🧭A guide to international shipping from Saudi Arabia
This guide to international shipping sets out the five decisions to make before asking for a price: from where to where, what you ship, by which mode, which documents, and where delivery ends. Road-connected countries ship by road in 1–5 days, distant ones by sea in 10–28 days, and anything urgent by air in 1–7 days.
- ✓Settle the two cities
- ✓Describe the cargo accurately
- ✓Choose the mode by time and volume
- ✓Prepare the documents
- ✓Settle where delivery ends
Road, sea or air?
No mode is always best. The right one suits the destination, volume and time.
| Criterion | Road | Sea | Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destinations | The Gulf, Jordan, Iraq and Syria | Lebanon, Turkey and North Africa, and containers to the Gulf | All destinations |
| Transit | 1–5 days | 3–28 days | 1–7 days |
| Pricing | Per carton, per kg or per truck | Per kg, per cubic metre or per container | Per kg, on the higher of actual and volumetric |
| Suits | Furniture, cars and cartons | A whole home, containers and equipment | Parcels, luggage and documents |
| Starts from | SAR 36 per carton to Jordan | SAR 9 per kg to North Africa | SAR 13.5 per kg to Turkey |
Which page suits your shipment?
Start from the shipment type, as each has its own preparation, documents and prices.
| What you ship | Usual mode | Page |
|---|---|---|
| A home’s or rooms’ furniture | Road for the Gulf and Jordan, sea for distant countries | International furniture shipping |
| Cartons, clothes and belongings | Shared road or air | Furniture and personal effects shipping |
| A parcel or suitcase | Air or road | Parcel and carton shipping |
| A car | Road carrier, or a container by sea | Car and vehicle shipping |
| Commercial goods | Full or part load | Commercial cargo shipping |
| Equipment and machinery | Flatbed or low-bed, or a container | Equipment and machinery shipping |
When do you choose each mode?
A quick rule before the detail.
Road
When the destination is connected by road; the cheapest for furniture and cars.
Sea
When the destination is distant or the load fills a container.
Air
When the weight is light or time is short.
A combined route
Road to Jeddah port then sea, for inland cities.
📦What you ship matters more than the number of cartons alone
Settle the material, value, sensitivity, dimensions and services needed. Volume is worked out with the CBM calculator.
- ✓The type and number of pieces
- ✓Weight and dimensions
- ✓Any restricted items
- ✓The packing and delivery needed
From request to delivery
A sequence to refer back to at every stage.
- 01
The request
The two cities, the cargo and the date, through the shipping request form.
- 02
The price
Itemised, with the mode and transit time.
- 03
The documents
The packing list and the Fasah authorisation before loading.
- 04
Preparation and loading
Dismantling, packing and numbering.
- 05
The road and clearance
An update at the border or port, followed on shipment tracking.
- 06
Delivery
The list checked at the address.
What makes up the cost of shipping?
The price is itemised, and these are its usual items.
| Item | What sets it | Within the price? |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Distance, mode and volume | Yes |
| Dismantling and packing | The number and type of pieces | Yes, for furniture |
| Clearance | Procedures at both borders or ports | Yes |
| Wooden crates and a crane | Fragile pieces and upper floors | A separate item |
| Insurance | The declared value | Optional |
| Duties and taxes | The destination country’s rules | Outside the price; paid to the relevant authority |
Do not leave the documents until later
Start gathering them before the shipping date. The full list is on the international shipping documents page, and what does not ship is on the prohibited and restricted items page.
- ✓The sender’s ID and the consignee’s details
- ✓The packing list
- ✓The broker’s authorisation through Fasah
- ✓Vehicle registration or a certificate of origin where needed
Answers before you start your request
How do I choose the shipping mode?+
Road if the destination is connected by road to Saudi Arabia, sea for distant countries and containers, and air for the light and the urgent.
How long does international shipping take?+
1–5 days by road to the Gulf and Jordan, 10–28 days by sea, and 1–7 days by air.
How much does international shipping from Saudi Arabia cost?+
From SAR 36 per carton by road to Jordan, SAR 9 per kg by sea to North Africa, and SAR 13.5 per kg by air to Turkey.
When should I ask for the price?+
Once you know the two cities, the cargo and the date. Photos or a survey are enough for furniture.
Is the first estimate binding?+
The confirmed price is itemised after the cargo is reviewed, and that is the reference.
What causes delay most often?+
Missing documents or mismatched details, then congestion at the border.
What documents are required?+
The sender’s ID, a packing list, the Fasah authorisation and the consignee’s details. Goods also need an invoice and certificate of origin.
Is there insurance?+
Yes, optionally, at a percentage of the declared value. The details are on the insurance and claims page.
Now that you know the steps, ask for your route’s price
Request an international shipping quote
Enter the route, cargo type and required services so we can prepare a clear shipping request.