Customs may be shut down on a large scale, and the time limit in the Red Sea, India and Pakistan may be extended for another 20 days

As Eid al-Adha 2026 (expected to be around May 27) approaches, many Muslim countries will enter the annual long holiday cycle. Affected by this,The customs, port administrative systems and cross-border land transportation services in the Middle East, the Red Sea Coast, North Africa, South Asia and some Southeast Asian countries will gradually experience a decrease in efficiency or even a phased suspension.

Industry estimates,Starting from late May, the overall logistics timeliness in the region may deteriorate, congestion at some ports may further intensify, and cargo delays may reach up to 20 days.

As an important festival in the Islamic world, Eid al-Adha involves public holiday arrangements in more than 50 countries and regions.

During this period, the customs, commodity inspection, port management and cross-border transportation coordination departments of the relevant countries will enter a low-efficiency operation state, and some institutions will be completely closed. Affected areas include the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, countries along the Red Sea, North African markets, the Indian subcontinent and Central Asian land routes, as well as some Muslim-majority areas in Southeast Asia.

Due to differences in the start and end times of holidays in various countries, the overall impact window is expected to last from a few days to more than ten days, with a superimposed effect on the flow of import and export goods.

Against the backdrop of Red Sea diversions, ports in the Middle East are already facing pressures such as unstable shipping schedules, saturated storage yards and equipment shortages. After the holidays are superimposed, the operational pressure on some core nodes will further escalate.

United Arab EmiratesOn the other hand, the ports of Khor Fakkan and Fujairah on the east coast have become the main transit points for alternative transportation within the Gulf, and the yard utilization rate continues to be high. During the holidays, the efficiency of customs approval, bonded trailers, and back-end distribution decreases. It is expected that the detention time of transit cargo will be lengthened, and the overall delivery time to Dubai may be significantly delayed.

saudi arabiaOn the other hand, the current operating load of major ports such as Jeddah and Dammam is already relatively high. During Eid al-Adha, customs and public departments will take longer holidays, and inland truck and railway transport capacity is expected to shrink simultaneously. The market is generally concerned about potential issues such as declining customs clearance efficiency, slowing container return flows and rising storage fees, and the inland distribution cycle will be significantly extended.

KuwaitDue to the reduction of resources on some direct routes, we currently rely more on transshipment and cross-border land transportation in neighboring countries. During the holidays, regional land ports and cross-border trucking are expected to slow down significantly, which may lead to a backlog of goods at borders and transit nodes.

egyptThe market itself has strict requirements for document approval and foreign exchange management. After the administrative processing speed slows down during the holidays, goods arriving at the port may face a long wait. Industry insiders remind that if key documents (such as ACID numbers) are not properly processed in advance, the stay time of goods at the port will be further increased.

In addition to the obstruction of customs clearance at the destination port, the impact of the holiday will also be transmitted backward through the logistics chain. The slowdown in port turnover in the Middle East will lead to a decrease in the return speed of empty containers, and some domestic departure ports may once again face the pressure of container shortages.

If demand picks up simultaneously during the peak season, freight rates and booking tightness may continue to rise. In addition, the free container use period at the port is limited, and delays in picking up goods due to holidays will quickly accumulate demurrage (detention & demurrage). The related cost risks need to be included in the budget in advance.

The period before Eid al-Adha is usually an important peak consumption season in the Middle East market. If the goods cannot be cleared and delivered on time, some buyers may miss the sales node, and trade risks will increase. It is recommended that relevant foreign trade and freight forwarding companies take the following measures:

• Confirm the stack-free period and container-free period policy with the destination port in advance and evaluate the cost impact;

• Complete the declaration and approval of core customs clearance documents before the start of the holiday;

• For the shipping schedule from late May to early June, lock space and transportation resources in advance;

• Closely track the congestion index of each port and the temporary adjustment notice of shipping companies;

• Fully explain potential delay risks to customers and adjust delivery expectations.

Currently, the capacity consumption caused by the red sea diversion has not yet been repaired, and the administrative shutdown caused by the Eid al-Adha holiday will further amplify the vulnerability of the regional supply chain. For the Middle East, Red Sea and India-Pakistan markets, the core challenges in the coming weeks are not limited to freight rate fluctuations, but also reflected in operational risks such as reduced customs clearance efficiency, spreading port congestion, terminal distribution delays and container turnover imbalances. In the short term, the logistics timeliness and operational stability of relevant directions are expected to face severe tests.