Updates page for the latest.
USPS
USPS has temporarily suspended service to specific military ZIP codes across Europe and the Middle East. If your business ships to any of those addresses, check the USPS service alerts page before processing those orders.
Royal Mail
Export shipments to several destinations—including Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman—are likely to be affected. Some shipments also transit through impacted areas and are likely to experience severe delays. Royal Mail is currently still accepting all traffic, though the situation remains fluid and may change. See the Royal Mail service updates page for the latest.
Parcelforce Worldwide
As the express arm of Royal Mail, Parcelforce is continuing to accept shipments to Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman—but severe delays are expected across all of these destinations. The situation remains fluid, and Parcelforce has noted that service conditions may change at short notice. Check the Parcelforce service updates page for the latest before printing a label.
GlobalPost
Several Middle Eastern countries are temporarily suspended for all mailing services until further notice. Shippers using GlobalPost may see disruptions or be unable to process shipments to affected destinations until service resumes. Check the GlobalPost service updates page for the latest.
Canada Post
Canada Post has suspended postal services to Lebanon, Iran, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, UAE, Kuwait, and Sudan due to the lack of available air transportation. If you ship to any of these destinations through Canada Post, expect orders to be returned to sender until service resumes. Check the Canada Post service alerts page for the current destination list.
Aramex
As a Middle East-based carrier, Aramex has maintained broader regional coverage than most—but conditions remain fluid. Some destinations are suspended, surcharges are in effect, and routing is subject to change. See the Aramex service updates page for current details.
Asendia
Asendia (a joint venture between La Poste and Swiss Post) has been dealing with widespread airspace disruptions since early 2026, resulting in extended delays for international air freight to the region. The UAE has since reopened its airspace as of early May, but restrictions remain across much of the Levant. Conditions are changing quickly—check the Asendia service updates page before shipping.
How to stay ahead of the disruptions
Middle East shipping delays are fluid—carrier policies can shift quickly as the situation evolves. The best thing you can do right now is stay informed and set customer expectations proactively.
ShipStation is keeping our status page updated as carriers share new information. Bookmark it and check back often.
A few steps worth taking now:
- Review any open orders shipping to or through the Middle East
- Add messaging to your order confirmation emails about potential delays
- Hold or reroute shipments to suspended USPS military ZIP codes until service resumes
Disruptions like this are also a good reminder of why multi-carrier flexibility matters. If one carrier is impacted, having alternatives already set up in ShipStation means you can pivot quickly—without starting your shipping workflow from scratch.
