No postcode? What to enter for the UAE, Qatar and more

Country by country

These are the delivery countries where the postcode box causes the most head-scratching.

• United Arab Emirates: there are no postcodes. An address is the flat or villa number, building name, street, area and emirate. In Dubai, the ten-digit Makani number on the building’s plate pinpoints the entrance, and you can put it in the box if you like. See the UAE page.
• Qatar: no postcodes either. Addresses use three numbers, shown on the blue plate outside most buildings: zone, street and building. Give all three. See the Qatar page.
• Hong Kong: no postcodes. Give the flat, floor, block, building or estate name, street and district. See the Hong Kong page.
• Saudi Arabia: there is a five-digit postal code, and it is part of the National Address, with the building number, street and district. The short address, four letters and four digits, sums up the same details and fits in the box. See the Saudi Arabia page.
• Bahrain: addresses are written as flat, building, road and block. The block number does the job of a postcode, so enter that. See the Bahrain page.
• Ireland: every address has its own seven-character Eircode. Enter it in the box; it is more precise than the street address alone. See the Ireland page.

What a courier needs instead

Where there is no code to sort by, the driver relies on description and on reaching you. Whatever your country, these help most.

• A mobile number you answer, with the country code. In the Gulf especially, couriers usually call or message before they come.
• The building’s name as well as its number, since many buildings are known by name.
• The area or district, written the way it appears on local signs.
• A landmark, such as a mosque, a school or a supermarket nearby, if your street is new or hard to find.
• Access notes: the gate, the tower or wing, the floor, and whether a concierge or security desk can accept a parcel.
• A home or office address: a P.O. Box alone is not enough for a parcel that comes to your door.

If you do have a postcode

Then enter it as you would on a letter: a UK postcode with its space, a five-digit US ZIP code, a Canadian postal code in the A1A 1A1 pattern, a four-digit Australian postcode or a six-digit Singapore one. A mistyped code is worse than none, so copy it from a bill or an earlier parcel if you are unsure.

When the address is collected, and what the quote covers

None of this has to be settled on day one. The first enquiry needs your name, email, country, city, the garment, quantity, service option, design images and notes. Your full delivery address is taken when the order goes ahead, and that is the moment to add the details above.

The written quote includes delivery to that address and any import duties, taxes and customs or courier fees, so an accurate address saves everyone a returned parcel. Our page on worldwide delivery explains how shipping works, custom stitching explains the service, the first order checklist lists what to gather, and the quote form is where to begin.