Saudi Express ships from Makkah to the UAE by road in closed trucks that cross at the Al Batha border post into Ghuwaifat. The service covers dismantling, packing and loading at your home in Makkah, then delivery and reassembly in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates. A typical move takes 5 to 8 days from loading to delivery. A standard carton starts from SAR 45 and a bedroom move starts from SAR 1,550. Call or WhatsApp 0560533140 to book or ask a question.
In short
- Route: Makkah → Riyadh → Al Batha → Ghuwaifat → Dubai, about 1,950 km by road
- Transit: 5–8 days by road, 2–4 days by air for urgent parcels
- Cartons: from SAR 45 per standard carton
- Single bedroom: from SAR 1,550 including dismantling, packing and assembly
- Two-bedroom flat: from SAR 4,300
- Cars: enclosed carrier or drive it yourself; ask about the price by phone or WhatsApp
- Contact: 0560533140, calls and WhatsApp
Shipping prices from Makkah to the UAE
Saudi Express prices from Makkah to the UAE start from SAR 45 per carton, SAR 1,550 for a full bedroom and SAR 4,300 for a two-bedroom flat. These are starting prices. The final cost depends on the volume of your shipment in cubic metres, the floor you live on, whether the building has a lift and which emirate the delivery goes to.
Most people want to know whether they pay per item or per volume. The real calculation is the space your belongings take up inside the truck, so one large wardrobe can cost more than five cartons of clothes. That is why we ask for clear photos of each room or a list of items: we turn them into an estimated volume and give you a figure close to reality before loading day.
Starting prices for the most common items shipped from Makkah to the UAE:
| Service | Details | From (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard carton | Clothes, kitchenware or books, sealed tight | 45 |
| Single bedroom | Bed, wardrobe and dresser with dismantling and assembly | 1,550 |
| Two-bedroom flat | Two bedrooms, majlis and basic kitchen | 4,300 |
| Four-door wardrobe | Single item in a shared load | 730 |
| Fridge or washing machine | Foam and heavy-duty plastic wrap | 370 |
| Split air conditioner | Indoor and outdoor units | 275 |
| Car shipping | Enclosed car carrier to your emirate | Ask about the price by phone or WhatsApp |
| Air freight | Urgent parcels, documents and light items | Ask about the price by phone or WhatsApp |
What really lowers your bill is getting rid of old pieces before the move, grouping small items into cartons instead of sending them loose, and choosing a shared load if you are not in a hurry: a shared truck splits the cost of the long road between several customers. What raises it is high floors without a lift, items that need a wooden crate such as marble and antiques, and delivery to an emirate far from Dubai such as Fujairah.
How long does shipping from Makkah to the UAE take?
Road shipping from Makkah to the UAE usually takes 5 to 8 days. That is one or two days to collect and load in Makkah, the long drive through Riyadh towards Al Batha, exit and entry procedures at the border, and then distribution inside the UAE.
The road distance from Makkah to Dubai is roughly 1,950 km, one of the longest Gulf land routes leaving western Saudi Arabia. Most of it is inside the Kingdom: the truck heads to Riyadh and carries on east to Al Batha on the UAE border. After crossing, the shipment reaches Ghuwaifat, then Abu Dhabi first, followed by Dubai, Sharjah and the rest of the country.
What delays a shipment is rarely the road itself. It is congestion at the border in peak seasons and at weekends, and an incomplete packing list. We prepare the list with you before loading so the truck does not sit at Al Batha over a missing document.
Approximate transit times by shipping method:
| Method | Approx. transit | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Road, closed truck | 5–8 days | Full household moves, appliances, many cartons |
| Road, shared load | 7–10 days | A few items and cartons |
| Air from Jeddah airport | 2–4 days incl. clearance | Documents and light urgent parcels |
| Enclosed car carrier | 6–9 days | Private and recent-model cars |
Road, sea and air shipping from Makkah to the UAE
Road is the main way to ship from Makkah to the UAE because it takes furniture from your door in Makkah to your door in the UAE with no unloading and reloading at ports. Sea freight is possible for large commercial cargo, but it leaves from Jeddah Islamic Port and sails around the peninsula, which makes it slower than road in most cases.
For road moves we use closed-box trucks, so furniture is protected from dust and direct heat on the long eastern stretch. Items are stacked from heaviest to lightest and strapped so nothing shifts over bumps or during border inspection. If your shipment is small there is no need to book a whole truck; space in a shared load heading to the UAE is enough.
For general details see land shipping, for bulk cargo see sea shipping, and for all our UAE services see shipping to the UAE.
Want a clear figure before you start packing?
Send photos of your rooms and your district in Makkah, and we will reply with an estimated price and the date of the next truck heading to the UAE.
Call 0560533140 WhatsAppAir freight from Makkah to the UAE
Air freight from Makkah to the UAE suits light, urgent parcels only. It leaves from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, because Makkah has no cargo airport, and reaches Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah in about 2 to 4 days including collection and clearance.
People choose it for original documents, school papers, a laptop or seasonal clothes needed before the rest of the furniture arrives by road. We do not recommend it for heavy furniture or large appliances, because the cost climbs quickly with weight and size.
Air charges are based on actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever is higher. Volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000. For example, a 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton has a volumetric weight of about 16 kg even if it weighs only 8 kg on the scale. So for air parcels we pick cartons that fit the contents and avoid empty space. Ask about the per-kilo air rate by phone or WhatsApp, and see air shipping for details.
Moving furniture from Makkah to the UAE: dismantling, packing and assembly
The Saudi Express crew moves furniture from Makkah to the UAE as a full service: dismantling, packing each type of item in the right material, loading, and reassembly in your new home.
Beds, wardrobes and dressers are taken apart by technicians who know how they go back together. Screws and small fittings for each piece go into a numbered bag taped to it, so wardrobe screws do not go missing in the UAE after a 2,000 km trip. Wooden surfaces are wrapped in blankets and then heavy-duty plastic, glass and mirrors in bubble wrap with cardboard corners, and sofas in dust-proof film.
Appliances need special care on this route because the road is long. The fridge is unplugged at least six hours before loading and dried out, the washing machine drum is locked, and split air conditioners are taken down with the gas line sealed by a technician. For marble and valuable antiques we build a wooden crate when needed.
Every carton is marked with a number and the name of the room it goes to in the UAE, and you receive a copy of the numbered list. On delivery the crew puts each carton straight into its room, then assembles beds and wardrobes and fixes what needs fixing. If your UAE home is not ready yet, ask us about short-term furniture storage in a closed warehouse.
💡 Measure the new home
Measure the lift door and corridors in your UAE building before shipping. Many towers in Dubai require a move-in permit from building management and set hours for loading and unloading, so request it early and the truck will not wait outside.
Car shipping from Makkah to the UAE
Saudi Express ships cars from Makkah to the UAE on an enclosed car carrier through Al Batha. The trip takes about 6 to 9 days and the price depends on the size of the car; ask about it by phone or WhatsApp.
Inside the carrier the car is covered and its wheels are strapped down, so it is protected from road stones and summer sun over a long distance. Before loading we photograph the car from every side and record the odometer, and we ask that the tank is about a quarter full and the car is emptied of personal belongings.
To export from Saudi Arabia, the registration (istimara) must be valid, the car must have no outstanding traffic fines or liens, and export papers are issued in the owner’s name. On the UAE side, Dubai and Abu Dhabi require an imported car to be no more than 10 years old from its year of manufacture, with 5% customs duty on the value plus shipping and 5% VAT. Check your car’s model year before booking.
If you plan to drive your own car to the UAE, you need a valid istimara, insurance that covers the UAE, and an Absher authorisation if the car is not registered in your name. See the triptyque for when that document is needed, and car shipping for our carrier service.
Documents and customs clearance at Al Batha and Ghuwaifat
Paperwork for shipping household furniture from Makkah to the UAE is simple: a copy of your ID or iqama, a copy of the recipient’s passport and UAE residence or visa, and a detailed numbered packing list.
- Sender: copy of national ID or valid iqama.
- Recipient in the UAE: copy of passport and Emirates ID or residence.
- Packing list: every carton with its number, contents and approximate value; we prepare it with you.
- Commercial goods: commercial invoice, commercial registration and certificate of origin when requested.
- Car: istimara, export document and owner’s ID copy.
The GCC unified customs system exempts used personal effects and household items of people moving to take up residence, under conditions assessed by customs. New goods in commercial quantities are treated as merchandise and attract duty. That is why our list separates used household items from anything new still in its box, which makes inspection at Ghuwaifat quicker.
Prohibited and restricted items for the UAE
Flammable materials, gas cylinders, chemicals and pesticides cannot travel with your furniture to the UAE, and the UAE also bans or restricts several items on entry.
🔥 Not allowed in the truck
Petrol, kerosene, paints, solvents and gas cylinders, even empty ones.
💊 Restricted in the UAE
Medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic substances need a prescription and prior approval.
🌱 Inspected or banned
Plants, soil, seeds and perishable food.
💍 Carry it yourself
Cash, gold, jewellery and original documents never go in the shipment.
We also advise against packing radio equipment or drones without checking their entry requirements, and against filling cartons with opened food: it attracts insects over days on the road and can hold up inspection of the whole shipment.
UAE cities we deliver to
Saudi Express delivers shipments from Makkah to all seven emirates. Most requests go to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, with a little extra time for the northern emirates.
| City | Approx. transit from Makkah | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi and Al Ain | 5–7 days | First stop after Ghuwaifat |
| Dubai | 5–8 days | Move-in permit in most towers |
| Sharjah and Ajman | 6–8 days | Morning delivery avoids traffic |
| Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain | 6–9 days | Usually grouped with northern loads |
| Fujairah | 7–9 days | On the east coast |
On arrival the driver calls you a day ahead to confirm the address and the lift booking. The crew unloads the truck and checks carton numbers against the list in front of you, then starts assembly. If you notice anything on a piece, write it on the delivery note with a photo before signing.
Makkah districts we collect from
We collect UAE shipments from every district of Makkah. Among the most requested are Al Aziziyah, Al Shawqiyah, Al Naseem, Al Zahir, Al Awali, Al Sharaie, Al Utaybiyah, Al Rusaifah, Al Kakiyah, Batha Quraysh, Al Nawariyah and Wali Al Ahd.
Each part of Makkah loads differently. Near the central area, movement of large trucks is regulated, so we sometimes load with a smaller vehicle and transfer to the truck nearby. In Al Sharaie, Al Awali and Al Nawariyah the streets are wider and the truck can park right outside the building. We also collect from Al Jumum and Bahra if you live outside the city limits.
⚠️ Hajj season and Ramadan
During Hajj, vehicle entry into Makkah is restricted to permit holders, and roads are crowded in the last ten nights of Ramadan. If your move falls near these dates, book loading well in advance.
Common mistakes that delay a shipment from Makkah to the UAE
The mistake that delays UAE shipments most is a vague packing list such as “assorted household items”; the customs officer at Ghuwaifat needs to know what is in each carton.
The second is packing cartons at the last minute before the truck arrives. When a box is closed in a rush, banned items slip in by accident, such as an air freshener or an insect spray from the kitchen, and that alone can open the whole shipment to inspection. Pack kitchen and bathroom cartons at least two days ahead and check them calmly.
The third is common among people moving to Dubai: arriving without a move-in permit from the tower management or without a lift booking. A truck from Makkah has covered nearly 2,000 km, and an extra day waiting outside the building delays setting up your entire home. Another one is leaving keys inside wardrobes and drawers; collect them in a single envelope and keep it with you.
Can I insure my shipment from Makkah to the UAE?
Yes. Shipment insurance is an optional extra with Saudi Express: you set the value of your belongings and, before loading, we explain what it covers, what it excludes and what it costs.
On a road of nearly 2,000 km, many customers choose to insure expensive appliances and new furniture. What matters is that the value you declare is realistic and matches the list, and that valuable pieces are photographed before packing, because those photos are what any claim refers back to. Items the owner packs personally may be excluded from some cover, so ask before you close your cartons.
What might you pay in the UAE apart from the shipping fee?
Used household furniture of a new resident does not usually attract customs duty on entering the UAE, but there are other costs worth knowing before you arrive.
- New goods: 5% customs duty on their value plus 5% VAT if treated as merchandise.
- Car: 5% duty on its value including shipping and 5% VAT, then inspection, registration and UAE insurance.
- Building: some towers charge a move-in permit fee or a refundable deposit to protect lifts and corridors.
- Parking: in busy parts of Dubai a parking bay may need booking for the truck while unloading.
We mention these items in advance so they do not surprise you on arrival, and we help schedule unloading around the building’s requirements.
Steps to ship from Makkah to the UAE
Your shipment from Makkah to the UAE goes through six clear steps, from the first message to the last piece assembled:
- Contact: send photos, your Makkah address and destination city to 0560533140.
- Quote: we calculate the volume and send the price and available loading date.
- Dismantling and packing: the crew arrives on time, dismantles, wraps and numbers every piece.
- Loading and list: the truck is loaded and you receive a copy of the packing list.
- Border: the shipment crosses Al Batha and Ghuwaifat once procedures are complete.
- Delivery and assembly: unloading at your UAE home and furniture reassembly.
Our next UAE truck is filling up
Reserve space with a WhatsApp message and tell us whether you need dismantling and assembly or cartons only.
Call 0560533140 WhatsAppTips before shipping from Makkah to the UAE
The most important tip: start organising your shipment at least two weeks before you travel. The road is long, and you do not want to arrive in the UAE while your things are still in Makkah.
- Sort before you pack; every item you do not need adds volume for nothing.
- Keep a one-week bag with clothes, medicines and key papers with you.
- Photograph valuable devices and their serial numbers before packing.
- Tell your Makkah building guard the loading time so the lift and parking are ready.
- Make sure the packing list matches the cartons; it is what the customs officer sees.
If you are comparing routes, also read Shipping Company from Makkah to Qatar and Shipping Company from Madinah to the UAE, or go straight to request a quote.
