Car Shipping Company from Saudi Arabia to Qatar 0552803439 | Open and Enclosed Carriers, Door to Door via Salwa

Home Safe is a car shipping company from Saudi Arabia to Qatar that moves your car by road on specialised carriers from any city in the Kingdom to Doha and the other Qatari cities. The carrier crosses the Salwa post to the Abu Samra post, and the car arrives within one to 7 days depending on how far your city is and the kind of carrier. The charge for a saloon starts from SAR 1,100, a 4×4 from SAR 1,750, and an enclosed carrier from SAR 3,500. To book: 0552803439.

In this guide43ShowHide

1. Who ships a car from Saudi Arabia to Qatar?
2. What does a car shipping company handle for you on this route?
3. The land route from Saudi Arabia to Qatar via the Salwa – Abu Samra crossing
4. How long does it take to ship a car to Qatar?
5. Car shipping prices from Saudi Arabia to Qatar
6. Car shipping to Qatar from the cities of the Kingdom
7. Carrier types: open, enclosed or a single-car flatbed?
8. The kinds of vehicle we move to Qatar
9. Shipping luxury, classic and sports cars
10. Preparing the car before loading
11. Documents and export certificate for a car from Saudi Arabia to Qatar
12. Conditions for importing and registering a car in Qatar
13. Temporary entry on your Saudi plates, or permanent export?
14. Drive your car to Doha, or ship it?
15. Insuring the car in transit, and tracking
16. Delivering cars from Saudi Arabia in Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah and the rest of Qatar
17. Services for individuals, companies, embassies and government bodies
18. Is a car shipped to Qatar by sea?
19. Air freight for cars from Saudi Arabia to Qatar
20. Steps to ship your car from Saudi Arabia to Qatar
21. Car shipping from Qatar to Saudi Arabia
22. Tips before shipping your car to Qatar
23. How do you choose a car shipping company to Qatar?
24. Common mistakes when shipping cars from Saudi Arabia to Qatar
25. Why Home Safe for shipping your car to Qatar?
26. Related articles and pages
27. Tags
28. Frequently asked questions about car shipping from Saudi Arabia to Qatar
29. How much does it cost to ship a car from Saudi Arabia to Qatar?
30. How many days does a car need to reach Doha?
31. Which crossing does the car enter Qatar through?
32. What papers are needed to export a car from Saudi Arabia?
33. Can I export a car that is financed or on a lease-to-own contract?
34. How much is customs duty on a car in Qatar?
35. Does Qatar set an age limit for used cars?
36. Do I need to export the car if I am only visiting?
37. What is the difference between a shared carrier and a single-car flatbed?
38. Do you ship luxury and classic cars?
39. Can I leave belongings inside the car?
40. Do you move a car that does not run?
41. When should I book?
42. Do you bring cars from Qatar to Saudi Arabia?
43. Do you ship cars by air to Doha?

Route: your city → Al-Ahsa → Salwa post → Abu Samra post → Doha · Distance: from 390 km (Dammam) to about 1,850 km (Tabuk) · Transit time: 1–7 days.

Who ships a car from Saudi Arabia to Qatar?

Five groups ask for this service most, and each needs something different. An employee who is relocating wants his car with him in Doha without driving it, a dealer wants several cars to arrive on one date, and the owner of a classic will not accept a single stone chip. Knowing your group settles the carrier and the paperwork from the first call:

Car owner	What is usually shipped	Best fit
An employee or family moving to Qatar	The family car, sometimes two	Shared carrier, with permanent export
A Qatari citizen who bought in the Kingdom	A car from a showroom, auction or owner	Shared carrier or single-car flatbed
A showroom or car dealer	3 to 8 cars per batch	A full carrier on a fixed date
The owner of a luxury or classic car	A sports car, a restored old car or a show car	Enclosed carrier, or air freight
A motorcycle and leisure-vehicle enthusiast	A motorcycle, quad bike or buggy	Enclosed carrier or a securing cage

What does a car shipping company handle for you on this route?

Moving a car across the border of two states is not loading alone. Between your door and the consignee’s door lie a traffic department, customs, two border posts and two inspections, and any link that is neglected can hold the car for a day or more. That is why we run all the links from one desk, so you are not passed between a driver, a broker and an agent:

• Collection from where the car is: the house, the showroom, the auction yard or the workshop, at a time that suits you.
• Traffic-department papers: we complete the export certificate and plates under your authorisation, or go with you.
• The customs declaration: the export declaration at Salwa and the import declaration at Abu Samra are prepared before the carrier arrives.
• New and used cars: we move both, and each has its own papers.
• Scheduling: we tie the traffic-department day to the loading day so the car is never left without plates.
• Delivery and inspection: the car is unloaded at the consignee’s address and its condition is checked with him against the handover report.

This article is about cars only. If you also have furniture, appliances or luggage, they travel in a closed truck, not on the car carrier, and the details are in the article on shipping from Saudi Arabia to Qatar.

The land route from Saudi Arabia to Qatar via the Salwa – Abu Samra crossing

Every car heading to Qatar by road passes one point: the Salwa post in Al-Ahsa governorate, faced by the Qatari Abu Samra post. The border between the two countries is short and has no other crossing. So the carriers from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah all meet on the Al-Ahsa – Salwa road, then cover about 100 km from Abu Samra to Doha.

Stage	Approximate distance	What happens
From your city to Al-Ahsa	Depends on the city: about 150 km from Dammam and 330 km from Riyadh	Cars are gathered on the carrier and secured
Al-Ahsa → Salwa post	About 150 km	Last refuelling and a check of the lashings
Salwa post	The Saudi crossing point	Export declaration, chassis-number match and exit stamp
Abu Samra post	The Qatari crossing point	Import declaration, inspection, valuation and payment of duty
Abu Samra → Doha	About 100 km	Distribution to addresses in and around Doha

We handle the crossing formalities, and the car is checked on both sides. On the Saudi side the officer matches the chassis number against the export certificate. On the Qatari side the car is inspected and valued. Preparing both declarations before the carrier arrives is what turns the crossing into hours rather than a full day.

How long does it take to ship a car to Qatar?

The time is one to 7 days, counted from collecting the car to handing it over. Two things govern it: how far your city is from Salwa, and whether your car rides a carrier that waits to fill or a flatbed that leaves at once. The table gives the expected time for each region:

Region of departure	Single-car flatbed or full carrier	Shared carrier
Al-Ahsa, Dammam, Khobar and Jubail	One day	1–2 days
Riyadh and Al-Kharj	1–2 days	2–4 days
Qassim and Hail	2–3 days	3–5 days
Jeddah, Makkah and Taif	3–4 days	4–7 days
Madinah and Yanbu	3–4 days	4–6 days
Abha, Jazan, Najran and Tabuk	3–5 days	5–7 days

What lengthens the time? Four causes recur. The first is that the plates are dropped while the carrier is not yet booked, or the reverse. The second is a missing paper that surfaces at the border, such as the bank letter or the maqasa document. The third is congestion at the crossing during the Eids, long holidays and the days of major events in Doha. The fourth is the shared carrier waiting to fill in cities with lower demand.

Car shipping prices from Saudi Arabia to Qatar

The price follows three things: the size of the car, the kind of carrier and the loading city. The figures below are Home Safe’s starting prices, set for departure from Riyadh, the nearest major city to the crossing, and cover transport from where the car stands to the consignee’s address. From Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah a saloon starts from SAR 2,020, a 4×4 from SAR 2,570 and an enclosed carrier from SAR 3,860, as the city table below shows. Qatari customs duty and traffic-department fees are outside them, and we list them for you item by item before you book:

Car	Carrier	Price starts from
Saloon or hatchback	Shared open carrier	SAR 1,100
4×4 or large family car	Shared open carrier	SAR 1,750
Luxury, sports or classic car	Enclosed carrier	SAR 3,500
Pickup or van	Shared open carrier	Set on request
Any car on an immediate date	Covered single-car flatbed	Set on request
Motorcycle or leisure vehicle	Enclosed carrier or cage	Set on request
Non-running car	Carrier with a winch	Set on request
Luxury or urgent car	Air freight	Set on request

Prices circulating in the market for this route are mostly higher than that. Moving a saloon from Riyadh on a shared carrier is offered at SAR 1,800 to 2,200, a large 4×4 at SAR 2,200 to 2,800, an express flatbed at SAR 2,800 to 3,500, and an enclosed carrier at SAR 3,500 to 5,500. Other offers quote SAR 2,800 for a small car, SAR 3,000 to 3,500 for a mid-size one, SAR 3,800 to 4,200 for a large one, above SAR 5,500 for a luxury car, and beyond SAR 7,000 for air freight. Always compare what the figure includes, not the figure alone.

Factor	Effect on the price
Loading city	The Eastern Province and Riyadh are nearer Salwa; the west and south are farther
Size and weight of the car	A 4×4 takes more room on the carrier than a saloon
Kind of carrier	Enclosed and single-car cost more than shared open
Condition of the car	A non-runner needs a winch and longer loading
Collection and delivery point	Door to door costs more than handover at the gathering yard
Insured sum	The premium rises with the declared value of the car
Season	The Eids and summer push up demand for carriers

How do you bring the cost down? Choose the shared carrier if you are not in a hurry. Hand the car over at the gathering yard if it is near you. Ship two cars on one booking if the family is moving more than one. And ask about the maqasa document before anything else, as it saves you the full 5% duty. The factors are detailed on the pricing factors page.

Car shipping to Qatar from the cities of the Kingdom

We collect the car from any Saudi city, and the journey changes with the city. The Eastern Province is hours from the crossing. Riyadh is one day away. The cities of the west, south and north cross the width of the Kingdom before reaching Al-Ahsa. The table gathers the main cities, with distances measured to Doha:

City of departure	Route to Salwa	Distance to Doha	Transit time	Details
Riyadh	Riyadh – Al-Ahsa road, then Salwa	About 580 km	1–4 days	Car shipping from Riyadh to Qatar
Jeddah	Taif, then Riyadh, then Al-Ahsa	About 1,500 km	3–7 days	Car shipping from Jeddah to Qatar
Makkah	Taif, then Riyadh, then Al-Ahsa	About 1,450 km	3–5 days	Car shipping from Mecca to Qatar
Madinah	Qassim, then Riyadh, then Al-Ahsa	About 1,430 km	4–6 days	Car shipping from Madinah to Qatar
Dammam and Khobar	Al-Ahsa, then straight to Salwa	About 390 km	1–2 days	Call us
Qassim	Riyadh, then Al-Ahsa	About 900 km	2–5 days	Call us
Tabuk	Madinah or Hail, then Qassim and Riyadh	About 1,850 km	4–7 days	Call us
Abha and Khamis Mushait	Wadi ad-Dawasir, then Riyadh, then Al-Ahsa	About 1,550 km	3–7 days	Call us

And these are the starting prices from each city that has a detailed article with us. The figures are for transport on a carrier, and the final price is settled once the type of car and the delivery address are known:

City of departure	Saloon on a shared carrier	4×4 on a shared carrier	Enclosed carrier
Riyadh	SAR 1,100	SAR 1,750	SAR 3,500
Jeddah	SAR 2,020	SAR 2,570	SAR 3,860
Makkah	SAR 2,020	SAR 2,570	SAR 3,860
Madinah	SAR 2,020	SAR 2,570	SAR 3,860
Dammam, Khobar and Al-Ahsa	SAR 1,100	Set on request	Set on request
Qassim, Tabuk and Abha	Set on request	Set on request	Set on request

Riyadh: the city with the most demand on this route, and shared carriers leave it more often than anywhere else. The showrooms in the east and south of the capital supply many of the cars bound for Doha. Jeddah and Makkah: the carrier climbs to Taif then crosses Najd to Riyadh, where other cars are usually added to it. Transport trucks enter Makkah at regulated hours, so we collect the car on a small flatbed from the district and move it to the carrier away from the congestion. Madinah: the exit is eastwards on the Qassim road, and entry to the central area has hours we confirm before collection day. Eastern Province: the shortest journeys, and many of its customers are dealers moving batches. Qassim, Tabuk and Abha: the car is first brought to Riyadh, where it joins the Qatar carrier.

Carrier types: open, enclosed or a single-car flatbed?

The choice between carriers follows the value of the car and how urgent you are, not the distance. The Al-Ahsa – Salwa road is open desert, with sand and gravel thrown up by lorries. An everyday car copes with that on an open carrier. A car whose paintwork matters to you deserves a closed box. Here is the comparison:

Carrier	Description	Suits	What you give up
Shared open	Two decks carrying up to 8 cars	Saloons, family cars and showroom stock	It waits to fill, and the car is exposed to dust
Enclosed	A locked box with a low ramp or a lift	Luxury, sports, classic and brand-new cars	A higher charge and fewer departures
Covered single-car flatbed	A truck carrying one car under a cover	Anyone in a hurry, and collection from a narrow district	Dearer than shared because the trip is for one car
Full carrier for one customer	The whole carrier for your cars	Showrooms, companies and fleets	It needs enough cars to fill it or nearly so

Whatever the carrier, the car is secured with straps over all four tyres and chocks behind the wheels, the handbrake is applied and the gearbox is left in park. The driver checks the lashings at every stop, because a strap slackens a little after the first hundred kilometres. The principles of securing are all on the packing and lashing page.

The kinds of vehicle we move to Qatar

We move every light vehicle that runs on a road, and those that do not run as well. What changes from one kind to another is its place on the carrier and how it is lifted and tied. Tell us the type, the model and any change to height or width, because a raised or very low car needs its own arrangement:

Type	Transport note
Saloon and hatchback	Rides either deck of the shared carrier
4×4 and large family car	Placed on the lower deck because of its height and weight
Pickup and van	The load bed is emptied completely, and any added height is declared
Low sports car	A shallow-angle ramp so the bumper does not scrape
Electric and hybrid	A low state of charge, tied down at the approved lifting points
Motorcycle	A front-wheel chock and side straps
Non-running car	A winch, with wheels that turn and steering that works

Shipping luxury, classic and sports cars

This class is not moved like the rest, because a small scratch on it costs more than the whole fare. We allocate an enclosed carrier to it and treat each car as a one-off piece. A restored old car, for instance, may not tolerate being tied by the body, and a low sports car cannot climb an ordinary ramp. So we agree these details with you before loading day:

• Loading: a hydraulic lift or a long ramp, and the car is driven only a few metres.
• Lashing: fabric straps over the tyres, with no chains or hooks on the body.
• Protection: a soft fabric cover inside the closed box, and protection for mirrors and protruding edges.
• Documentation: photos and video from every angle, with the odometer reading, sent to you before departure.
• Insurance: on the actual value shown by an invoice or an approved valuation.
• Delivery: at your home or at the exhibition or event venue, at a time you agree with the driver.

A classic car raises one more question in Qatar: the age condition. It is commonly said that old cars of historic value receive special treatment, but they need prior approval, so we confirm what applies before shipping and do not load the car on an assumption.

Preparing the car before loading

A quarter of an hour of preparation at home spares you a long discussion at delivery. The aim is a car that is light, empty and documented. A lot of fuel is needless extra weight, belongings left inside are not covered by insurance, and a photo not taken cannot be made up once the carrier has left:

• Leave only about a quarter of a tank.
• Take out all personal belongings, and keep the basic tool kit and the spare wheel.
• Wash the car, as a scratch does not show under dust.
• Photograph it from all four sides and inside, and photograph the odometer.
• Check the tyre pressures, the battery and any oil leak.
• Switch off the alarm, and remove the external aerial if it unscrews.
• Hand over one key and keep the second with you.
• Write any note for the driver: weak brakes, a door that will not lock, or a modified ride height.

Documents and export certificate for a car from Saudi Arabia to Qatar

A car leaving the Kingdom for good needs an export certificate from the traffic department, and without it the car does not cross the Salwa post on a carrier. The procedure begins by clearing the fines and any lien on the car, then its plates are dropped and temporary export plates are issued. We review the papers before loading, and complete the procedure for you under authorisation if you wish.

• Paying fines: they are checked on Absher and all paid, as a car with a fine against it is not exported.
• Releasing the lien: a financed car needs a release or no-objection letter from the bank or finance company.
• Visiting the traffic department: the registration and the owner’s ID are presented, and the chassis number is matched.
• Dropping the plates: the Saudi plates are handed in and export plates are issued.
• The export certificate: issued with the details of the car and its owner; the fee in force is about SAR 100.
• The customs declaration: the export declaration is filed electronically before the carrier reaches Salwa.

Export plates carry a short period within which the car must leave the Kingdom, and the procedures are updated from time to time, so we confirm what applies before you visit the traffic department. A resident leaving for good completes the export of his car before the final exit visa. The papers are gathered here in one table:

Paper	Issued by	When it is required
Valid vehicle registration	The traffic department	Always
Owner’s ID, or residence permit and passport	The car owner	Always
Export certificate and export plates	The traffic department	For permanent export
Release letter from the lender	The bank or finance company	If the car is financed
Authorisation for whoever completes the procedure	The owner, through Absher	If the owner does not attend in person
Purchase invoice or sale contract	The showroom or seller	For valuation in Qatar
Maqasa clearance document	Customs	For a car whose Gulf duty was already paid
Consignee’s Qatari ID or residence permit	The consignee in Qatar	For the Abu Samra declaration and registration

The general list of documents for every kind of shipment is on the shipping documents page.

Conditions for importing and registering a car in Qatar

A car crossing the Abu Samra post is one thing, and registering it on Qatari plates is another. Customs releases it once the duty is paid, then comes the turn of Qatari traffic with the technical inspection and insurance. It is a mistake to ship a car that customs will release but the traffic department will not accept for registration. The conditions in force, which we confirm before shipping:

Item	Rule in force
Customs duty	5% of the value assessed by customs, including the freight charge and insurance
Maqasa clearance document	Exempts from duty a car whose duty was paid on entering the Gulf states
Age of a light vehicle	No more than 5 years from the year of manufacture for registration, with limited exceptions
Steering side	Left, as on cars in the Kingdom
Specification	Gulf specification, with no modifications that breach safety requirements
Technical inspection	The Fahes test for roadworthiness, safety and emissions before registration
Insurance	A valid Qatari policy before the plates are issued
Registered keeper	A citizen or a resident holding the Qatari ID card
Contents of the car	Empty except for the basic tool kit and the spare wheel

After registration the car’s paperwork in Qatar is run from the Ministry of Interior’s Metrash app: renewing the registration, fines and transfer of ownership. A car later earmarked for export from Qatar goes through a procedure similar to the one it went through in the Kingdom.

Temporary entry on your Saudi plates, or permanent export?

Not everyone who takes his car to Qatar needs to export it. A visitor, a tourist and someone working for a few weeks then returning all enter on their Saudi plates as they are. Permanent export is for someone who has sold the car to a buyer in Qatar, or moved his residence and wants Qatari plates. Confusing the two cases is the commonest reason plates are dropped needlessly:

Comparison	Temporary entry	Permanent export
Plates	The Saudi ones stay	Dropped, and export plates issued
Customs duty	Not paid	5% unless there is a maqasa document
Age condition	Does not apply to a visit	Applies at registration
Insurance	A policy covering Qatar for the length of the visit	An annual Qatari policy
Who drives or brings the car in	The owner, or someone he authorises	It does not matter, as it is on a carrier
Return	The car comes back to the Kingdom	It returns only through a fresh import

When does shipping help with a temporary entry? When the family flies and wants its car waiting in Doha, or when the car is entering an exhibition or a race and should not arrive with 600 km added to its odometer. In that case it rides the carrier on its Saudi plates, accompanied by an authorisation from the owner and insurance covering Qatar. The current practice is that short-term insurance policies are bought electronically before arrival, so we confirm the method for you before travel. For non-Gulf nationals there are details on the triptik page.

Drive your car to Doha, or ship it?

From Dammam or Al-Ahsa driving is easy: a few hours and you are there. From Jeddah or Tabuk the sums are different, as the road is two days with an overnight stop, fuel and fatigue. And driving long distances on export plates is not advisable in the first place. This comparison helps you decide:

Point of comparison	You drive it yourself	You ship it on a carrier
Time	From 4 hours to two days of your life on the road	You hand over the key and fly
Odometer and wear	Up to 1,850 km more, plus tyres and oil	Unchanged
Visible cost	Fuel, an overnight stay and sometimes a return ticket	One charge known in advance
Risks	An accident or breakdown on a long desert road	Covered by transit insurance
The border	You complete the formalities yourself on both sides	The broker completes them for you
An exported car	Export plates with a short validity	Loaded from outside the traffic department if you like
More than one car	You need a driver for each car	One carrier takes them all

The working rule: if the car will stay on its Saudi plates and you are near the crossing, drive it. If it is exported, or luxury, or far away, or one of several cars, the carrier is safer and cheaper in the end.

Insuring the car in transit, and tracking

Transit insurance covers the car from the moment the collection report is signed until the delivery report is signed, and it is not the motor policy the car carries. A motor policy does not operate while the car is strapped to a carrier, which is why we issue cover specific to the journey. The basis of any claim is the photographed condition report the driver signs at collection:

• What it covers: road accidents, loading and unloading damage, fire, and theft during the journey.
• What it does not cover: belongings left inside the car, earlier mechanical faults, and anything not recorded in the report.
• The insured sum: you choose it by market value, and luxury cars get higher cover on their documented value.
• If there is damage: it is written on the delivery report before signing and photographed, and we follow the claim with you.

Following the car is simple and direct. You receive a notice at loading, on arrival at Salwa, after leaving Abu Samra, and a few hours before delivery. You may ask for the carrier’s position at any time from one number that answers you. The terms of cover are on the cargo insurance page, and how tracking works is on the shipment tracking page.

Delivering cars from Saudi Arabia in Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah and the rest of Qatar

Qatar is small, and all its cities are less than two hours from the Abu Samra post. So we hand the car over at the address itself, not in a distant yard: a house in Al Rayyan, a tower in Lusail or a showroom in the Industrial Area. At delivery the consignee inspects the car with the driver on site, compares it with the loading photos, then signs.

City	Areas we deliver in	Distance from Abu Samra
Doha	West Bay, Al Sadd, The Pearl, Al Mansoura, Al Dafna	About 100 km
Al Rayyan	Al Gharrafa, Muaither, Al Waab, Al Aziziyah	About 90 km
Al Wakrah	Al Wakrah, Al Wukair, Mesaieed	90–110 km
Lusail	The towers and new residential districts	About 120 km
Al Khor	Al Khor, Al Thakhira	About 150 km
Umm Salal	Umm Salal Mohammed, Al Kharaitiyat	About 120 km
Al Shamal	Madinat Al Shamal, Al Ruwais	About 200 km
Industrial Area	Showrooms, workshops and warehouses	About 85 km

An exported car arrives without Qatari plates, so it is not driven on the street before registration. We unload it inside the parking of the house or showroom, or move it on a flatbed to the inspection centre if you ask. Details of the destination are on the shipping to Qatar page.

Services for individuals, companies, embassies and government bodies

An individual moves one car once in years, a company moves batches all year round, and an embassy has its own paperwork. We arrange the service around its owner. Individuals get one coordinator who follows the car from the traffic department to delivery. Companies and showrooms get a contract with fixed prices and a schedule of trips. Missions and official bodies get a track that respects their correspondence:

• Individuals: a date that fits your travel, and an electronic authorisation that saves you visiting the traffic department and the border.
• Showrooms and dealers: a full carrier or fixed weekly slots, with a tax invoice and a report for each car.
• Rental companies and fleets: transport in one batch, and delivery at the company’s branch in Doha.
• Embassies and consulates: the practice is that a diplomatic mission’s car leaves with a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we coordinate its papers with the mission.
• Government bodies: vehicles for delegations and official events on a set schedule, with a report after delivery.
• Storage: a secured yard where the car waits before shipping or after arrival, until the consignee is ready.

Anyone moving commercial goods along with the car will find the details on the commercial shipping page, and moving the car alone is explained on the car shipping page.

Is a car shipped to Qatar by sea?

In practice no, and the road is the way. From Jeddah a ship sails round the whole Arabian Peninsula to reach the Gulf, so the voyage runs to weeks and costs more than a carrier that arrives in days. From Dammam the road distance to Doha is only 390 km, so two ports and their charges make no sense. Sea may be raised for a large commercial batch of cars to Hamad Port, and that is a case studied on its own on request, according to the sailings available. The sea methods for cars to distant destinations are explained on the RoRo car shipping page.

Air freight for cars from Saudi Arabia to Qatar

Air freight for a car is a real option, but for limited cases: a luxury or rare car whose owner does not want it to travel the road, or an urgent car for an exhibition or event on a date that cannot slip. The car leaves from King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah or King Fahd Airport in Dammam and lands at Hamad International Airport, then is handed over in Doha.

The flight between the Kingdom and Doha is about one to two and a half hours, but the whole trip takes two to 4 days, because the car is delivered to the cargo terminal before take-off and cleared after landing. These are its conditions:

• Loading: the car is secured on a metal pallet and lifted into a freighter, or a wide-body passenger aircraft whose hold is large enough.
• Fuel and battery: the tank is nearly empty in line with the airline’s requirements, and the battery terminals are protected.
• An electric car: accepted with prior approval from the air carrier, at a state of charge it specifies.
• Papers: the same as for road transport, plus the air waybill.
• Price: set on request according to the car’s dimensions and weight and the flight available.

Air costs several times the road, so we suggest it only when time or the value of the car is reason enough. If you have urgent parcels along with the car, air freight for them starts from SAR 14 a kilogram, with details on the air freight page.

Steps to ship your car from Saudi Arabia to Qatar

The whole order is completed from your mobile, and you need not visit us. Eight steps in order, the third and fourth being the most important, because the traffic-department date and the carrier date must match:

1. Send the car’s details: type, model and year of manufacture, your city, and the delivery address in Qatar.
2. Receive the price by item: the transport charge, insurance, traffic-department fees and an estimate of the Qatari duty.
3. We review the papers: registration, fines, lien and the age condition, before any payment.
4. We set the two dates: the day the plates are dropped and the loading day, one after the other.
5. Collection: the car is photographed and its condition report signed, then it is loaded and secured.
6. Crossing: the export declaration at Salwa, and the import declaration and inspection at Abu Samra.
7. Delivery: the car is unloaded at the consignee’s address, and he inspects it and signs.
8. After delivery: we guide you to the technical inspection, insurance and registration if you ask.

Car shipping from Qatar to Saudi Arabia

The service runs both ways. The car is collected from Doha or any Qatari city once its export is completed with Qatari traffic, crosses Abu Samra then Salwa, and is delivered in your city in the Kingdom. The rule in force for Saudi import is that a light vehicle must be no more than 5 years old and must meet the approved specifications, and customs duty and value added tax are collected on it unless a maqasa document exempts it from the duty. We review these conditions with you before loading, because a car that does not meet them stops at the border. A Saudi returning with his own car that left on its plates as a temporary entry needs none of this.

Tips before shipping your car to Qatar

This is the gist of what recurs with customers on this route. Most of it concerns the days before loading rather than loading day itself, and those who followed it paid no storage charge and did not wait at a border:

• Ask about the age condition and the maqasa document before buying the car, not after.
• Book the carrier first, then drop the plates.
• Request the bank letter at least a week ahead if the car is financed.
• Send the consignee’s Qatari ID early so the Abu Samra declaration can be prepared.
• Declare the true value, as the customs valuation rests on it and so does the insurance.
• Choose the enclosed carrier for special paintwork and a new car.
• Read the terms of the contract: what the price includes, when the car is delivered, and who pays storage charges.
• Be reachable by phone on crossing day, as customs may ask for a clarification.

A wider guide for all destinations is on the car shipping guide page.

How do you choose a car shipping company to Qatar?

Price alone is not enough to judge. A company that asks you about the year of manufacture and the lien before giving you a figure knows this route. One that gives you a figure in seconds without a question will surprise you at the border. These signs tell the two apart:

What you ask about	Reassuring sign	Warning sign
Legal standing	A commercial registration and a written contract in the firm’s name	A driver with no firm and no contract
Knowledge of Qatar’s conditions	Asks about the year of manufacture and the maqasa first	“Every car gets in”
The carrier	Names its type and sends its photo	“A flatbed” with no detail
Condition report	Photos and a signature at collection and delivery	Collection with no record at all
Insurance	A policy with a set sum and your car named	“Guaranteed” by word of mouth
The border	A broker on both sides within the service	Its role ends at Salwa
Price	Itemised, with what lies outside it	One figure that changes after loading

Common mistakes when shipping cars from Saudi Arabia to Qatar

• Buying a car for export that is older than registration in Qatar accepts.
• Dropping the plates before booking the carrier, so the export-plate period runs out.
• Exporting a car that will return in a month, when a temporary entry would have done.
• Forgetting a small fine or an old lien never released in the record.
• Leaving bags and appliances in the car on the idea that they “go with it”.
• Declaring a value below the real one, so the valuation is redone and release is delayed.
• Choosing an open carrier for a car whose paintwork cannot take the sand of the road.

Why Home Safe for shipping your car to Qatar?

Because moving a car to Qatar is a chain of traffic department, carrier and two border posts, and its weakest link decides the arrival date. We hold the whole chain: we review the papers before you pay, choose the carrier that suits your car, clear on both sides, and deliver at the door with a photographed report.

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

Related articles and pages

• Car shipping company from Riyadh to Qatar
• Car shipping company from Jeddah to Qatar
• Car shipping company from Saudi Arabia to the UAE
• Car shipping from Saudi Arabia
• International shipping company from Saudi Arabia to Qatar
• Shipping from Saudi Arabia to the Gulf states

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Frequently asked questions about car shipping from Saudi Arabia to Qatar

How much does it cost to ship a car from Saudi Arabia to Qatar?

The transport charge starts from SAR 1,100 for a saloon riding an open carrier with other cars, from SAR 1,750 if it is a 4×4, and from SAR 3,500 if you choose an enclosed carrier for it; these are the starting prices from Riyadh. From Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah they start from SAR 2,020 for a saloon, SAR 2,570 for a 4×4 and SAR 3,860 for an enclosed carrier. A single-car flatbed, a motorcycle and air freight are priced on request. Qatari customs duty is a separate item paid at the Abu Samra post. To ask about your own car: 0552803439.

How many days does a car need to reach Doha?

That depends on your city and on the kind of carrier. From Dammam and Al-Ahsa it arrives in one to two days, from Riyadh in one to 4 days, and from Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah in 3 to 7 days. A single-car flatbed is always quicker because it does not wait for other cars, while a shared carrier is cheaper but only moves once it is full.

Which crossing does the car enter Qatar through?

Through the Salwa post in Al-Ahsa governorate to the Qatari Abu Samra post facing it. There is no other land crossing between the two countries, which is why every carrier passes it whatever the loading city.

What papers are needed to export a car from Saudi Arabia?

A valid registration, the owner’s ID or his residence permit and passport, the export certificate with export plates from the traffic department once fines are paid, a release letter from the lender if the car is financed, and the details of whoever receives it in Qatar. We go through these papers with you before the car climbs onto the carrier.

Can I export a car that is financed or on a lease-to-own contract?

It cannot leave for good while it is pledged. What is needed is either to settle the balance and move the title to your name, or a no-objection letter from the bank or finance company permitting the export. Ask for the letter early, as some lenders take days to issue it.

How much is customs duty on a car in Qatar?

The rule in force is 5% of the value assessed by Qatari customs, not of the purchase price you state yourself. A car whose duty was already paid when it entered the Gulf states is exempt from this charge if the maqasa clearance document travels with it. We ask you about that document before shipping because it changes the whole cost.

Does Qatar set an age limit for used cars?

Yes. The rule in force is that a light vehicle must be no more than 5 years from its year of manufacture to be registered, with exceptions for certain cases. The condition changes by decision, so send us the year of manufacture before you pay for the car or book the carrier and we will confirm what applies.

Do I need to export the car if I am only visiting?

No. A visitor enters on his Saudi plates as a temporary entry, and a valid registration, insurance covering Qatar and an authorisation if he is not the owner are enough. Permanent export is for someone selling the car there or moving his residence and wanting Qatari plates.

What is the difference between a shared carrier and a single-car flatbed?

The shared one carries several cars that split the charge, so it is the cheapest, but it leaves when its load is complete. The single one carries your car alone from your door and leaves at the time you set, so it arrives sooner at a higher price. The first suits someone with days in hand, the second someone in a hurry.

Do you ship luxury and classic cars?

Yes, in an enclosed carrier with a low-angle ramp or a hydraulic lift, and the car is tied down by the tyres with fabric straps, not by the body. Its condition is recorded in photos and video before loading, and the insured sum is raised to its actual value.

Can I leave belongings inside the car?

We advise against it, and the practice at Qatari customs is that the car holds nothing but the basic tool kit and the spare wheel. Personal belongings are not covered by transit insurance and can slow the inspection. Send them as a separate luggage shipment.

Do you move a car that does not run?

Yes. We need to know when you book, because a non-running car is pulled onto the carrier by a lift or winch, and its wheels must turn and its steering must work. It is priced on request according to its condition.

When should I book?

A week to 10 days before the move for a shared carrier, so that we can line up the traffic-department date with the loading date. Around the Eids, the summer holiday and the days of tournaments and exhibitions in Doha it is wise to book earlier. A single-car flatbed is arranged in one to two days.

Do you bring cars from Qatar to Saudi Arabia?

Yes. The car is collected from your address in Qatar once its export is completed there, crosses Abu Samra then Salwa, and reaches your city in the Kingdom. Saudi import has an age and specification condition that we review with you before loading.

Do you ship cars by air to Doha?

Yes, for a luxury or urgent car. It is loaded on a freighter aircraft from Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam airport to Hamad International Airport and handed over in Doha. The price is set on request once the car’s dimensions and weight are known.