My personal plan for using a freight forwarder to get Rhode Barrier Butter to the UAE

Why I had to get my hands on the Barrier Butter

I’ve been following Rhode since day one, and when they announced "The Barrier Butter" intensive moisturizer was launching on April 10, 2026, I knew I couldn't wait for a local distributor. This new nighttime balm is designed for those of us dealing with compromised skin barriers or just extreme dryness, which is a constant battle in the UAE climate. Since it's currently a US-exclusive release, we have to get a little creative to bring it to the Middle East.

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The buzz around this product is massive because it’s their first heavy-duty balm. My social media feed has been nothing but people raving about the texture. Because Rhode doesn't offer direct shipping to Dubai or Abu Dhabi yet, I relied on package forwarding to make sure I didn't miss out on the first batch.

My strategy for shopping US stores from Dubai

Whenever I want to shop US store options like Rhode or Sephora US, I use a dedicated US address to bypass the shipping restrictions. I’ve found that using a tax-free US address in Oregon is the smartest move because it saves me from paying US sales tax on top of the product price.

I personally use comGateway as my preferred freight forwarder. They provide the address, receive my packages, and then send them over to me in the UAE. If you find that the Rhode store doesn't accept your international credit card, you can even use a proxy shopping service like "Buy For Me" where they handle the purchase on your behalf.

Shipping estimates for the UAE

Before I place an order, I always like to know what I’m getting into regarding costs. I used the shipping calculator to get a rough idea. Here is what I estimated for a single jar of The Barrier Butter:

I also checked the international shipping rates to see which carrier would be fastest. Usually, DHL international shipping or FedEx international shipping are my top picks for the UAE because they handle the transit so quickly.

How I handle import tax and duties

One thing I’ve learned is that you have to be aware of the import tax rules in the UAE. As of 2026, most shipments are subject to a 5% VAT. If your total order value (including shipping) exceeds 1,000 AED, you might be hit with additional customs duties. I always check the latest updates on import duties to avoid any surprises when the courier arrives at my door.

By keeping my Rhode haul under the 1,000 AED threshold, I usually only have to worry about the standard 5% VAT and a small admin fee from the carrier. It's much cheaper than paying the inflated prices you see from third-party resellers on local marketplaces.

My walkthrough of the process

If you’re wondering how it works, here is my personal routine for a successful international shipping experience:

• I log into my account to get my tax-free US suite address.
• I head to the Rhode website and place my order using that US address as the shipping destination.
• Once Rhode sends the tracking number, I upload it to my forwarder's portal.
• When the package arrives at the warehouse, I choose my preferred shipping method to the UAE.
• I pay the package forwarding fees and wait about 5-7 business days for delivery.

If I ever run into issues with a package being delayed, I just check the FAQ or contact their support team. They’ve been pretty helpful with my previous skincare hauls. You might also like my previous post on how I managed to consolidate multiple US beauty brands into one box to save on international shipping costs!