For anyone stuck on a “ZIP or postal code” field while ordering online, filling in a visa or bank form, or giving a UAE address to someone abroad: whether the UAE has postal codes, what to type instead, and how Emirates Post PO Boxes work and cost.
The UAE does not use postal codes. Emirates Post’s official address format has no postcode line: it runs from name to PO Box number, physical address, emirate and phone number. When a form insists on a code, there is no official one to enter, so leave it blank where you can, and otherwise use a placeholder the form accepts, such as 00000.
This guide covers the correct UAE address format, what to put in a postcode field, why a PO Box is not a postcode, and what renting a PO Box costs. It works from Emirates Post’s own address standard, PO Box plan pages and FAQ, and from the Universal Postal Union’s addressing sheet for the UAE.
Does the UAE Have Postal Codes?
No. The UAE has no national postcode or ZIP code system, and none of its seven emirates issues one. The Universal Postal Union’s addressing sheet for the UAE lists the emirates and gives a sample address of name, PO Box, city and country, with no postcode anywhere in it.
The same sheet states that deliveries are made to PO Boxes only. That was the historic model, and it explains why the PO Box number still does the routing job that a postcode does elsewhere.
Is a PO Box Number the Same as a Postal Code?
No. A postal code identifies an area, while a UAE PO Box number identifies one rented box, or one delivery subscription, belonging to one person or company. Two neighbors in the same building will have different PO Box numbers, or none at all, so a PO Box number cannot be used as a code for your area.
Dubai’s Makani number is not a postcode either. It identifies the location of a building entrance, not a postal delivery area. How to read and find one is explained in our guide to the Makani number in Dubai.
The Official UAE Address Format
Emirates Post’s FAQ sets out the address standard for sending shipments to the UAE (Emirates Post FAQ, “What is the addressing standard of UAE”). It has six lines and no postcode:
| Line | What goes on it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. To | Title and name | Ms Anna Lopez |
| 2. PO Box | PO Box number, if you have one | PO Box 12345 |
| 3. Physical address | Building name, street name, flat number | Flat 1204, Al Noor Tower, Al Khail Road |
| 4. Emirate | One of the seven emirates | Dubai |
| 5. Country | United Arab Emirates (for mail from abroad) | United Arab Emirates |
| 6. Telephone | A UAE mobile number with country code | +971 50 123 4567 |
The phone number matters more here than in most countries. Without a postcode, couriers rely on calling you to find a villa or the right tower entrance, so a wrong or missing number is a common reason a parcel goes back to the depot.
The building, flat and phone number above are made-up examples. Write the area or community name, such as Jumeirah Village Circle or Al Nahda, on the physical-address line if your building name is not unique.
What to Enter in a Postal Code or ZIP Field
Because no official code exists, there is no “correct” value to type. What works depends on whether the field is optional and what the website will accept:
- Field is optional: leave it blank. This is the accurate answer for a UAE address.
- Field is required and accepts any digits: enter a placeholder such as 00000, which many international checkouts accept for UAE addresses. It is a convention, not a code issued by any UAE authority.
- The form offers the UAE in its country list: check whether the postcode field disappears or becomes optional once you select it, because many sites switch it off for the UAE.
- You have a PO Box: put “PO Box 12345” on an address line, not in the postcode field, so the number reaches the sender’s label.
Do not invent a code that looks real, such as a five-digit number from a lookup site. Third-party “UAE postcode” lists are not issued by Emirates Post, and a made-up code can cause an address-verification mismatch with a bank or payment provider that compares fields.
Decision Point: PO Box or Home Address on Forms?
Give your residential address as your address, and the PO Box as a mailing address only if the form has a separate field for it. A PO Box shows where you collect mail, not where you live, which is why banks and embassies treat it as weak evidence of residence, as covered in our guide to proof of address in the UAE.
For online shopping and courier deliveries, the physical address and phone number do the work. A PO Box is most useful for letters, official correspondence and anything sent by ordinary post from abroad.
Do You Need a PO Box in the UAE?
Most residents never rent one. Courier companies deliver to your building and call you, and government services mostly communicate through apps, SMS and email.
A PO Box is still worth having if you receive bank cards, cheque books or legal letters by post, if you get regular post from abroad, or if a company needs a fixed mailing address on its documents. Emirates Post describes the box as a verified mailing address for domestic and international letters, packets and parcels (Emirates Post, Rent Personal P.O. Box).
PO Box Plans and Prices
Emirates Post sells personal PO Boxes as three annual plans, all priced VAT-inclusive (Emirates Post, Personal P.O. Box Plans). The prices below were unchanged between April 2024 and September 2025:
| Personal plan | Price a year (VAT incl.) | How you get your mail |
|---|---|---|
| MyBox | AED 300 | A physical box at an Emirates Post location you choose. Includes one additional agent for the first year, SMS notifications and an online mail history. |
| MyHome | AED 695 | A PO Box address not tied to a branch. Mail is delivered to your home once a week, and you keep the number when you move. |
| MyHome Instant | AED 995 | Daily home delivery, with next-day delivery capped at 60 deliveries a year. Includes one additional agent for the first year. |
Companies choose from three corporate plans: Basic Box at AED 995, Premium Box at AED 2,495 with weekly delivery to the office, and Premium+ Box at AED 11,995 with daily office delivery, all VAT-inclusive (Emirates Post, Corporate P.O. Box Plans).
MyBox or MyHome?
MyBox is the cheapest, but you collect from a fixed branch. That matters because Emirates Post allocates box numbers per branch and cannot move a box to another post office, so if you change areas you either keep traveling back or give up the number (Emirates Post FAQ).
MyHome costs AED 395 more a year but brings mail to your door weekly and keeps the same number wherever you move. For a renter who expects to change apartments, that portability is the main reason to pay more.
How to Rent a PO Box
You can apply online through the Emirates Post website or app, or in person at a Customer Happiness Center. A personal box needs only your Emirates ID (Emirates Post, Rent Personal P.O. Box).
- Choose a plan: MyBox, MyHome or MyHome Instant, and for MyBox, the branch where the box will be.
- Apply: start the service online, or visit a Customer Happiness Center with your Emirates ID.
- Pay: the annual fee, which is VAT-inclusive on the plan page.
- Manage it online: every physical box comes with an Emirates Post account for notifications, preferences and extra services.
A corporate box is linked to a trade license. Moving a box between a company and a person, or to a new owner, needs a registration form with the trade license, Emirates ID and, where the owner changes, a no-objection letter (Emirates Post FAQ).
Renewal, Lost Keys and Cancellation
The fees that catch people out come after the first year. Emirates Post’s FAQ sets these rules (Emirates Post FAQ):
- Renewal grace period: you must renew within 90 days of the contract expiry date, or the service contract is cancelled.
- Uncollected mail: items not collected after the grace period are returned to the sender or disposed of under postal regulations.
- Collecting mail on a dead box: a storage (mailbag) charge of AED 1,000 applies when you collect mail held against a cancelled or expired PO Box.
- Lost keys: the owner applies for a new lock at the branch for AED 100 plus 5% VAT, with a service form and a letter stating the keys were lost.
- Cancellation: settle any outstanding amounts and cancel online or at a post office. Cancellation can take up to 48 hours, and subscription fees are not refundable.
If you are leaving the UAE, cancel the box rather than letting it lapse, so post stops arriving at an address you no longer check. Add it to the list in our moving to Dubai checklist when you arrive, and to your exit plan when you leave.
Receiving Parcels from Abroad Without a Postcode
International senders’ systems often require a postcode, which is where most UAE delivery problems start. Use the six-line format above, put the placeholder only where the form forces you to, and make sure the phone number has the +971 country code.
Parcels arriving by post or courier can attract customs duty and VAT above the de minimis threshold. Our guides to UAE customs duty and import tax rates and shipping your belongings to the UAE explain what you will pay.
Emirates Post holds incoming international items for a limited time before returning them: 15 days for express mail, 30 days for registered mail and 60 days for economy parcels (Emirates Post FAQ). Check tracking regularly if a parcel is sent by ordinary post.
A Business Address Is Not a PO Box
A company’s registered address in the UAE comes from its licensing authority and lease, such as a mainland office, a free zone flexi-desk or a virtual office, not from Emirates Post. A corporate PO Box sits on top of that as a mailing address.
If you are choosing between those options for a new company, compare them in our guide to virtual office vs flexi-desk in Dubai.
FAQ
What is the postal code of Dubai?
Dubai has no postal code. The UAE does not use postcodes or ZIP codes in any emirate, and Emirates Post’s address format has no postcode line. If a form forces you to enter one, use a placeholder such as 00000 and write the full address and phone number in the other fields.
What is the ZIP code for Abu Dhabi?
There is none. Abu Dhabi, like the rest of the UAE, has no ZIP or postal code system. Leave the field blank where possible, or use a placeholder such as 00000 if the website requires a value.
Is 00000 the official UAE postal code?
No. 00000 is a placeholder that many international websites accept for countries without postcodes. No UAE authority issues it, so use it only to get past a mandatory field.
Can I use my PO Box number as a postal code?
Not in the postcode field. A PO Box number identifies your box, not an area, so write “PO Box” and the number on an address line instead. Emirates Post’s address format puts the PO Box on its own line under your name.
How much does a PO Box cost in the UAE?
A personal MyBox costs AED 300 a year, MyHome with weekly home delivery AED 695, and MyHome Instant with daily delivery AED 995, all VAT-inclusive. Corporate boxes run from AED 995 to AED 11,995 a year, depending on the delivery level.
Can I move my PO Box to another post office?
No. Emirates Post allocates PO Box numbers to each branch and cannot transfer a box to another post office. If you want to keep one number when you move home, the MyHome plans are not tied to a branch.
What happens if I do not renew my PO Box?
You have 90 days after the expiry date to renew. After that the contract is cancelled, uncollected mail is returned or disposed of, and collecting mail held against the cancelled box costs AED 1,000.
What address format should I give someone sending me a parcel?
Name, PO Box (if you have one), building name, street and flat number, emirate, United Arab Emirates, and a UAE mobile number with +971. Couriers rely on the phone number to find you, so do not leave it out.
Official Sources
- Emirates Post: Frequently Asked Questions (address standard, PO Box renewal, lost keys, transfers, cancellation, retention periods)
- Emirates Post: Personal P.O. Box Plans (MyBox, MyHome, MyHome Instant)
- Emirates Post: Corporate P.O. Box Plans
- Emirates Post: Rent Personal P.O. Box (documents and channels)
- Universal Postal Union: Postal addressing system, United Arab Emirates
Information current as of October 2026. Emirates Post’s website shows an automated access check to some visitors, so the plan prices and FAQ rules above were checked against Emirates Post’s own pages as published between July and November 2025. Confirm the current price at checkout.
This guide is for informational purposes only. UAE regulations and fees are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant official authority before proceeding with any application or transaction.
