Air Freight from Saudi Arabia 0552803439 | Urgent Parcels, Luggage, Cargo and Car Shipping by Air to Any Country

The air freight from Saudi Arabia service at Home Safe carries your parcel, luggage or urgent goods from any city in the Kingdom to almost any country and delivers it to the consignee’s address. The shipment leaves from the airport nearest to you: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam or Madinah. It reaches the Gulf in one to 3 days, Europe in 3 to 6 days and America in 5 to 8 days. A kilogram starts from SAR 14 to the Gulf, SAR 23 to Europe and SAR 41 to America, and express documents start from SAR 83. To book: 0552803439.

In this guide48ShowHide

1. What is air freight, and when do you need it?
2. Advantages of air freight: speed and flexibility, and what they cost
3. Air cargo in the Kingdom: how did it become a regional hub?
4. Saudi Arabia’s air cargo airports: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah
5. How does air freight work? The shipment’s journey from your door to the consignee’s
6. What lengthens the transit time?
7. How is volumetric weight calculated in air freight from Saudi Arabia?
8. Air freight prices from Saudi Arabia by destination
9. Factors that affect the cost of air freight: distance, weight and volume
10. How to bring the cost down
11. Air freight companies in Saudi Arabia: who actually carries your shipment?
12. Parcels, documents and personal luggage
13. Commercial air freight: goods, samples and spare parts
14. Sensitive goods: perishable, chilled and valuable
15. What may and may not be sent by air from Saudi Arabia
16. Documents required for air freight
17. Customs in the destination country: what awaits the consignee?
18. Door-to-door air freight from Saudi Arabia to any country
19. Collection from your address in Saudi cities
20. Air, sea or road freight?
21. Shipping cars by air: when does it make sense?
22. Correct packing for an air shipment
23. Steps of air freight from Saudi Arabia
24. Tracking the shipment and managing the process
25. Insurance and the limits of the carrier’s liability
26. Air freight to Saudi Arabia: imports from abroad
27. Best practice for a successful air shipment
28. How to choose an air freight company in Saudi Arabia
29. Common mistakes in air freight
30. Why Home Safe for air freight from Saudi Arabia?
31. Related articles and pages
32. Tags
33. Frequently asked questions about air freight from Saudi Arabia
34. How much does air freight from Saudi Arabia cost?
35. Which Saudi airports do air shipments leave from?
36. How long does air freight from Saudi Arabia take to the consignee’s door?
37. What is volumetric weight and why do I pay for it?
38. Can I send a phone or a laptop by air?
39. Can perfumes, incense and oud oil go by plane?
40. What paperwork do I need to send a personal parcel abroad?
41. Who pays customs charges in the destination country?
42. What is the difference between express shipping and ordinary air freight?
43. Is air freight always dearer than sea and road?
44. Do you ship dates and food by air?
45. Can a car be shipped by air from Saudi Arabia?
46. Is an air shipment insured?
47. How do I follow my air shipment?
48. Do you ship by air from abroad to Saudi Arabia?

What is air freight, and when do you need it?

Air freight is the carriage of goods and parcels on aircraft, whether in the holds of passenger aircraft or on dedicated freighters. Its importance is that it cuts distance down to hours, so something that used to wait weeks at sea arrives in days. You need it in three cases: when the shipment has a deadline, when it is too light to deserve a container, and when it is too valuable to stay long on the road.

Its importance to a trader is plainer still. With it a small shop in Qassim reaches a customer in London, and a factory replaces a failed part before its line stops. The table shows who mostly asks us for the service.

Who ships	What they ship	Why by air
Individuals and families	Gifts, clothes, dates and personal medicines	An occasion close at hand or a relative waiting
Students and scholarship holders	Suitcases, books and first things for the room	Weight beyond the airline ticket allowance
A resident leaving for good	The belongings needed on arrival	The furniture goes in the container and the essentials go ahead
Online shops	Orders for customers outside the Kingdom	The customer judges the shop by delivery speed
Companies, factories and contractors	Spare parts, samples and small equipment	Stopped work costs more than the air fare
Public bodies, law firms and banks	Contracts, original documents and certificates	A signature or a tender on a fixed day
Umrah pilgrims and visitors	Purchases that outgrew their suitcases	They follow them home within days

Advantages of air freight: speed and flexibility, and what they cost

Two advantages make up the value of air freight. The first is speed of delivery: a flight between the Kingdom and the farthest destination takes no more than a day, and the rest is procedure on the ground. The second is flexibility: an aircraft carries an envelope weighing grams and a pallet weighing hundreds of kilograms, and accepts chilled medicine, a valuable piece and a commercial sample. Against that there are limits worth knowing before you choose.

• Speed of delivery: one to 8 days to the door, against weeks at sea.
• Regular schedules: daily flights to most capitals, so a late flight is made up by the next.
• Less handling: the shipment passes through fewer hands, so there is less chance of breakage and loss.
• Adaptation to the cargo: services for chilled, valuable, fragile and declared dangerous goods.
• First limit: the charge is per kilogram, so heavy and bulky goods cost a great deal.
• Second limit: safety restrictions on batteries, flammable liquids and gases.

The rule we work by is simple: what is light, urgent or valuable we send by air, and what is heavy and has time we send by container or truck. The general introduction to the service is on the air freight page.

Air cargo in the Kingdom: how did it become a regional hub?

Carrying goods by air in the Kingdom began as its airports and national carrier expanded, and then grew with the need of the oil, construction and retail sectors for parts and equipment that arrive quickly. Today national and foreign carriers and the global express parcel networks operate in the Kingdom, alongside ground handlers that specialise in cargo.

The Kingdom’s position between Asia, Europe and Africa makes it a natural transit point. That is why model cargo villages were built at Riyadh and Dammam airports and the cargo terminal at Jeddah airport was enlarged. The national transport and logistics strategy aims to raise air cargo capacity to more than 4.5 million tonnes a year.

Saudi Arabia’s air cargo airports: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah

Most international shipments leave from four airports, each serving its own area. You do not choose the airport; we choose it according to your city, your destination and the nearest flight with space. Collection is from your address in every case.

Airport	Cities it serves	What marks it out for cargo
King Khalid International, Riyadh	Riyadh, Al-Kharj, Al-Majmaah, Qassim and Hail	A model cargo village; company and online-shop shipments are most of what leaves it
King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah	Jeddah, Makkah, Taif, Rabigh and the south of the Kingdom	A cargo terminal with facilities for chilled, valuable and dangerous goods; Umrah and Hajj pilgrims’ luggage leaves from here
King Fahd International, Dammam	Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail, Qatif and Al-Ahsa	A large cargo village; being close to the industrial cities makes spare parts its main export
Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International, Madinah	Madinah, Yanbu, Al-Ula and Badr	Dates and visitors’ luggage; the shipment switches to Jeddah when there is no suitable flight
Regional airports	Abha, Jazan, Najran, Tabuk, Al-Jawf and Arar	The shipment goes by road or domestic flight to a consolidation airport and then flies

Makkah has no airport, so its shipments leave from Jeddah airport, about an hour away. Outlying cities usually add a day for moving the shipment to the consolidation airport, and the cost of that leg is set on request. The service from the capital is detailed in the article air freight company in Riyadh, and from the Western Region in the article air freight office in Jeddah.

How does air freight work? The shipment’s journey from your door to the consignee’s

Many people think the shipment goes straight to the aircraft. In fact it passes through six stations, and the shortest of them is the flight itself. Knowing these stations explains why a shipment to Dubai takes a whole day when the flight is two hours, and why we ask for the paperwork before collection, not after.

Station	What happens there	Usual time
Collection from the address	Contents checked, a first weighing and measuring, packing if needed, and a collection receipt	Hours in the main cities
Preparation and booking	Choosing the channel and the flight, and preparing the invoice and packing list	On the day of collection
Export warehouse at the airport	Certified weighing, measuring, X-ray security screening, export declaration and air waybill	Half a day to a day
The flight	A direct flight or one through an intermediate airport, depending on destination and schedule	Hours to two days
Arrival airport	Unloading, import declaration, collection of charges if any, and release	Hours to 3 days
Delivery	A delivery vehicle to the address and the consignee’s signature	One to two days

The station that varies most is the arrival airport. That is why, at booking, we tell you what the consignee will be asked for, so that it is ready while the shipment is still in the air. Times for each destination are on the transit times page.

What lengthens the transit time?

• A thin description: the words “personal effects” alone call for the parcel to be opened and searched.
• An undeclared restricted item: a perfume or battery picked up by the X-ray sends the whole shipment back.
• A consignee who does not answer: the clearing agent calls before release and the courier before delivery.
• An item needing a permit: medicine, commercial food or a wireless device waits for a competent authority’s approval.
• Peak seasons: the run-up to the Eids, the Hajj season and the weeks of global sales.

How is volumetric weight calculated in air freight from Saudi Arabia?

An aircraft fills up by volume before it fills up by weight. If everything were charged by the scale, pillows would fill the hold for next to nothing. So the carrier measures length, width and height in centimetres, multiplies the three and divides the result by 6000 to get the volumetric weight. It then compares that with the actual weight, and the greater of the two is charged; this is called the chargeable weight.

Shipment and size	Actual weight	Volumetric weight	Chargeable	Example charge from
Carton of clothes 60 × 40 × 40 cm	9 kg	16 kg	16 kg	SAR 224 to the Gulf
Carton of dates 40 × 30 × 20 cm	10 kg	4 kg	10 kg	SAR 230 to Europe
Student’s suitcase 70 × 45 × 30 cm	23 kg	15.8 kg	23 kg	SAR 598 to the UK
Box of spare parts 50 × 40 × 30 cm	35 kg	10 kg	35 kg	SAR 1,435 to America
Pallet of goods 120 × 80 × 100 cm	120 kg	160 kg	160 kg	SAR 2,240 to the Gulf

The table shows that the clothes and the light pallet paid for their volume, while the dates and the spare parts paid for their weight. One important warning: some express parcel networks divide by 5000 instead of 6000, which pushes their volumetric weight up. The same carton of clothes becomes 19.2 kg. So ask about the divisor before you compare two prices.

The easiest way is to measure your cartons once they are closed and enter the figures in the volumetric weight calculator.

Air freight prices from Saudi Arabia by destination

There is no single price per kilogram; each region of the world has a rate from which the calculation starts. The table brings together our starting prices and the delivery time to the door, with the article that explains each route. The figures are per kilogram of chargeable weight, and they fall as the weight band rises.

Destination	A kilogram starts from	Time to the door	For details
The UAE and the other Gulf states	SAR 14	1–3 days	Air freight from Saudi Arabia to the UAE
Kuwait	SAR 14	1–3 days	Air freight from Jeddah to Kuwait
Jordan	SAR 14 for large weights	1–3 days	Shipping from Jeddah to Jordan
Lebanon	SAR 14 for large weights	2–4 days	Shipping from Jeddah to Beirut
Turkey	SAR 17 above 300 kg	2–5 days	Air freight from Jeddah to Turkey and from Riyadh to Turkey
Egypt	Set on request	3–6 days	Shipping from Saudi Arabia to Egypt
European countries	SAR 23	3–6 days	Air freight from Jeddah to Europe, Spain and France
The UK	SAR 26	3–6 days	Air freight from Jeddah to the UK
Morocco, North Africa and West Africa	SAR 28	3–8 days	Shipping from Saudi Arabia to Morocco
Canada	SAR 32	5–8 days	Shipping from Jeddah to Canada
Iraq	SAR 41	2–5 days	Shipping from Jeddah to Iraq
America	SAR 41	5–8 days	Air freight from Jeddah to the USA and from Riyadh to the USA
Asia, Australia and other destinations	Set on request	Mostly 3–8 days	Shipping destinations

Small shipments are priced per piece, not per kilogram. A document envelope of up to one kilogram starts from SAR 83 to the Gulf, Turkey, Europe and the UK. A parcel of up to 5 kg starts from SAR 110 to Turkey, Europe, the UK and West Africa, and from SAR 320 to Morocco. A small parcel or documents to America and Egypt start from SAR 55. Special shipments are charged as follows.

Item	Price
Bands of 100, 300 and 500 kg and above	A lower rate per kilogram, set on request
Transport from a distant city to the consolidation airport	Set on request
Declared dangerous goods, chilled goods or valuables	Set on request
Delivery duty paid in the destination country	Set on request according to the item and the country
A car on a cargo aircraft	Set on request
Insurance on the declared value	A percentage of the value, set on request

Prices quoted in the market: little is published about air freight from the Kingdom in general, and most of it is broad figures that name no destination. A recurring claim is that the international rate is USD 4 to 8 per kilogram, that is about SAR 15 to 30. A national carrier’s prepaid parcel tariff is published at about SAR 138 for anything under 23 kg within its network, and there are offers starting from SAR 70 for the first 20 kg and then SAR 6 for each extra kilogram, mostly for nearby destinations or domestic shipping. These figures are only fit for comparison once you know the destination and what the price includes. The kilogram bands are set out in the article air freight price per kilo from Saudi Arabia.

Factors that affect the cost of air freight: distance, weight and volume

The charge for an air shipment is the product of two large factors and several small ones. The large ones are the distance between sender and consignee and the chargeable weight. The small ones concern the nature of the goods, the service and the timing. Understanding them tells you where you can save and where you cannot.

Factor	How it affects the price
Distance and destination	The farther the destination, the more fuel and handling, and the shipment may pass through an intermediate airport, adding cost
Chargeable weight	The basis of the calculation; each higher band lowers the rate per kilogram
Size of the shipment	Bulky goods are charged by volume, and extra length may need a cargo aircraft
Type of service	Express to the door costs more than general air cargo to the airport
Nature of the goods	Dangerous, chilled, valuable and fragile goods need special packing and handling
Collection and delivery city	Anywhere far from the airport adds an inland leg at both ends
Timing	In peak seasons the charge for space rises and flights get tight

How to bring the cost down

• Choose a carton that fits the contents, because empty space is charged like goods.
• Compress clothes and bedding in vacuum bags before putting them in the carton.
• Combine your shipments into one to reach a higher weight band and a lower rate.
• Separate what is urgent from the rest, and send the rest by sea or road.
• Book days ahead of the peak seasons, not in the week itself.
• Ask for delivery to the airport if the consignee has a clearing agent to handle the rest.

A fuller account of what raises and lowers the price is on the pricing factors page.

Air freight companies in Saudi Arabia: who actually carries your shipment?

There are three kinds of provider in the market, and many searchers mix them up. Airlines, which own the aircraft and sell space in their holds. Global express parcel networks, which own their aircraft and couriers. And freight offices, which own no aircraft but book with both and take care of collection, paperwork, clearance and delivery. We are of the third kind.

Channel	Best for	How it is charged	What marks it out
Express shipping	An envelope or a parcel of up to about 30 kg	One door-to-door price	The fastest, with simplified clearance for small parcels
General air cargo	Anything above roughly 45 kg, and pallets	Per kilogram, then clearance and delivery	The cheapest for medium and large weights
Consolidated air cargo	Goods that can wait a day or two	Per kilogram at a lower rate	Several shipments are grouped under one master air waybill
Cargo aircraft	Large items, declared dangerous goods and cars	By dimensions, weight and destination	Accepts what a passenger aircraft will not

The benefit of a freight office is that it does not sell you a single channel. We compare express, general and consolidated for your shipment and tell you which is cheapest for your weight and deadline. Anyone who wants the greatest speed can read the article express international shipping.

Parcels, documents and personal luggage

Most people who call us are not shipping goods but something personal: an important paper, a gift or a suitcase. Each kind has its own way. A document travels in a stiffened envelope by express service and is handed over in person. A parcel is opened in front of you at collection so its contents can be checked. Luggage is weighed and listed, because customs in the destination country treat used personal effects differently from new goods.

Type	Examples	Note	Price starts from
Urgent documents	Contracts, attested certificates, powers of attorney, passports	Mostly free of customs charges	SAR 83
Small parcel of up to 5 kg	A gift, a phone, clothes, a box of dates	The true value is written down	SAR 110 to Europe and Turkey
Students’ suitcases and luggage	Clothes, books and personal items	Usually cheaper than excess baggage at the airport	Per kilogram by destination
Luggage of someone leaving for good	Cartons of essentials	A detailed list of used items	Per kilogram by destination
Dates and food gifts	Dates, coffee, cardamom, dry sweets	Sealed packs and a family quantity	Per kilogram by destination

From Makkah and Madinah we collect the purchases of Umrah pilgrims and visitors from their hotels before they travel, so that they follow them home. Zamzam water is not shipped as cargo. Everything else about parcels is on the parcel shipping page.

Commercial air freight: goods, samples and spare parts

A company’s shipment is a commitment to a customer, not just carriage. So the work begins with the paperwork: a correct commercial invoice, a packing list, a tariff heading for each item and an importer registered in the destination country. The goods are then stacked on pallets, wrapped and strapped, space is booked on a particular flight, and copies of the papers are sent to the clearing agent before take-off.

• Goods on pallets: from 100 kg to tonnes; the pallet’s height is governed by the hold door.
• Urgent spare parts: the first flight with space, and delivery at the factory or site.
• Commercial samples: an invoice with their real value and an exact description, never “no value”.
• Online shop orders: small daily shipments, or a weekly consolidation at a lower rate.
• Exhibition materials: they enter a country and return, and temporary admission is arranged where available.
• Saudi exports: dates, food, textiles and cosmetics, with a certificate of origin.

The certificate of origin is no mere formality. With it a Saudi product is exempt from customs duty in the Gulf states, and benefits in other Arab countries that have agreements with the Kingdom. The service is explained on the commercial shipping page.

Sensitive goods: perishable, chilled and valuable

The aircraft is the natural means for whatever cannot stand a long journey. Medicines, vaccines and medical samples travel in containers that hold the temperature. Fresh food and flowers are booked on the shortest routing. Jewellery, watches and precision instruments are given to special handling for valuables. All of these need arranging in advance, and their charge is set on request.

• Chilled goods: we need the required temperature range and how long the pack holds before we book.
• Medicine: personal with a prescription and a treatment quantity; commercial with the health authority’s permit in both countries.
• Valuables: a declared value and insurance on it, and hand delivery to the named person.
• Fragile and precision items: a wooden crate or a double-wall carton with padding that stops movement.

What may and may not be sent by air from Saudi Arabia

An aircraft’s restrictions are tighter than a truck’s or a ship’s, because a small fire in the hold endangers the whole flight. That is why we check the contents before shipping and ask you what is in every carton. The rule: anything that ignites, is pressurised, leaks or holds stored energy is either forbidden or restricted on conditions. The table gathers what people ask about most.

Item	Status in air freight
A phone, laptop or camera with its battery inside	Allowed on conditions: switched off, protected and labelled, and a limited number per parcel
Loose lithium batteries and power banks	Forbidden on passenger aircraft; shipped on a cargo aircraft with a declaration
Liquid perfumes and oud oil with alcohol	Restricted: a flammable liquid, shipped only as declared dangerous goods
Sprays, deodorants and air fresheners	Restricted: a compressed gas, not for an ordinary parcel
Nail polish, its remover and alcohol sanitiser	Restricted in the same way as perfumes
Lighters, matches, fireworks and ammunition	Forbidden
Non-dangerous liquids: cooking oils, honey, shampoo	Allowed in a tight container, a leak-proof bag and a reasonable quantity
Personal medicines	Allowed with a prescription and a treatment quantity; controlled ones with prior permission
Cash and undeclared precious metals	Not accepted in ordinary parcels
Narcotics, counterfeit goods and whatever the destination bans	Strictly forbidden

On top of aviation restrictions comes what each country bans for itself: meat and dairy here, wireless devices there, and particular publications or medicines somewhere else. One list is therefore not enough for every destination, and we go through the destination country’s list with you before collection. The general list is on the prohibited items page.

Documents required for air freight

The paperwork in air freight is light but decisive, because the shipment outruns any correction. From the sender we ask for proof of identity and a description of the shipment. The air waybill, which is both the contract of carriage and the tracking number, we draw up ourselves, and we lodge the export declaration with Saudi customs.

Type of shipment	From the sender	About the consignee
Documents	A copy of the ID or residence permit	Name, mobile number and address
Personal parcel or gift	ID, and a list of items with the value of each	Name as on the ID, mobile number, and address with postcode
Luggage of a mover or student	Passport, and a detailed list of used items	Residence permit, visa or university admission in the destination country
Commercial goods	Commercial registration, invoice, packing list and certificate of origin	Registration and tax number or importer number
Commercial food, medicine or cosmetics	Product certificates, ingredients and label	A permit or registration with the competent authority there
Declared dangerous goods	Safety data sheet and shipper’s declaration	The consignee’s approval and ability to receive

Write the description in words a customs officer in the destination country understands: “men’s cotton shirt, 4 pieces”, not “clothes”. And write the true value, because customs detect an understated value and fine the consignee for it. Each document is explained on the shipping documents page.

Customs in the destination country: what awaits the consignee?

The freight charge is one thing and the destination country’s charges are another. The first you pay to us; the second falls due to the customs of the country the shipment enters and is paid by the consignee unless agreed otherwise. The rules differ from region to region and change, so the table states what currently applies in general terms, and we confirm the rule in force for your shipment before shipping.

Region	What generally applies
Gulf states	A unified 5% tariff on most goods, value added tax that differs from state to state, and exemption for products of Gulf origin
Jordan and Lebanon	Duty according to the item, 16% sales tax in Jordan and 11% value added tax in Lebanon
Turkey	Every parcel needs a full declaration, and there is no simplified route for low-value parcels
Egypt	Strict rules on electronics, phones and non-personal quantities
European Union	Value added tax at each country’s rate on commercial parcels, and a limited exemption for gifts between individuals
The UK	Customs separate from the European Union, with value added tax and duty according to value and item
America and Canada	The rules on exemption for low-value parcels have changed, and food needs prior notice in America

Used personal effects of someone moving to live abroad are exempt in many countries on conditions: a valid residence permit, a detailed list and a period of prior ownership. These conditions differ from country to country, so check the article for your destination. The clearance service itself is explained on the customs clearance page.

Door-to-door air freight from Saudi Arabia to any country

Most of our customers do not want to know where the airport warehouse is or who the clearing agent is. They want the shipment taken from their home and put in the consignee’s hand. That is the door-to-door service: collection from your address, then clearance and delivery at the destination, then handover at the address against a signature. And one person to ask at every stage.

Service level	What it covers	Suits
Door to door	Collection, packing on request, export, flight, clearance and delivery to the address	Individuals, shops and anyone with no clearing agent at the destination
Door to airport	Collection, export and flight as far as the arrival airport	A company whose clearing agent collects from the airport
Delivery duty paid	All of the above, plus the destination country’s duties and taxes	A shop that does not want its customer to pay anything at the door

The last-mile delivery in the destination country is carried out by local agents we work with, and it depends on a clear address and a local mobile number for the consignee. The service is explained in full on the door to door page.

Collection from your address in Saudi cities

Collection is a step we give proper time to, because what is put right at the door does not get held up at the airport. The courier arrives at the agreed time and does four things before taking the shipment.

• Checks the contents: asks you about every carton and takes out what the aircraft will not accept.
• Weighs and measures: a first weight and dimensions, so you know the approximate charge on the spot.
• Packs where needed: a suitable carton, padding, tape and an address label.
• Gives you a receipt: in the establishment’s name with the number of pieces; the waybill number follows when it is issued.

In Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Khobar collection is usually on the day of the request. In Makkah, Madinah, Taif, Al-Ahsa and Jubail it is within a day. In Qassim, Hail, Abha, Jazan, Najran, Tabuk and Al-Jawf it is by prior arrangement. The cities we serve are on the service cities page.

Air, sea or road freight?

No means is best in absolute terms; one is simply more suitable for a given shipment. The aircraft sells time, the ship sells volume and the truck sells nearness. The table sets the three side by side for anyone shipping from the Kingdom.

Point of comparison	Air	Sea	Road
Time to the door	1–8 days	2–7 weeks	Days to two weeks
Unit of charge	Chargeable kilogram	Cubic metre or container	Piece, cubic metre or truck
Destinations	Almost every country	Countries with ports and what connects to them	The Gulf, Jordan, Iraq and beyond
Best for	Light, urgent and valuable goods	Furniture, cars and goods in bulk	Furniture, cartons and cars to neighbouring countries
Example price from	SAR 14 per kilogram to the Gulf	A 20ft container to Turkey from SAR 4,600	A carton to the Gulf from SAR 140

The solution we recommend to people relocating is to combine: two or three cartons by air for their first days, and the rest of the home in a container or on a truck. The other two means are covered in the articles sea freight company in Saudi Arabia and land freight company in Saudi Arabia, and the detailed comparison is on the shipping methods comparison page.

Shipping cars by air: when does it make sense?

A car is shipped by air on a cargo aircraft, lashed to a metal platform inside the hold after its fuel has been reduced and its battery disconnected as the carrier instructs. It is a rare option, requested by the owner of a luxury or classic car, a racing team, or a body showing a car at an exhibition whose date cannot slip. Its charge is set on request.

Every other car has a far cheaper way: a road carrier to the Gulf states and Jordan, and a RoRo vessel or a container to Turkey, Europe, Africa and America. The conditions and prices of each way are in the article car shipping from Saudi Arabia and on the car shipping page.

Correct packing for an air shipment

Packing for air is a balance between protection and volume. A big carton protects but raises the volumetric weight, and a small one saves but cannot take stacking. The answer is a strong carton that fits the contents, padding that stops movement and a tight seal. We pack at collection for anyone who asks.

What you are sending	Suitable packing
Documents	A stiffened envelope that does not bend, with a moisture-proof bag inside
Clothes and bedding	Vacuum bags, then a carton exactly their size
Electronics	The original box, foam around it and a double-wall outer carton
Glass, china and ornaments	Each piece wrapped separately, padding between pieces and a “fragile” label
Dates and dry food	The sealed factory pack inside a carton that prevents crushing
Permitted liquids	A tight cap taped round, a sealed bag and absorbent material
Commercial goods	A pallet wrapped in film and strapped, with edge protectors

Write the consignee’s name, mobile number and address on two faces of every piece, and put a copy of the address inside the carton. If the outer label is damaged, something still points to the owner. The packing steps are on the packing guide page.

Steps of air freight from Saudi Arabia

1. Send us on WhatsApp: the city, the destination, the contents of the shipment and the approximate weight and dimensions.
2. You receive the price, the proposed shipping channel, the expected time and what the consignee will be asked for.
3. We agree a collection time, and you prepare a copy of your ID and the list of contents.
4. The courier arrives, checks the contents, weighs, measures and packs what needs it.
5. The shipment is moved to the airport warehouse, where it is weighed, screened and its export declaration lodged.
6. The air waybill is issued, and you receive its number, the certified weight and the final invoice.
7. The shipment flies, and we follow its arrival and clearance with the clearing agent in the destination country.
8. It is delivered to the consignee at the address, and we tell you who signed and at what hour.

Tracking the shipment and managing the process

The air waybill number is the key to following up. Every move of the shipment is recorded against it with the hour, so you know where it is without asking. But automatic tracking tells you what happened, not what has to be done, and that is where we come in: we read the status and act before it turns into a delay.

• Received at the export warehouse: the shipment has been weighed and screened and is waiting for its flight.
• Departed: it has left the Kingdom, and we send the papers to the clearing agent at the destination.
• At a transit airport: it is moving from one flight to another, which is normal for distant destinations.
• Arrived, awaiting release: the clearing agent lodges the declaration and may call the consignee.
• Out for delivery: with the courier, who calls the consignee to fix the time.

The follow-up service is on the shipment tracking page.

Insurance and the limits of the carrier’s liability

Some shippers are surprised that an air carrier’s compensation for damage or loss does not equal the value of the goods. The international conventions on air carriage cap liability at an amount for each kilogram, whatever is in the parcel.

That is why we advise insurance on value for every shipment worth more than its weight: electronics, samples, precision spare parts and irreplaceable documents. The terms of cover, the exclusions and the way to claim are written in the insurance policy and in the booking confirmation, so read both before handing over. Details are on the cargo insurance page.

Air freight to Saudi Arabia: imports from abroad

The service works in both directions. For anyone buying from a supplier in China, Turkey or Europe, or wanting to bring belongings back from the country of study, we arrange collection there through our agents, then the flight to Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam, then clearance and delivery to the address.

Imports into the Kingdom carry customs duty that varies with the item, and 15% value added tax. Many commercial products are registered on the conformity platform before shipping, and food, medicines, cosmetics and wireless devices need the competent authority’s permit. So send us the description of the goods before the supplier ships them, not after they arrive.

Best practice for a successful air shipment

• Start with the paperwork before the cartons: a missing paper delays more than a late carton.
• Hand the shipment over early in the day so it makes that day’s flight cut-off.
• Let the consignee know the arrival date and what may be asked of them.
• Photograph the contents and the carton before and after sealing, and keep the pictures until delivery.
• Write the address in the language of the destination country or in English, with the postcode.
• Do not put in the shipment anything someone else asked you to carry without your seeing it.

How to choose an air freight company in Saudi Arabia

Offers are many and prices far apart, and the real difference lies in what the advertisement does not show. These signs mark out an office that knows its work.

Sign	What it tells you
Asks about contents and dimensions before pricing	It prices on chargeable weight, so no surprise after weighing
States what the price includes and what it does not	You know who pays clearance, delivery and destination charges
Has a commercial registration and a receipt in its name	A body that can be held to account if a dispute arises
Refuses to ship what is forbidden even if it loses the order	It protects your shipment from return and confiscation
Gives you a waybill number that can be tracked	The shipment is booked on a real flight
Suggests sea or road when they suit better	It advises you and does not sell you the dearest option

Common mistakes in air freight

• Asking for a price on weight alone without giving the carton’s dimensions.
• Choosing a carton bigger than the contents and then being surprised by the volumetric weight.
• Putting a perfume, a power bank or a spray among the clothes without telling the courier.
• Writing a token value for the goods in the belief that it lowers the charges.
• Leaving out the consignee’s mobile number or postcode.
• Sending furniture or heavy appliances by air when the cost per kilogram exceeds their price.
• Skipping insurance on a valuable, lightweight shipment.

Why Home Safe for air freight from Saudi Arabia?

To book: 0552803439 by phone or WhatsApp, from 7 am to 11 pm. Or from the request a quote page.

Related articles and pages

• Air freight company in Riyadh
• Air freight office in Jeddah
• Air freight price per kilo from Saudi Arabia
• Air freight from Saudi Arabia to the UAE
• Air freight company from Jeddah to Europe
• Shipping from Saudi Arabia to the Gulf states

Tags

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Frequently asked questions about air freight from Saudi Arabia

How much does air freight from Saudi Arabia cost?

The price follows the destination first and the chargeable weight second. Our starting rates per kilogram are SAR 14 to the Gulf states, SAR 23 to European countries, SAR 26 to the UK, SAR 28 to Morocco and West Africa, SAR 32 to Canada and SAR 41 to America. An express document envelope starts from SAR 83. The final figure is fixed once the shipment has been weighed and measured.

Which Saudi airports do air shipments leave from?

Four airports carry most exports: King Khalid International in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International in Jeddah, King Fahd International in Dammam and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International in Madinah. Someone living in Abha, Tabuk, Hail or Jazan does not need to travel with the shipment: we collect it from the address and move it to the most suitable consolidation airport.

How long does air freight from Saudi Arabia take to the consignee’s door?

One to 3 days to the Gulf states and Jordan, two to 4 days to Lebanon, two to 5 days to Turkey and Iraq, 3 to 6 days to Egypt, Europe and the UK, and 5 to 8 days to America and Canada. These times include collection, clearance and delivery; they are not flying time alone.

What is volumetric weight and why do I pay for it?

It is a notional weight that expresses the space your shipment takes up in the aircraft hold. It is worked out by multiplying length by width by height in centimetres and dividing by 6000. If it is more than the scale reading you are charged on it, and if it is less you are charged on the scale. That is why a light carton of pillows pays more than a smaller, heavier box of books.

Can I send a phone or a laptop by air?

Yes, on conditions. A device with its battery fitted is accepted if it is switched off, protected against accidental activation and carries the lithium battery label, and only a limited number may go in one parcel. A loose battery or a power bank, on the other hand, is forbidden on passenger aircraft and travels on a cargo aircraft under a dangerous goods declaration.

Can perfumes, incense and oud oil go by plane?

Liquid perfume and oud oil dissolved in alcohol count as a flammable liquid, and spray cans as a compressed gas. They are therefore not accepted in an ordinary parcel and can only be shipped as declared dangerous goods, in approved packaging and limited quantity, at a charge set on request. Dry incense and oud wood are shipped without that restriction.

What paperwork do I need to send a personal parcel abroad?

A copy of your national ID or residence permit, a list of what is in the parcel item by item with the approximate value of each, and the consignee’s name as on the ID with a mobile number and full address. The air waybill and the export declaration are our job. Some countries ask the consignee for a tax number or a copy of ID at clearance, and we tell you so before shipping.

Who pays customs charges in the destination country?

By default the consignee pays them, as they fall due in that country on the value of what arrived. The sender can bear them instead by asking for delivery duty paid: we collect them here and the consignee receives the shipment without paying anything. This is useful for shops selling to customers abroad. The cost of this service is set on request according to the item and the country.

What is the difference between express shipping and ordinary air freight?

Express shipping is an integrated parcel network selling one door-to-door price, and it suits an envelope or a parcel of up to about 30 kg best. Ordinary air freight is space booked on an airline’s flight, followed by clearance and delivery that we arrange, and it is cheaper for anything above roughly 45 kg. We choose the channel for you by weight and deadline.

Is air freight always dearer than sea and road?

Per kilogram, yes. The full calculation can come out differently, though. A 30 kg shipment does not fill a container and is not worth weeks of waiting, so the aircraft is both cheaper and faster for it. Valuable goods whose price is tied up for a month at sea may be more profitable to hurry. Furniture, cars and heavy pallets belong in a container or on a truck.

Do you ship dates and food by air?

Yes. Dates, coffee, cardamom, spices and dry sweets are shipped in their sealed packs. A family quantity passes in most countries without complication, while a commercial quantity needs product certificates, a label in the language of the destination country and possibly prior notice. Meat and dairy are banned in many countries. Zamzam water is not shipped as cargo.

Can a car be shipped by air from Saudi Arabia?

It can, on a cargo aircraft, where the car is secured to a platform inside the hold. It is usually requested by the owner of a luxury or classic car or a racing car tied to a date, and the charge is set on request once the dimensions, weight and destination are known. For other cars there is a road carrier to the Gulf and Jordan, and a RoRo vessel or a container to everywhere else.

Is an air shipment insured?

The air carrier’s liability is limited by international conventions that tie compensation to the weight of the shipment, not its value. Anyone sending something valuable and light therefore needs additional insurance on the declared value. The premium is a small percentage set on request, on condition that the value is written down before shipping and the packing is suitable.

How do I follow my air shipment?

With the air waybill number, which we send you the hour it is issued. It shows the stages: received at the airport warehouse, then loaded, then departed, then arrived, then customs release, then out for delivery. We write to you on WhatsApp at every move, so you do not need to open the carrier’s website every hour.

Do you ship by air from abroad to Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Our agent collects from the supplier or the shop in the country of dispatch, the goods arrive at Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam airport, and we then clear them and deliver them to your address. Imports carry customs duty according to the item and 15% value added tax. Some products are registered on the conformity platform before they leave their country.