Frequently Asked Questions about International Shipping from Saudi Arabia
These are the questions families, employees and traders ask us every day before they ship, grouped by topic: booking, furniture, cars, documents and customs, pricing and payment, and sea and air freight. If your question is not here, message us and we will answer you directly.
- ❓ Six topics
- 🛂 Papers and clearance
- 🚗 Furniture and cars
- ✈️ Sea and air
How to use this page
The answers here are general and apply to most shipments, but every shipment has its own details: the pickup city, the destination country, the volume and the transport mode. The itemised quote we send you remains the final reference for your shipment, together with the approximate transit time and the documents required.
Anything involving customs rules in Saudi Arabia or at the destination applies according to the regulations in force at the time of shipping, and those rules can change. So we describe what we usually ask for here, and confirm it with you at booking.
General and booking
How do I book a shipment with Al Saif?
Send us the shipment type, pickup city, destination country and photos of the items by phone, WhatsApp or the request form. We send an itemised quote, and once you approve we set the survey or loading date.
Which countries do you ship to?
We ship to 12 countries: the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Libya. Each has its own route, crossing or port, and approximate transit time.
Do you collect from my city?
We collect from every Saudi city, from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to Tabuk, Arar, Jazan and Najran. Shipments from distant cities are brought to the nearest consolidation point or joined to a shared trip passing through the area.
Can I change the date after booking?
Yes, before loading and in coordination with us. Shared trips run on set departures, so a delay on your side may move your shipment to the next trip.
Do I need to be there on loading day?
Ideally you, or someone acting for you, should be present to review and sign the contents list. A relative or friend can attend with your authorisation.
Do you offer short-term storage?
Yes. If your home at the destination is not ready, your packed belongings are kept in a warehouse for a short period and shipped on the date you choose.
Furniture shipping
How do you pack furniture?
We use stretch film, bubble wrap, moving blankets, double-wall cartons and cardboard corner guards, and build wooden crates for glass, marble and fragile pieces. Every item is numbered and recorded on the contents list.
Do you remove air conditioners and kitchens?
Yes. A technician removes air conditioners after pumping the refrigerant into the outdoor unit, and kitchens are dismantled with every unit numbered for easy reassembly.
How do you move furniture from upper floors?
We use a furniture hoist when the lift or stairs cannot take large pieces, and we confirm the need for it during the survey.
Do you reassemble furniture at the destination?
In the Gulf states the service includes delivery and assembly. In Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and North Africa delivery is to the door, and the quote makes this clear.
Can I ship only part of my furniture?
Yes. A single room or a few cartons can travel on a shared trip, which is the sensible option for small volumes.
What about valuable items?
Insurance for valuable items can be added on request. We recommend carrying jewellery and important documents with you rather than packing them in the shipment.
Car shipping
How is a car shipped to the Gulf states?
By road on an open multi-car carrier, or on an enclosed carrier for premium cars, through the crossing that serves the destination.
And to sea destinations?
On RoRo, where the car is driven onto the vessel, or secured inside a container, sometimes in the same container as the household goods.
Which documents does a car need?
The registration, the owner ID, export plates or an export certificate, and a bank release letter if the car is financed.
Can I leave belongings inside the car?
We advise against it, as items inside the car can cause issues at inspection. Pack them with the furniture in numbered cartons instead.
Are there car age limits at the destination?
Some countries, particularly in North Africa, set conditions on car age and on who may import. Check with the destination customs before shipping, and we prepare the Saudi export papers.
Documents and customs
Which documents are needed to ship furniture?
A copy of your ID or iqama, your passport, the contents list, the consignee details at the destination, and a clearance authorisation.
How is export clearance done in Saudi Arabia?
Through the Fasah platform of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, under a clearance authorisation you give us. We submit and follow up the declaration.
Which documents does commercial cargo need?
A commercial registration, commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin, plus a health certificate if the goods are food.
Do you guarantee duty exemption at the destination?
We do not promise customs outcomes. Exemptions are decided by the destination customs according to the regulations in force at the time of shipping, and we help prepare papers that support your application.
What is prohibited in a shipment?
Flammables, gas cylinders, fuel, loose lithium batteries, weapons and ammunition, narcotics, and cash or precious metals in bulk.
What is restricted?
Medicines without a prescription, plants, seeds and soil without an agricultural permit, perishable food, and aerosols and large perfumes on air freight.
Prices and payment
How is the shipping cost worked out?
From the volume or weight, the route from the pickup city to the destination, the transport mode and the extra services. All of this is set out in an itemised quote.
Why do you not publish fixed prices?
Two shipments to the same country can differ a great deal in volume, services, floor and type of items. A quote built on your actual shipment is fairer to you than a general figure.
Is a shared trip cheaper?
For small volumes it usually is, since you pay only for the space you use, in exchange for waiting until the trip fills.
Will charges appear later?
The quote lists every line known in advance. Anything tied to import charges at the destination is flagged beforehand as being set by that country's customs.
When do I pay?
Payment stages are agreed at booking and shown on the quote, usually linked to milestones such as loading and delivery.
Sea and air freight
When should I choose sea freight?
For distant destinations such as Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Libya, and for large volumes that fill a container or part of one.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL is a full 20ft or 40ft container used only by you; LCL is space in a container shared with other shipments, which suits mid-sized loads.
Which port does the container leave from?
Jeddah Islamic Port or King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, depending on the destination, the shipping line schedule and the pickup location.
How long does a container take to North Africa?
About 20 to 35 days port to port depending on the country and line, and about 15 to 25 days to Turkey.
How is weight calculated for air freight?
The higher of actual or volumetric weight is charged, with volumetric weight being length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000.
Which airports do you fly from?
King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah or King Fahd Airport in Dammam.
Did not find your answer?
Send us your question with your shipment details, and the person handling your destination will reply and send an itemised quote if you wish.