MetEx House, 496a Great West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW5 0TE  ·  Shipping since 1998
0800 096 38 39
🗻 & ✈ Shipping to Saudi Arabia • UK’s Saudi Arabia specialists • Since 1998

Shipping to Saudi Arabia from the UK
Luggage, personal effects & household goods — by air or sea

Everything you need to ship to Saudi Arabia in one place. We collect from your door anywhere in the UK, handle the customs paperwork, and deliver to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and beyond. Air freight in 4–8 working days, or economical sea freight in roughly 3–6 weeks, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers. These sea transit times are approximate — the actual time depends on when your LCL container finishes loading and consolidating, the vessel’s sailing date and route, any transhipment hub before the final destination, and customs clearance, so please allow a week or two either side. Shipping to Saudi Arabia since 1998.

Get a quote 📞 0800 096 38 39

Saudi Arabia is a major UK expat-work route, and getting a shipment in cleanly comes down to one thing: the personal-effects exemption, which rests on a valid residence permit and a well-documented inventory. This guide brings together everything that actually matters for a UK–Saudi shipment, drawn from our Heathrow-side operation and 25+ years on this route.

Every way we ship to Saudi Arabia

Not sure which service you need? Start here — each links to full details, transit times and what’s included.

How shipping to Saudi Arabia works, step by step

1
Quote & book

Tell us what you’re sending and where. We’ll give you a clear quote up front.

2
Door collection

We collect from your address anywhere in the UK. No depot or airport drop-off needed.

3
Pack & document

Goods are export-packed and we prepare your itemised inventory and the customs declaration.

4
Ship by air or sea

Air freight from Heathrow, or consolidated sea freight to Jeddah Islamic Port (and Dammam).

5
Customs clearance

ZATCA (the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority) assess your shipment. Your broker files on FASAH and applies for the personal-effects exemption; you’ll need a valid Iqama.

6
Delivery

Your goods are delivered to your Saudi Arabia address, or ready to collect from the arrival depot.

Personal-effects exemption — how used effects clear

Saudi Arabia charges duty and 15% VAT on most imports, but expatriates relocating on a valid residence permit can bring their used personal effects in at reduced or zero duty — if the paperwork is right.

The exemption: if you’re relocating on a valid work visa or Iqama (residence permit) and your goods are genuinely used personal belongings, they can be imported at reduced or zero customs duty — personal belongings of expatriates relocating are treated as exempt from customs duty.
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It’s not automatic. Your Saudi customs broker applies for the exemption during clearance and ZATCA decides on your documentation — so a valid Iqama and a clear inventory matter. The owner needs the Iqama to clear.
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VAT may still apply. Saudi charges 15% VAT on imports; for genuine household effects the treatment is often favourable, but be prepared for VAT to be assessed on classification. New or sealed items attract duty (typically 5–20%) and VAT.
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Documents: your passport and Iqama/work visa, a detailed packing list, the bill of lading and a certificate of origin. Clearance runs on ZATCA’s FASAH/Bayan system via your broker.
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Timing: clearance at Jeddah or Dammam typically takes 5–10 working days from discharge; the Riyadh dry port can be a little faster.

Moving-to-Saudi Arabia shipping guide ›

What you can’t ship — and what slows shipments down

Saudi Arabia has one of the strictest import regimes on this list. Declaring honestly and knowing what’s banned is what keeps your clearance quick.

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Strictly prohibited: alcohol (entirely banned), pork and pork products, pornography, gambling equipment, narcotics, weapons, and any material offensive to Islam or promoting other religions. These must never be in a shipment.
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Controlled: certain medicines must be declared in advance through the SFDA portal with original prescriptions. Check before shipping.
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Also prohibited in freight: aerosols and pressurised cans, perfumes and aftershaves (flammable), loose batteries, and tobacco.
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List everything clearly. ZATCA inspections are thorough — a complete, itemised inventory keeps clearance quick. Number your boxes to match.

What we see most often — and how to avoid it

Most UK–Saudi Arabia shipments clear without drama. The ones that don’t nearly always come down to the same short list:

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No Iqama to hand. The personal-effects exemption hinges on a valid residence permit — the owner needs it to clear, so time the shipment around it.
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Packing a prohibited item by accident. Alcohol, pork or anything sensitive to Islam will stop the whole shipment — check the list carefully.
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Assuming zero duty. The exemption isn’t automatic and VAT can still apply — budget for the possibility until your broker confirms.
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A vague inventory. ZATCA assess on documentation; a clear itemised list is what secures the exemption.

What a shipment to Saudi Arabia actually looks like

An illustrative example of a common scenario — your quote is always to your exact shipment.

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A professional relocating to Riyadh on an Iqama with a flat’s contents would typically go by sea freight to Jeddah, with us collecting from their UK door, export-packing, and preparing a detailed inventory for their broker to apply for the personal-effects exemption on FASAH. Used furniture and belongings clear at reduced or zero duty; new or sensitive items are handled separately. Transit is usually 3–6 weeks. Urgent items go ahead by air.

Door-to-door across Saudi Arabia

We deliver nationwide. Here are our most popular destinations — each with local delivery detail and transit times:

Which is right for your shipment?

Air freight suits a few boxes or anything urgent — 4–8 working days, priced on weight and size. Sea freight suits volume — a room, a family’s contents or a whole home — at a fraction of the per-kilo cost, over roughly 3–6 weeks door-to-door. Many customers split the two: air for the essentials, sea for the rest.

Shipping to Saudi Arabia — your questions answered

Should I ship or pay the airline for extra bags? +
For more than a bag or two, shipping is usually cheaper than airline excess-baggage fees — and you’re not carrying the weight through the airport. We collect from your door and deliver across Saudi Arabia.
How long does it take? +
Air freight is typically 4–8 working days. Sea freight is typically around 3–6 weeks door-to-door, plus customs clearance.
Will I pay duty? +
Saudi Arabia charges duty and 15% VAT on most imports, but expatriates relocating on a valid Iqama or work visa can import used personal effects at reduced or zero customs duty — the broker applies for the exemption and ZATCA decides on your documentation. VAT may still apply, and new items attract duty.
What paperwork do I need? +
Your passport and Iqama/work visa, a detailed packing list, the bill of lading and a certificate of origin. Your Saudi broker files on ZATCA's FASAH system. We prepare the UK-side paperwork with you.
Can I send electrical items and furniture? +
Yes — used appliances and furniture are the core of the personal-effects exemption. Saudi Arabia uses mainly 230V with a mix of plug types, so some UK items may need adapters. New, boxed electricals may attract duty and VAT.
Is my shipment insured? +
We offer marine transit cover — we’ll explain the options and cost when we quote, and we always recommend cover for a long-haul shipment.
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Lak Kharod, Director
Excess Luggage Co. • overseeing UK–Saudi Arabia shipping since 1998 • MetEx House, Hounslow, next to Heathrow

Excess Luggage Co. has shipped personal effects, luggage and household goods from the UK to Saudi Arabia for over 28 years — through our own Heathrow-side warehouse and collection fleet. We know this route and exactly what Saudi Arabia customs looks for. For a quote or advice on your paperwork, call us on 0800 096 38 39.

Ready to ship to Saudi Arabia?

Tell us what you’re sending and where it’s going. We’ll come back with a quote and a realistic transit-time estimate — before you commit to anything.