Air Freight from Saudi Arabia for Urgent and Light Shipments
Some shipments cannot wait: original documents, a spare part for a machine that has stopped, clothes for someone who has landed ahead of their belongings, or samples a buyer is waiting on. For urgent and light cargo we arrange air freight out of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and before booking we show how weight is calculated so you can pack smartly and avoid paying to fly empty space.
- ✈️ Three Saudi airports
- ⚖️ Actual or volumetric weight
- ⏱️ For urgent, light items
- 🧳 Air-ready packing
Air freight is for when time matters more than volume
A plane is not a substitute for a truck or container when moving a whole household; the cost climbs quickly with size. It makes sense when the shipment is small and getting it there fast is worth more than the price gap: valuable electronics, work equipment, or suitcases of clothes the owner needs the moment they arrive.
Many of our customers split a move in two. The furniture goes by road or sea, while a few cartons of essentials fly out to arrive before or with them. That way life in the new country can start without waiting weeks for the container.
- Original documents, contracts and commercial samples.
- Small spare parts and light equipment needed in a hurry.
- Personal luggage beyond the airline ticket allowance.
What is volumetric weight, and why should you care?
Airlines do not look at heaviness alone, because space in the hold is just as limited as weight. Every parcel therefore gets two figures: its actual weight on the scale and its volumetric weight worked out from its dimensions. The shipment is charged on whichever is higher.
The formula we use is length × width × height in centimetres, divided by 6000, giving a result in kilograms. A large, light carton full of cushions or bulky clothes can have a volumetric weight double its real weight, while a small carton of books or metal parts is usually charged on what it actually weighs.
The practical lesson: a carton sized to its contents saves you money. We measure parcels with you before booking and suggest repacking into smaller boxes or compressing clothes whenever the volumetric figure is needlessly high.
- Measure the outside of the sealed carton, not the contents.
- Round each dimension to the nearest whole centimetre.
- Each parcel is calculated separately and the chargeable weights are then added up.
Three parcels, three different outcomes
Illustrative examples of the formula (L × W × H ÷ 6000). The chargeable weight is the higher of actual and volumetric.
| Parcel | Size (cm) | Actual weight | Volumetric weight | Chargeable weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carton of clothes and cushions | 60 × 50 × 40 | 12 kg | 120,000 ÷ 6000 = 20 kg | 20 kg (volumetric) |
| Carton of books | 40 × 30 × 30 | 18 kg | 36,000 ÷ 6000 = 6 kg | 18 kg (actual) |
| Bag of small devices | 50 × 40 × 30 | 10 kg | 60,000 ÷ 6000 = 10 kg | 10 kg (equal) |
ℹ️ Repack the clothes carton into a 50 × 40 × 30 box with the contents compressed, and its chargeable weight drops from 20 kg to 12 kg.
Where does your shipment take off?
We collect parcels in any Saudi city and route them to the airport that suits the destination and flight schedule.
King Khalid International, Riyadh
The usual departure point for Riyadh, Qassim and the central region, and close to our head office in Riyadh, which speeds up collection and preparation.
King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah
Serves Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Taif and Yanbu, and suits westbound destinations such as Istanbul and North Africa.
King Fahd International, Dammam
The nearby choice for Dammam, Khobar, Jubail and Al Ahsa, and for Eastern Province parcels heading into the Gulf.
Arrival airports
Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Doha (Hamad), Muscat, Beirut, Istanbul, Tunis–Carthage, Algiers and Casablanca, with Libya available for urgent items.
What cannot fly?
Aviation rules are stricter than road or sea rules for the safety of the aircraft, so some things a truck will carry a plane will not.
| Item | Status on air freight | Suggested alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosols and large perfumes | Restricted | Road or sea, depending on the destination |
| Loose lithium batteries | Prohibited | Keep inside the device if the carrier allows it, or buy at the destination |
| Flammables, gas and fuel | Prohibited | Not shipped by any of our modes |
| Medicines | Restricted | Include the prescription and limit to personal-use quantities |
| Plants, seeds and soil | Restricted | Need an agricultural permit in advance |
| Perishable food | Restricted | Better bought at the destination |
| Weapons, ammunition, narcotics, bulk cash and precious metals | Prohibited | Not shipped |
ℹ️ Ultimately the airline rules and those of the destination apply, according to the regulations in force at the time of shipping.
Packing that suits a flight
Air parcels go through conveyor belts, scanners and fast handling, so they need to be strong and light at the same time.
- Double-wall cartons sized close to the contents to keep volumetric weight down.
- Bubble wrap around devices and glassware instead of heavy filler.
- Tape along every edge of the carton.
- Consignee name and city on every parcel, with a running number.
- Electronics in their own cartons, with batteries left inside the device.
- A list of what each parcel holds and its approximate value for customs.
How a parcel gets from your door to the arrival airport
The process is short but depends on accurate data; a wrong description or weight can hold a parcel at the airport.
- 1
Measure and weigh
Send us the dimensions and weights, or we measure on collection. We work out the chargeable weight and send an itemised quote.
- 2
Collect and pack
We pick up from your address and repack anything that needs extra protection or a smaller box.
- 3
Export through Fasah
Under your clearance authorisation we file the shipment on Fasah and hand the parcels to the airport cargo terminal.
- 4
The flight
Parcels go on the nearest available flight, and we send you the air waybill number for tracking.
- 5
Collection at destination
The consignee receives the shipment once formalities are completed according to the regulations in force at the time of shipping. Istanbul, for example, takes approximately two to four days.
Tip: fly the essentials, send the rest by road or sea
If your main shipment is going by container to Tunisia or Morocco, set aside two or three cartons of what you will need in the opening weeks, such as clothes, papers and basic kitchen items, and send them by air. Insurance for valuable items can be added on request.
Air freight destinations
Pick a destination to see its arrival airport, service details and the road or sea alternatives available.
UAEAl Batha → Ghuwaifat🚛🚢✈️
QatarSalwa → Abu Samra🚛✈️
OmanEmpty Quarter → Ramlat Khaylah🚛✈️
KuwaitKhafji / Al Ruqi🚛✈️
BahrainKing Fahd Causeway🚛✈️
JordanAl Haditha / Halat Ammar🚛✈️
LebanonLand transit / Beirut port🚛🚢✈️
TurkeyJeddah / Dammam ports🚢✈️
TunisiaJeddah → Rades🚢✈️
AlgeriaJeddah → Algiers port🚢✈️
MoroccoJeddah → Casablanca🚢✈️
LibyaJeddah → Libyan ports🚢✈️Air freight questions
How do I know whether I will be charged on actual or volumetric weight?
Multiply length by width by height in centimetres and divide by 6000. If that number is higher than what the parcel weighs on a scale, you are charged on volumetric weight; otherwise on actual weight.
Can furniture go by air?
Small, light pieces can, but it rarely makes sense for large furniture because its volumetric weight is high. For furniture we recommend road to the Gulf and Jordan, or sea to Turkey and North Africa.
Can I send perfume by air?
Large perfumes and aerosols are restricted on aircraft. They can travel in a road or sea shipment depending on the destination, and we check the quantity and type with you before packing.
How long does air freight to Istanbul take?
Approximately two to four days from collection to arrival, depending on flight availability and processing at both airports.
Can you collect from a city with no international airport?
Yes. We collect from any Saudi city, including Hail, Tabuk, Najran and Al Baha, and move the parcel to Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam depending on the destination.
Do commercial air shipments need special papers?
Yes: a commercial invoice and packing list, usually the commercial registration and a certificate of origin, and a health certificate for food items.
Got a shipment that cannot wait?
Send us the number of parcels, their rough sizes and weights and the destination. We will work out the chargeable weight and suggest the nearest flight, with an itemised quote.