Road freight from Riyadh to Dubai with Alfaris International Shipping means your shipment covers about 1,050 km on one well-known route: from your Riyadh home or warehouse to the Al Batha border, then Al Ghuwaifat, then Sheikh Zayed Road to your Dubai address, in 1–3 days. We ship furniture, cars, cartons and goods, with prices from SAR 135 for a carton, SAR 1,090 for a studio or bedroom set, SAR 1,290 for a car on a carrier and SAR 3,690 for a private truck. Book on 0565967337.
Riyadh → Al Batha (about 550 km) → Al Ghuwaifat → Abu Dhabi → Sheikh Zayed Road → Dubai · about 1,050 km in total · 1–3 days · 0565967337
The Riyadh–Dubai road in numbers
- Distance: about 1,050 km — 550 km inside the Kingdom to Al Batha and about 500 km from Al Ghuwaifat to Dubai.
- Transit: 1–3 days for shared freight and cartons; usually one to two days by private truck.
- Cartons: from SAR 135 up to 10 kg, and SAR 13.5 per kg over 20 kg.
- Furniture: studio SAR 1,090, apartment SAR 2,275, villa SAR 4,990.
- Cars: from SAR 1,290 shared and SAR 2,050 on a private flatbed.
- Private trucks: dyna SAR 1,390, small truck SAR 3,690, trailer SAR 5,500.
- Delivery: every Dubai area, with tower lifts booked in advance.
Get a road freight price from Riyadh to DubaiGet your price
Route details and road freight transit time from Riyadh to Dubai
The road from Riyadh to Dubai is one of the most regular freight routes in the Gulf. It starts on the highways running east and south from Riyadh towards Haradh, then continues to the Al Batha border at the far end of the Eastern Province. After crossing into Al Ghuwaifat it follows the coastal road through Al Dhafra to Abu Dhabi, then Sheikh Zayed Road, which links Abu Dhabi with Dubai and runs alongside its best-known districts.
| Section | Approx. distance | Approx. truck time |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh to Al Batha | about 550 km | 6–8 hours |
| Al Batha and Al Ghuwaifat procedures | — | hours to a day |
| Al Ghuwaifat to Abu Dhabi | about 350 km | 4–5 hours |
| Abu Dhabi to Dubai via Sheikh Zayed Road | about 150 km | 1.5–2 hours |
| Total Riyadh to Dubai | about 1,050 km | 1–3 days including procedures |
ℹ️ Why does transit vary between shipments on the same road?
The road is fixed, but three things change the time: the trip type (shared waits for a full load, private leaves immediately), document readiness at both borders, and border congestion at weekends and in peak seasons. A private truck with complete documents usually arrives in one to two days.
Crossing into the UAE: what happens at Al Ghuwaifat?
Al Ghuwaifat is your entry point to the UAE and the place where good preparation pays off. The truck arrives after export clearance at Al Batha, lodges the import declaration with Abu Dhabi Customs, passes the X-ray scanner, and the inspector may ask to open part of the load to match it with the list.
| Step | At Al Batha (exit) | At Al Ghuwaifat (entry) |
|---|---|---|
| Customs declaration | Export declaration on Fasah | Import declaration with Abu Dhabi Customs |
| Inspection | Declaration matched with the load | X-ray scan and inspection when needed |
| Documents | ID, list, authorisation, invoice for commercial | Recipient details and ID, importer code for commercial |
| Charges | Usually none on used furniture | Depending on shipment type and customs assessment for new goods |
💡 A clear list shortens inspection
The more detailed and accurate the inventory, the less the inspector needs to open cartons. That alone can save hours at Al Ghuwaifat.
Road freight rates from Riyadh to Dubai
Road freight from Riyadh to Dubai starts from SAR 135 for a carton up to 10 kg, SAR 13.5 per kg for personal effects, SAR 1,090 for a studio, SAR 2,275 for a mid-size apartment and SAR 1,290 for a car. Private trucks start from SAR 1,390 for a dyna and SAR 3,690 for a small closed truck.
| Shipment to Dubai | Basis | From | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small parcel | 1–5 kg | SAR 65 | 1–3 days |
| Carton | up to 10 kg | SAR 135 | 1–3 days |
| Personal effects | per kg over 20 kg | SAR 13.5 | 1–3 days |
| Goods | per kg over 100 kg | SAR 7.3 | 2–4 days |
| Part-load | per CBM | SAR 730 | 2–4 days |
| Studio or bedroom set | per shipment | SAR 1,090 | 2–4 days |
| Apartment, 2–3 rooms | per shipment | SAR 2,275 | 2–4 days |
| Villa | private truck | SAR 4,990 | 1–3 days |
| Car on a shared carrier | per car | SAR 1,290 | 2–5 days |
| Direct dyna | per trip | SAR 1,390 | 1–2 days |
| Small closed truck | per trip | SAR 3,690 | 1–2 days |
| Trailer | per trip | SAR 5,500 | 1–2 days |
For worked examples and weight/volume pricing, see shipping rates from Saudi Arabia to the UAE.
Private truck or shared load to Dubai?
Our shared trucks run regularly on the Riyadh–Dubai road, so your shipment joins the next suitable trip and the road cost is split among several customers. A private truck carries your shipment alone and leaves as soon as it is closed.
| Factor | Shared load | Private truck |
|---|---|---|
| Price | the most economical | higher, by truck size |
| Departure | with the next suitable trip | as soon as loading ends |
| Transit to Dubai | 1–3 days for cartons, 2–4 for furniture | usually 1–2 days |
| Handling | may pass a consolidation point | one loading, one unloading |
| Best for | cartons, small apartments, part-loads | villas, large apartments, fixed dates |
ℹ️ The rule of thumb
If your shipment is close to half a truck, or your Dubai delivery date cannot move, private is the better fit. Otherwise shared freight saves a clear part of the cost.
The pre-shipment check: what is reviewed?
Before the truck leaves Riyadh we run an organised check that reduces surprises on the road and at the border. It covers the shipment, the documents and the truck itself.
Insulated storage before delivery in Dubai
Sometimes the shipment reaches Dubai before the home is ready: a delay in getting the keys from the landlord, maintenance not finished, or a tower lift booking days away. In that case the shipment does not wait in the truck; it is stored in an insulated warehouse that protects it from summer heat and coastal humidity, then delivered on the date you set.
- Furniture stays wrapped and numbered exactly as it left Riyadh.
- Electronics and wood are protected from swings in heat and humidity.
- Delivery from the warehouse is scheduled within the building’s permitted moving hours.
- Storage is priced after the free survey according to volume and duration.
Arriving in Dubai and delivering across its areas
After Abu Dhabi the truck enters Dubai via Sheikh Zayed Road or its parallel roads and heads to the delivery area. Each Dubai area has its own character: residential towers need a service-lift booking and permit, villas in gated communities need a gate entry permit, and industrial areas need an appointment with the warehouse.
| Area | Examples | What delivery needs |
|---|---|---|
| Towers and waterfronts | Dubai Marina, JLT, Downtown, Business Bay | Service-lift booking, move permit, set hours |
| Gated communities | Arabian Ranches, JVC, Dubai Hills | Gate entry permit |
| Older districts | Deira, Bur Dubai, Karama, Al Qusais | Narrower streets; a smaller truck may do the last mile |
| Family districts | Mirdif, Al Barsha, Al Warqa, Jumeirah | Villas and ground-floor homes, usually direct delivery |
| Industrial and logistics zones | Al Quoz, Jebel Ali, Dubai Investments Park | Warehouse appointment and receiving documents |
⚠️ Truck movement hours in Dubai
Dubai regulates heavy-truck movement on some roads at peak hours. We therefore time arrival outside these hours and use a smaller truck for the last mile inside districts when needed.
💡 Before the truck arrives
Ask the tower management for a move permit and a service-lift booking, and send us the permitted hours. We schedule the truck to arrive at the start of that window.
The road in summer and winter: how we protect the shipment
The Riyadh–Dubai road crosses long stretches of desert. In summer the heat inside a truck box rises, and on some days the wind carries dust. This rarely changes the trip date, but it changes how we prepare:
| Condition | Possible effect | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Summer heat | Softens candles and thin plastics, affects electronics | Insulating wraps, sensitive items mid-load, driving at night and morning where possible |
| Dust and wind | Dust getting into fabrics and appliances | Fully closed boxes and sealed plastic covers for sofas and mattresses |
| Dubai coastal humidity | Affects wood and paper in long storage | An insulated warehouse when needed and quick delivery after arrival |
| Winter morning fog | Slower traffic on coastal roads | A time margin in the schedule and an update if anything changes |
Move-in permits in Dubai: what to prepare before arrival
Moving into a Dubai home, especially in towers and communities, needs simple but essential paperwork so the truck is not left outside the building with no permission to enter:
- Move-in permit: requested from the building management or developer, usually with a copy of the tenancy contract or title deed and the resident’s ID.
- Service-lift booking: for a set date and hour; some buildings ask for a refundable deposit for the lift and corridors.
- Permitted moving hours: vary between buildings, and some do not allow moves at weekends.
- Community gate permit: in gated communities the truck number and crew names are registered at the gate.
- Loading bay: check there is a loading area close to the service entrance.
💡 Send us a copy of the permit
When we receive a copy of the permit and the lift slot, we plan the truck’s arrival and crew size around them, so unloading starts as soon as we arrive.
For traders: regular road freight from Riyadh to Dubai markets
Dubai is a commercial hub for the whole region, and some goods are re-exported from it to other markets. A trader shipping regularly from Riyadh to Dubai needs three things: a fixed pickup day, a predictable transit time and a price that does not change from one shipment to the next. So we offer traders a weekly or fortnightly schedule, a contract rate for part or full loads, and follow-up on commercial documents with every shipment.
Shipping furniture, cartons and goods by road to Dubai
Furniture and home moves
We dismantle and pack rooms in Riyadh and reassemble and arrange them in your Dubai home. A studio starts from SAR 1,090, an apartment from SAR 2,275 and a villa from SAR 4,990. If your home is in a tower, the furniture shipping company from Riyadh to Dubai guide explains tower deliveries in detail.
Cartons and parcels
From SAR 65 for a small parcel and SAR 135 for a carton up to 10 kg, with tracking and delivery to the address.
Commercial goods
Part-loads from SAR 730 per CBM or SAR 7.3 per kg, and full trucks to warehouses in Al Quoz, Jebel Ali and the logistics zones, with the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin prepared and the importer code held by the Dubai recipient.
Car shipping to Dubai
Your car is loaded onto a carrier in Riyadh, its wheels strapped down, carried across both borders and unloaded in Dubai outside your home or at an agreed point. Not a single kilometre is added to the odometer, and the tyres and engine are spared a 1,050 km drive in the heat.
| Method | From | Transit to Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Shared carrier | SAR 1,290 | 2–5 days |
| Private flatbed | SAR 2,050 | 1–3 days |
| Enclosed carrier | SAR 4,150 | 1–3 days |
⚠️ Before shipping your car to Dubai
Settle any fines and bring the registration card and the owner’s ID. Temporary exit needs valid UAE insurance; final export needs a Traffic export certificate and export plates, then registration in Dubai. A financed car needs a bank no-objection letter.
Air freight from Riyadh to Dubai
For documents, spare parts and urgent samples, we fly to Dubai from SAR 45 per chargeable kg in 24–48 hours. Chargeable weight is the higher of actual and volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 6,000), so road stays cheaper for anything large or not urgent.
Documents and customs
The documents for road freight from Riyadh to Dubai depend on the shipment type:
| Shipment type | Documents |
|---|---|
| Furniture and personal effects | ID or iqama copy, passport copy where needed, detailed inventory list, Fasah authorisation for the clearance agent, recipient’s Dubai details and Emirates ID or passport copy on request |
| Commercial goods | Commercial registration, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, Dubai importer code |
| Car | Registration card, owner’s ID, valid insurance for temporary exit or export certificate and plates for final export, no violations, bank letter if financed |
Used belongings with their documents are normally treated as personal effects, while new goods are subject to duty and VAT depending on the shipment type and customs assessment. Prohibited items include gas cylinders, flammables, weapons, narcotics and unlicensed medicines; restricted items include perishable food, plants and large batteries.
Insurance and tracking
Insurance is optional and a percentage of the declared value; we recommend it for appliances, luxury furniture and cars. Tracking is available by shipment number on Track Your Shipment, with messages from your coordinator on leaving Riyadh, at Al Batha, after Al Ghuwaifat and on approaching Dubai.
Steps for road freight from Riyadh to Dubai
- Send the shipment type, your Riyadh district and your Dubai area to 0565967337.
- Receive the price, transit time and the suggested truck.
- Send document copies and grant the Fasah authorisation.
- Book the tower lift or community permit in Dubai and tell us the hours.
- Pickup day: packing, numbering, checking and loading.
- Follow the trip to arrival and receive with assembly and arranging.
Book your Riyadh-to-Dubai shipmentGet your price
The cheapest way to ship from Riyadh to Dubai
The cheapest is not always the lowest number in an advert, but the method that suits your shipment without extra costs. These rules help:
Why Alfaris on the Riyadh–Dubai road?
Because this is one of our busiest routes, we know its details: the best times to reach Al Batha, Al Ghuwaifat’s requirements, Dubai’s truck hours and how delivery works in each area. Prices start below typical market rates and are sent itemised before booking, with clearance, delivery and assembly included. From Riyadh we also ship to every country in the world by road, sea and air.
Related guides
- Road freight company from Saudi Arabia to the UAE: the main guide to the route from every Saudi city.
- Shipping company from Riyadh to the UAE: every emirate from the capital.
- Furniture moving company from Riyadh to Dubai: dismantling, assembly and arranging in Dubai.
Article tags
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FAQ: road freight from Riyadh to Dubai
What is the road distance between Riyadh and Dubai?
About 1,050 km — roughly 550 km inside the Kingdom to Al Batha and about 500 km from Al Ghuwaifat to Dubai.
How long does road freight from Riyadh to Dubai take?
1–3 days for cartons and shared freight, and usually one to two days by private truck with complete documents.
How much does shipping from Riyadh to Dubai cost?
From SAR 135 for a carton, SAR 13.5 per kg, SAR 1,090 for a studio, SAR 2,275 for a mid-size apartment and SAR 1,290 for a car.
Which border does the shipment cross to Dubai?
Al Batha in the Kingdom, then Al Ghuwaifat in the UAE — the only land crossing between the two countries.
Do you deliver to towers in Dubai Marina and Downtown?
Yes, after booking the service lift and move permit with the tower management, scheduling arrival within the permitted hours.
Are there truck restrictions in Dubai?
Yes, heavy trucks are regulated on some roads at peak hours, so we time arrival and use a smaller truck when needed.
What is the cheapest way to ship from Riyadh to Dubai?
Shared freight by weight for cartons, a shared load for an apartment with a flexible date, and a shared carrier from SAR 1,290 for a car.
Can furniture be stored in Dubai if the home is not ready?
Yes, in an insulated warehouse protected from heat and humidity, priced after the free survey.
Is there air freight from Riyadh to Dubai?
Yes, from SAR 45 per chargeable kg in 24–48 hours.
What documents are needed to ship to Dubai?
For furniture: ID or iqama, the detailed list, a Fasah authorisation and recipient details. Commercial goods and cars need the extra documents in the table above.
Do you ship goods to warehouses in Jebel Ali and Al Quoz?
Yes, part-loads and full trucks with the commercial documents prepared.
