Saudi Express is a shipping company from Riyadh to the UAE that moves furniture, cars, commercial cargo and parcels overland on enclosed trucks, crossing at Al Batha and entering at Al Ghuwaifat, from your Riyadh home or warehouse to the receiving address anywhere in the Emirates, whether that is Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. The service covers collection, packing, customs clearance on both sides and delivery. A shipment usually arrives within 3 to 5 days of loading, prices start from SAR 37 for a small parcel and from SAR 690 for furniture, and you can book or ask on 0560533140 by call or WhatsApp.
- Distance: about 1,060 km from Riyadh to Dubai via Al-Ahsa and Al Batha
- Border: Al Batha on the Saudi side, Al Ghuwaifat on the UAE side
- Road transit: 3 to 5 days for furniture and cargo, loading to delivery
- Prices: parcels from SAR 37, furniture from SAR 690, cars from SAR 1,300
- Used cars: Dubai and Abu Dhabi accept used cars up to 10 years from manufacture
- Air: King Khalid Airport to Dubai or Abu Dhabi in 1 to 3 days
This guide is for anyone deciding how to ship and wanting the full picture first: what it costs, when it arrives, what paperwork to prepare, what the UAE will not let in, and when a truck beats a plane. If your main job is moving a whole home with dismantling and reassembly, we wrote a separate guide on furniture moving from Riyadh to the UAE; this page covers every kind of shipment on the route.
Shipping prices from Riyadh to the UAE
Shipping from Riyadh to the UAE starts from SAR 37 for a small parcel, SAR 140 for a part-load, SAR 690 for furniture and SAR 1,300 for a car on a multi-car carrier. The final figure depends on what you ship, how much space it takes and which emirate it goes to.
Each kind of cargo is priced its own way. A few parcels are charged by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher; furniture by the truck space it fills once wrapped; trade cargo by the kilo or the cubic metre; and a car by its type and the carrier used. Two people sending to the same city can therefore pay very different amounts: one sends ten boxes of light clothes, the other a fridge, a wardrobe and a bed.
Starting prices on this lane for the services people ask about most:
| Service | Details | Starts from (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Small parcel | Wrapped personal items or gifts | 37 |
| Part-load | Space on a shared truck for boxes or a few pieces | 140 |
| Furniture | Household pieces with loading and basic wrapping | 690 |
| Full apartment | Dedicated dyna truck for a mid-size flat | 2,300 |
| Villa or large load | Full closed trailer | 5,100 |
| Car, multi-car carrier | Sedan or family car | 1,300 |
| Car, enclosed carrier | Luxury or new cars needing full cover | 3,250 |
| Trade cargo by kilo | Online stores and suppliers | 14 per kg |
| Trade cargo by volume | Groupage for traders | 370 per CBM |
| Dismantling & reassembly | Carpenter in Riyadh and in the UAE | 280 |
| Packing materials | Stretch film, bubble wrap, strong boxes, corners | 415 |
| Air freight | Urgent parcels and documents | Ask for the price by call or WhatsApp |
What pushes the price up or down?
- Real volume after wrapping: big sofas and un-dismantled wardrobes take twice the space, so dismantling saves money.
- Truck type: a shared truck is cheaper; a dedicated truck is faster because it leaves as soon as it is loaded.
- Delivery emirate: Abu Dhabi is closer to the border than Dubai; Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah are further.
- Floors and lifts: towers that only allow the service lift by booking need coordination and extra hands.
- Booking time: holidays and the end of the school year bring more demand for UAE-bound trucks.
How long does shipping from Riyadh to the UAE take?
Road shipping from Riyadh to the UAE normally takes 3 to 5 days for furniture and cargo from loading to delivery, while air freight takes 1 to 3 days. A car on a dedicated carrier can arrive in two days when its papers are ready.
Transit is not just driving time. Riyadh to Dubai is roughly 1,060 km, around ten hours of non-stop driving, but a commercial truck stops at Al Batha to complete Saudi export formalities and at Al Ghuwaifat for UAE import and inspection, and that is where most of the time goes. A shared truck adds a day or two because it collects several customers before leaving. At booking we give you an expected loading date and an expected arrival date, and we tell you if the crossing slows down.
Typical transit times by shipping method:
| Method | Suits | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated truck | A flat or villa, or cargo that fills a truck | 2 to 4 days |
| Shared truck | Boxes, a few pieces, small trade lots | 3 to 6 days |
| Car carrier | One car or several | 2 to 5 days depending on carrier |
| Air | Urgent parcels, documents, small devices | 1 to 3 days |
| Sea container | Bulky cargo with no rush | Longer than road, needs trucking to port |
Shipping methods: road, air and sea
Road freight is the main method from Riyadh to the UAE because it runs door to door with no intermediate unloading; air suits urgent light items, and sea suits traders with containers.
Road freight via Al Batha and Al Ghuwaifat
The truck leaves Riyadh heading east, passes Al-Ahsa and then turns south to the Al Batha crossing, with Al Ghuwaifat immediately after on the UAE side, then on to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and the northern emirates. We use closed trucks because desert heat and dust damage wood, fabric and electronics, and we strap every load so nothing shifts. A full load means a truck for you alone; a part-load means space shared with other customers.
Sea freight for containers
Sea freight from Riyadh is rarely used by private customers because Riyadh is inland: the container is first trucked to Dammam port and then sails to Jebel Ali. It suits a trader shipping a 20 ft or 40 ft container with no deadline. For a home or a car, road is faster and simpler.
Air freight from Riyadh to the UAE
Air freight from Riyadh to the UAE suits urgent, light parcels: they arrive in 1 to 3 days from King Khalid International Airport to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and the charge is based on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.

When do we suggest air? When you need official papers, a passport or certificates within two days, small devices that cannot wait, trade samples for a client in Dubai, or a suitcase of clothes for an employee who started work in the UAE before the furniture arrives. For heavy furniture, air multiplies the cost with no real gain, because the road option already arrives within days.
For air cargo, volumetric weight is found by multiplying the length, width and height in centimetres and dividing the result by 6000; some express couriers divide by 5000. A 60×40×40 cm box is 96,000 cm³, so its volumetric weight is about 16 kg at the 6000 divisor; if it actually weighs 9 kg, it is charged as 16. That is why we recommend boxes that fit the contents without empty space. More on our air freight page.
Devices with large lithium batteries, perfume in quantity and flammable liquids have special restrictions on aircraft. Tell us exactly what is inside before booking so we can decide whether it flies or goes by road.
Car shipping from Riyadh to the UAE
A car is shipped from Riyadh to the UAE on an open multi-car carrier from SAR 1,300, or on an enclosed carrier from SAR 3,250 for luxury and new cars, with export from Saudi traffic authorities and clearance at Al Ghuwaifat.

Ask yourself one question first: is the car staying in the Emirates for good and getting UAE plates, or returning to Riyadh with you? If it is staying, it is a permanent export: an export certificate is issued, the Saudi plates are handed in, and in the UAE you pay 5% customs duty on the value plus freight and insurance, then 5% VAT, then pass a vehicle test and register it. If you will drive it yourself and return, that is a temporary crossing, not shipping: it needs valid UAE insurance and an authorisation letter if the car is not in your name, and a triptyque may be needed for a longer stay.
Used-car conditions in the UAE
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi accept a used car no older than 10 years from its manufacture date at the time of import; the manufacture date counts, not the model year.
- Flood-damaged or salvage cars are usually rejected at registration.
- The car must pass a conformity and safety test before registration; non-GCC-spec cars may need modifications.
- Papers: original registration card, export certificate, ID or iqama copy, and the receiver’s passport, residence visa and Emirates ID for registration.
We photograph the car before loading, secure it by the wheels rather than the body, and ask you to leave a quarter tank of fuel and remove personal belongings. Carrier types are explained on our car shipping page.
Electric and hybrid cars
An electric car goes on the carrier like any other, but we ask for the battery to be charged to roughly 30 to 50 percent, neither empty nor full, transport mode enabled if the car has one, and the spare smart key handed over with it. We prefer an enclosed carrier for new cars or delicate paint, because sand blown across the Al Batha road scratches unprotected paintwork.
Furniture and household moving to the UAE
Moving furniture from Riyadh to the UAE starts from SAR 690 for household pieces and SAR 2,300 for a full flat on a dedicated dyna, covering dismantling, packing, loading, clearance and delivery, with reassembly on request.

Furniture differs from trade cargo in two ways: it is more vulnerable to rubbing and heat, and it can benefit from the used household goods exemption when the conditions are met. We wrap wood in blankets and then stretch film, glass and mirrors in bubble wrap with cardboard corners, and mattresses in sealed bags against dust, and we number every box and write a contents list for customs.
A full home move has many details of its own, from kitchens and split AC units to setting up the new place in Dubai, so we gave it a separate guide with room and single-item prices and the steps from day one to reassembly: furniture moving from Riyadh to the UAE.
Commercial cargo from Riyadh to the UAE
Cargo shipping from Riyadh to the UAE starts from SAR 14 per kilo or SAR 370 per cubic metre in groupage, and needs a commercial invoice, a packing list and a certificate of origin if you want GCC-origin treatment.
Riyadh to the UAE is one of the busiest trade lanes in the Gulf: Riyadh distributors supplying shops in Dubai and Sharjah, Saudi online stores sending orders to UAE customers, and factories delivering to warehouses in Jebel Ali or KEZAD. Each has its method: a small trader fits a part-load (LTL) and pays for their space only, while a large supplier books a full truck (FTL) that leaves on loading.
- Commercial invoice: real values with items and quantities.
- Packing list: number of packages, weight and contents of each.
- Certificate of origin: Saudi or GCC-origin goods are treated as national products inside the GCC; others may be charged 5%.
- HS code: sets the duty and release requirements; a wrong code is the most common cause of delay.
- Conformity certificates: for items such as electrical appliances, cosmetics and food.
Do not hide trade goods inside household furniture to use the personal-effects exemption. Customs inspects against the packing list, and new goods in commercial quantities are treated as a trade shipment, which can hold up the entire load until it is settled.
Parcels, suitcases and boxes
Parcel shipping from Riyadh to the UAE starts from SAR 37 for a small parcel by road; boxes and suitcases are priced by size and weight and travel on shared trucks in 3 to 6 days, or by air in 1 to 3 days.
Typical senders are an employee who moved to Dubai and needs clothes and books, a family sending Eid gifts to relatives in Al Ain, or a student in Sharjah who needs belongings before term starts. Use new strong boxes and wide tape, write the receiver’s name and UAE number on two sides of each box, and never put valuables, cash or gold inside.
Dates, food and electrical appliances
Packed dates and dry or canned food can travel to the UAE in personal quantities on a road load, while commercial quantities need food-safety requirements and certificates of origin; appliances are packed in their own boxes or in foam and strong cartons.
Many Riyadh families add a few boxes of Qassim or Al Kharj dates as gifts for relatives in the UAE, which is fine when they are sealed and clearly not for sale. A supplier delivering dates to shops in Dubai, however, is shipping trade goods with an invoice, a certificate of origin and registration with the emirate’s food authority, and is better served by a reefer truck or by shipping in the milder months.
Fridges, washing machines, TVs and AC units are the most asked-about items after furniture. A TV travels upright, ideally in its original box or a light wooden crate; a fridge travels upright and should rest a few hours after delivery before it is switched on; and a split AC is removed by a technician who pumps the gas into the outdoor unit and caps the pipes. If you need somewhere to keep a few things in Riyadh until you settle in the UAE, we offer short-term storage; ask for the price by call or WhatsApp.
Documents and customs clearance
For a personal shipment from Riyadh to the UAE you need the sender’s national ID or iqama (a copy), the receiver’s passport, residence visa and Emirates ID, a detailed packing list and an authorisation letter for the customs broker.
At Al Batha the Saudi export declaration is completed electronically; at Al Ghuwaifat the UAE import entry is filed and the load is X-rayed or inspected by hand at customs’ discretion. The clearer and more honest the packing list, the less likely a long manual inspection.
Is used furniture exempt from UAE customs?
The GCC Common Customs Law exempts used personal effects and household furniture of a citizen returning from abroad or a foreigner arriving to reside for the first time, provided the items are used, for personal use, come from the previous residence and arrive within six months of the owner; vehicles are not covered. For personal effects UAE customs usually asks for a passport copy, a residence visa or an employment visa with entry stamp, the Emirates ID or its application, a detailed English packing list and an authorisation letter.
Have clear copies of the receiver’s passport, visa and Emirates ID ready before loading day. Those papers, not the truck, are what usually causes delay.
Prohibited and restricted items
Flammable materials, gas cylinders, weapons, ammunition, narcotics and counterfeit goods cannot be shipped, and medicines, radio transmitters and drones need permits from the relevant UAE authorities.
Cooked or perishable food does not suit a shared road load; dates and canned food are accepted in personal quantities. If you are unsure about an item, ask before packing, because pulling a piece out of a loaded truck at the border costs time and money.
UAE cities we deliver to
Our Riyadh trucks reach every emirate: Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi first of all, then Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, as well as Al Ain and the Al Dhafra region.

| Destination | Example delivery areas | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Yas Island, Al Reem, Khalifa City, MBZ City, Mussafah, KEZAD | The nearest major city to Al Ghuwaifat |
| Dubai | Jebel Ali, Al Barsha, Marina, Deira, Al Qusais, Dubai South | Some towers require a lift booking and access permit |
| Sharjah & Ajman | Al Nahda, Al Taawun, Al Majaz, Industrial Area, Al Jurf | Traffic from Dubai affects delivery time |
| Al Ain | Al Jimi, Al Towayya, Al Maqam, Hili | Served via the Abu Dhabi to Al Ain road |
| Northern emirates | Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Khor Fakkan | Adds about a day to Dubai transit |
See all our UAE services on the shipping to the UAE page. If your shipment starts outside Riyadh, our guide to shipping from Saudi Arabia to the UAE covers every pickup city in the Kingdom, and from the west coast see shipping from Jeddah to the UAE.
Where in Riyadh do we collect?
We collect from every district of Riyadh and from nearby towns such as Al Kharj, Diriyah and Al Muzahmiyah, at the time you choose.
- North Riyadh: Al Malqa, Al Yasmin, An Narjis, As Sahafah, Hittin, Al Aqiq, Ar Rabi, An Nakheel, Al Qirawan.
- East Riyadh: Ar Rawdah, Qurtubah, An Naseem, Al Yarmuk, Ar Rimal, Al Munsiyah, Ishbiliyah, Al Khaleej, Al Hamra.
- Central & west: Al Olaya, As Sulimaniyah, Al Malaz, Al Murabba, Laban, As Suwaidi, Irqah, Al Uraija.
- South Riyadh: Ash Shifa, Al Aziziyah, Ad Dar Al Baida, Al Hazm, Badr, As Sulay, Tuwaiq.
North Riyadh has many multi-storey villas with narrow stairs, so we send a crew with lifting straps. In older buildings in the centre we reserve a parking spot near the entrance to shorten the carry. For warehouses in As Sulay and the industrial area we send a truck with a hydraulic tail lift for pallets.
Shipping steps from Riyadh to the UAE
Shipping with us follows six clear steps, from a WhatsApp message to delivery in the UAE:
- Contact: send what you are shipping, photos, your district and the receiving emirate to 0560533140.
- Price and date: we confirm price, method and date, and list the papers needed.
- Packing and inventory: the crew wraps, numbers items and writes the packing list.
- Loading: the load is stacked, strapped and photographed before the doors close.
- Border: export at Al Batha and import at Al Ghuwaifat, with updates to you.
- Delivery: unloading at the address, reassembly on request, and the receiver signs off.
When booking, share a location pin and the receiver’s UAE number, since the driver calls them on entering the city. To send your request in writing with full details, use our quote request page.
Tips before shipping from Riyadh to the UAE
The most important tip: prepare the receiver’s UAE papers before loading, photograph your belongings before packing, and keep anything prohibited or valuable out of the load.
- Unplug appliances a day early and dry the fridge and washing machine completely so no moisture spreads through the load.
- Pack what you need in the first week in a suitcase that travels with you, as the shipment may wait a day at the border.
- Save a photo of the inventory sheet on your mobile and tick items off during unloading.
- Do not book delivery on the day you fly; leave a day between your arrival and the shipment’s.
- If you live in a Dubai tower, book the lift and access permit with building management days ahead.
- If you are shipping goods, check the HS code on the invoice before the truck leaves.


