Shipping Policy

Soznikar ships from a Dubai studio, in the United Arab Emirates, by Aramex Premium. The policy below covers timing, cost, packaging, and the small details that matter when the piece in transit is hand-loomed and one of one.

Where the house currently ships

At launch, the studio ships within the United Arab Emirates only. The full seven emirates are served: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.

Shipping to the broader Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain) opens in a later phase. International shipping outside the GCC will follow that. Buyers outside the UAE who would like to be notified when their market opens can write to care@soznikar.com; the studio holds a small waiting list.

Cost and free shipping

Shipping rates within the UAE are calculated at checkout based on the destination emirate and Aramex's published Premium tariff. For most orders within the seven emirates, the cost ranges from AED 35 to AED 60.

Orders of AED 500 and above qualify for complimentary shipping anywhere in the UAE. Because every piece in the catalogue is priced above the threshold, in practice all orders ship free.

Dispatch and delivery timing

Orders are dispatched from the Dubai studio within one business day of payment confirmation. Once dispatched, Aramex Premium delivery timing within the UAE is as follows:

Dubai (within the same emirate): same-day for orders placed before 14:00, next-day for orders placed after.
Abu Dhabi, Sharjah: one business day after dispatch.
Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah: one to two business days after dispatch.

The studio is closed on Friday until Asr, and on the public holidays of the United Arab Emirates. Orders placed during those windows are dispatched on the next working morning.

Tracking and signature

Every shipment carries an Aramex tracking number. The buyer receives the tracking link by email and SMS at the moment the parcel leaves the studio.

All shipments require a signature on delivery, by the named recipient or an authorised representative at the delivery address. This is a deliberate choice: a hand-loomed Pashmina Ghutra is a cloth that should be received by hand, not left on a doorstep. If the buyer prefers a no-signature delivery for convenience, this can be arranged in advance by writing to care@soznikar.com with the order number.

Packaging

Every piece ships in the same way: folded into white tissue paper, laid into a hand-finished cedar storage box bearing the Soznikar mark, sealed with a cotton ribbon, and accompanied by the artisan's signed and numbered certificate. The cedar box is part of the piece; cedar is the wood used in Kashmir for the long-term storage of Pashmina, and the box doubles as the wardrobe home for the cloth between wears.

The cedar box is enclosed in a protective outer shipping carton with adequate cushioning for the Aramex transit. The outer carton is unbranded; the contents are not visible from the exterior.

Failed deliveries

If the buyer is not available at the delivery address on the first attempt, Aramex makes a second attempt the following business day. If the second attempt also fails, the parcel is held at the nearest Aramex facility for seven calendar days for buyer collection. After seven days, the parcel is returned to the Dubai studio, and the studio contacts the buyer to arrange a new delivery slot at no additional cost.

Address changes after dispatch

An address change is possible up to the moment the parcel is dispatched. After dispatch, Aramex can sometimes accommodate an in-transit address change at a small fee (typically AED 20-40). Write to care@soznikar.com with the order number and the new address; the studio coordinates with Aramex on the buyer's behalf.

Damage or loss in transit

If a parcel arrives visibly damaged on the outer box, photograph the box before opening it and write to care@soznikar.com within twenty-four hours. The cedar box and the cloth inside are typically protected against minor outer damage by the shipping cushioning, but the photograph helps the studio open a claim with Aramex if needed.

If a piece is lost in transit (Aramex tracking shows no movement for more than five business days from dispatch), the studio opens a trace with Aramex and replaces the piece at no cost to the buyer. The replacement is dispatched within two business days of the loss being confirmed.

VAT and customs

All prices on the Soznikar website are inclusive of UAE VAT at 5%. The VAT line is shown on the invoice. The buyer pays no additional tax at delivery within the UAE.

When international shipping opens in a later phase, applicable import duties and taxes will be the responsibility of the buyer, in accordance with the receiving country's regulations. The international shipping section will be updated then.

Contact

Shipping questions should be directed to care@soznikar.com or to the studio WhatsApp line listed on the Contact page. The studio replies within one business day during studio hours (10:00 to 20:00, every day).