Postal Service There is an efficient and reliable postal service. The General Postal Authority also offers a courier service known as Mumtaz Post that delivers to almost anywhere in the world. Commercial international courier services are also widely used, although these are much more expensive. The General Post Office is located in Karama, there is also one Al Wasl Rd in Jumeira, in the middle of Satwa and another in Al Hamriyah. Some shopping malls have postal booths set up which offer full post office services e.g. Town Centre on Beach Road. If anyone ever sends you a parcel (usually a box which they can't easily deliver) and you receive a card saying come to pick it up at the Post Office. It means you have to go to the GPO in Karama and go to the back of the building. You will have to usually pay some type of Customs duty here. There are probably regulations on how much duty is applicable to certain items and also when you end up having to go in to the Post office and pick up an item vs. it being delivered, but they are beyond me. After all I've only been here 15 years. All I can work out is that if it is a big box it will cost you duty, smaller padded stuff and smaller boxes usually get through. If you order goods ( e.g. DVDS / Books) through Amazon.com you nearly always pay duty. I asked the customs person at the Post office why and the answer was "too many people do it and do not buy goods here!" I realised that was not the reason, but he was serious as he said it. This page was last updated by Leigh Butler on December 29, 2010
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