Packing and Crating Services for International Shipping from Saudi Arabia
An international shipment is loaded and unloaded more than once, inspected at the border, and may spend weeks in a humid container at sea. Wrapping furniture in a blanket and putting it on a truck is not enough. We choose the right material for every item, build wooden crates for glass and marble, number and record each piece, and adapt the packing to a road or sea journey.
- 🧰 Materials matched to items
- 🪵 Crates for fragile pieces
- 🔢 Numbered contents list
- 🌊 Moisture-aware packing
What makes international packing different
In a local move an item is loaded once and unloaded once within hours. In international shipping it may be loaded in Riyadh, unloaded at the consolidation warehouse, loaded again into a container or another truck, and opened for inspection at the border before being closed up again. Each of these steps is a chance for a scratch or a break if the packing is weak.
Then there is time and climate. A sea voyage to North Africa can take weeks, during which the container goes through temperature swings and condensation. Wood, leather and electronics suffer if they are not protected by the right layers.
That is why we treat packing as part of the shipment itself, not an add-on. The packing team arrives at your home or warehouse with its materials, packs each item according to its type, weight and route, and hands you the numbered contents list before loading.
The right packing materials for each type of item
Not everything needs the same material; what protects a sofa can harm a polished wooden surface. This is what we normally use:
| Item | Materials | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Sofas and majlis seating | Moving blankets, then stretch film | Blanket first to protect fabric, then film against dust and damp |
| Beds and wardrobes | Dismantled, blankets and cardboard corners | Parts numbered, screws collected in labelled bags |
| Mirrors, glass and paintings | Bubble wrap, double-wall carton and wooden crate | Stood upright inside the crate, never laid flat |
| Marble tables | Wooden crate with padding | Marble top separated from the base and shipped apart |
| Crockery and ornaments | Individually bubble-wrapped in double-wall cartons | Packed upright with gaps filled with paper |
| Large appliances | Blankets, stretch film and corner guards | Fridge and washer drained, moving parts secured |
| Air conditioners | Carton or blankets after removal | Removed by a technician after pumping down the refrigerant |
| Kitchens | Blankets, cartons and unit numbering | Units dismantled and numbered to refit in the same order |
Our packing materials and what each one does
Every material in the packing team's van has a specific job:
Stretch film
A clear self-clinging layer that keeps out dust and holds doors and drawers shut, but should not sit directly on leather or polished wood for long periods.
Bubble wrap
Absorbs small knocks and is used on glass, crockery and devices, with several layers for delicate pieces.
Moving blankets
Thick blankets that protect large surfaces from rubbing in the truck; the first layer on upholstered furniture.
Double-wall cartons
Stronger than standard boxes and do not collapse when stacked in shared containers and trucks.
Cardboard corner guards
Protect the edges of wardrobes, tables and appliances, the parts most easily damaged during loading.
Wooden crates
Built to size for glass, marble, art and heavy fragile items.
Wooden crates built to fit your item
Some items cannot be protected by cardboard however thick it is: a marble table top, a large mirror, a framed painting under glass, a chandelier or a heavy ornament. For these we build a wooden crate to the actual size of the piece, leaving a measured gap filled with padding that stops movement in every direction.
Glass and marble are stood upright inside the crate, because lying flat makes them carry the weight of whatever is above. Each crate is marked with orientation and fragile signs, and its number goes into the contents list with a description of what is inside, so inspectors and the consignee know what it holds without opening it at random.
For sea freight we use treated timber in line with the export requirements in force, as many countries require packing wood to be treated to prevent pests from travelling.
- A crate sized to the item, with internal padding.
- Glass and marble secured upright.
- Treated timber for sea shipments.
How packing day runs at your home
The team follows a fixed order so belongings never get mixed up and no part goes missing:
- 1
Walk-through
The supervisor goes room by room with you to confirm what ships, what stays and what needs a crate.
- 2
Dismantling
Beds, wardrobes and the kitchen are taken apart, and air conditioners removed by a technician after pump-down.
- 3
Packing by type
Each item gets its own materials: blankets, bubble wrap, double-wall cartons or a wooden crate.
- 4
Numbering and listing
A number on every piece and carton, recorded straight away in the contents list with a short description.
- 5
Loading
Items are carried to the truck, using a furniture hoist for upper floors, with heavy pieces below light ones.
- 6
Contents list handover
One copy of the contents list for you and one that travels with the shipment for clearance and delivery.
Numbering and the contents list: your shipment's memory
Every item that leaves your home carries a number, and that number matches a line in the contents list describing the item, how it was packed and its visible condition before shipping. This list is what is submitted for clearance on Fasah, what the consignee checks against at unloading, and the reference if you choose to add insurance, which for valuable items can be added on request.
With dismantled furniture we go a step further: all parts of one bed carry the same number with a letter for each part, and screws and bolts go in a bag with that number taped to the piece. Kitchen units are numbered by their position on the wall, so the fitting team at the destination knows exactly where each one goes.
- A number for every item, carton and crate.
- Numbered bags for screws and small parts.
- Visible condition noted before loading.
How packing for sea differs from packing for road
The way a shipment travels changes the way it is packed. These are the main differences:
| Factor | Road freight | Sea freight |
|---|---|---|
| Journey length | Usually days to the Gulf and Jordan | Weeks to Turkey and North Africa |
| Humidity | Limited inside a closed truck | Possible condensation in the container, so a moisture barrier is added |
| Movement | Road vibration and bumps | Ship motion and container lifting by crane |
| Stacking | Ordered by unloading priority | Tight floor-to-ceiling stacking with no gaps |
| Wooden crates | For glass, marble and art | For fragile items, using treated timber as required |
| Securing | Straps inside the truck | Straps and timber bracing inside the container |
ℹ️ On shared road or sea shipments packing is made stronger, as your belongings share space with other cargo.
Rules we follow with fragile pieces
These rules are the difference between a chandelier that arrives whole and one that arrives in pieces:
- Two glass items are never wrapped together; each is wrapped on its own.
- Plates are packed upright like files, not stacked flat.
- Nothing heavy goes on top of a carton marked fragile.
- Screens travel in their original box if available, or a dedicated box with corner protection.
- Gaps inside cartons are filled so nothing moves when shaken.
- Chandeliers have their glass parts removed, with each drop or arm wrapped separately.
- Wooden crates are loaded in a fixed position in the truck or container, away from the doors.
Prepare your home before the packers arrive
Empty the fridge and freezer a day early so they dry out completely, and disconnect the washing machine to let it drain. Put documents, jewellery and medicines in a bag that stays with you rather than in the shipment. Show the supervisor anything that is not being shipped so it is not packed by mistake. These steps save hours on packing day.
Packing and crating: common questions
Can I book packing without shipping?
Our packing is tied to our international shipping and furniture moving services, because the method depends on the route. You can, however, ask us to pack only part of your belongings and pack the rest yourself.
Can I pack my own boxes?
Yes, though we recommend leaving large and fragile items to the team. Boxes you pack yourself are recorded in the list according to the contents you declare.
How long does it take to pack a medium-sized flat?
It depends on the number of items and how much dismantling is needed. A medium flat is usually done in one working day, with the kitchen and air conditioners sometimes needing extra time.
Are wooden crates always necessary?
No. We use them only for glass, marble, art and heavy fragile items. Most furniture is well protected by blankets, film and corner guards.
How is packing priced?
It appears in an itemised quote covering materials, labour, dismantling and reassembly, and any wooden crates, so you can see what each line costs.
What if something is damaged despite the packing?
The contents list and the condition noted before shipping are the reference. This is why we suggest adding insurance for valuable items, which can be added on request before loading.
Other services that go with packing
Packing is the first step; these are the services that complete your shipment's journey.
Road freight
Closed trucks to the Gulf, Jordan and Lebanon through the land crossings — shared load or a dedicated truck.
DetailsSea freight
Full and shared containers from Jeddah and Dammam to Turkey, North Africa and Lebanon.
DetailsAir freight
For urgent and light shipments, with actual and volumetric weight explained upfront.
DetailsFurniture shipping
Dismantling, packing, numbering and a contents list — then assembly in the Gulf.
DetailsCar shipping
Open and enclosed carriers by road, containers or RoRo by sea, with export papers prepared.
DetailsBoxes & parcels
Personal boxes, belongings and gifts on shared trips, door to door.
DetailsCommercial cargo
Business goods by pallet or full truck, with their commercial documents.
DetailsHeavy equipment
Machinery on lowbed and flatbed trailers matched to its weight and size.
DetailsPacking & crating
Double-wall cartons, bubble wrap, blankets and wooden crates for fragile items.
DetailsCustoms clearance
Export papers through Fasah and follow-up at the crossing or port.
DetailsLeave the packing to a team that knows your route
Tell us what you are shipping and where, and we will set out the materials and crates your belongings need, with an itemised quote and a date that suits you.