Shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah usually goes by road, and the shipment arrives in about three to five days from pickup to delivery in Jeddah, customs clearance included. Abu Dhabi is the closest major UAE city to the Al Ghuwaifat border, so the trip starts with a shorter first leg; the truck then crosses Al Batha, Al Ahsa and Riyadh and heads west to the Red Sea coast. At Al Basmah International Shipping we move complete majlis sets with their sofas and cushions, whole households, and the family car in an enclosed trailer, and we help you get the documents ready before loading day. Orders are taken on WhatsApp +971557643821 around the clock; our branches are in Dubai – Deira – Port Saeed Street and Sharjah – Industrial Area 18, and the crew comes to your address in Abu Dhabi.
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The practical summary
- Approximate transit to Jeddah, Makkah, Taif and Madinah: 3–5 days including clearance; a shared load may wait until it is full.
- The majlis ships as a numbered set: sofas, back cushions, pillows and rugs in covers and bags marked with the set number and piece count.
- The family car in an enclosed trailer starts from 4,100 AED; on an open carrier from 2,750 AED for an SUV and 2,000 AED for a sedan.
- Core documents: passport copy, iqama, residence visa or Saudi ID, and a detailed contents list.
- Furniture in a shared truck starts from 90 AED per cubic metre; the final price depends on volume, packing and city.
- The team messages you on WhatsApp at every stage, from pickup to your door.
How does a shipment travel from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah?
There is one practical road between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah, and every truck takes it: west on the E11 to Al Sila and the Al Ghuwaifat crossing, then across Saudi Arabia from east to west:
- Abu Dhabi → Al Ghuwaifat: the shortest start of any major UAE city; the Western Region – Madinat Zayed, Al Ruwais, Ghayathi – lies on the same road.
- Al Ghuwaifat, then Al Batha: UAE exit formalities, then electronic clearance on the Fasah platform.
- Al Batha → Hofuf → Riyadh: the stretch shared by the Jeddah and Riyadh routes.
- Riyadh → Taif → Jeddah: across the central plains, over the Hijaz highlands, then down to the coast.
The shorter first leg saves hours but does not change the nature of the trip: a full crossing of the peninsula from the Gulf to the Red Sea, which is why Jeddah takes about a day longer than Riyadh. To compare the route to the capital, see the Abu Dhabi to Riyadh guide; for other Saudi cities, the Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia guide; and for every emirate, the UAE to Jeddah guide.
What do we move from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah?
Most people shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah are families moving a whole home, and in many of those homes the majlis is the biggest item in the load. We also handle cargo, parcels and equipment:
Majlis and Arabic seating
Arabic sofas, floor seating, back cushions and pillows, armrests, rugs and curtains, and coffee tables.
The whole household
Bedrooms, children’s rooms, kitchen and appliances, with dismantling, packing and reassembly in Jeddah.
Family cars
Seven-seat minivans, SUVs and sedans, in an enclosed trailer or on an open carrier.
Small loads and parcels
Suitcases, cartons of clothes and books, the contents of a single room; parcels from 45 AED by land.
Commercial goods
From warehouses in Musaffah, KIZAD and Khalifa Port to Jeddah’s warehouses and industrial areas.
Equipment
Office equipment, light machinery and gym equipment, secured on wooden pallets.
Moving a majlis: sofas, cushions and floor seating
In Abu Dhabi homes the majlis is often the largest room with the most pieces: Arabic sofas or floor seating, back cushions, side pillows, armrests, a big rug, coffee tables and sometimes curtains made to fit the windows. The challenge is not weight but numbers – dozens of similar pieces that, if mixed up on the road, turn reassembly in Jeddah into a puzzle that takes a whole day.
Back cushions and pillows
We gather each set’s cushions and pillows into large clean bags, marked with the set number, piece count and colour. Fabric is covered before film goes on, so the plastic doesn’t stick to it in the heat of the road, and the bag is sealed well – exposed foam soaks up Jeddah’s humidity and holds on to the smell.
Sofas and seating bases
Arabic sofas are wrapped in moving blankets and then film, with corner guards on the corners and carved wooden arms. Wooden bases of floor seating are stacked with heavy-board separators, and any legs that come off are bagged and tied to the piece they belong to.
Rugs and curtains
Rugs are rolled, never folded – folding leaves permanent lines in hand-made rugs – and then tightly wrapped. Curtains come off their rails and go into wardrobe cartons with a note of which window they came from, since made-to-measure curtains only fit their own window.
Measure your Jeddah majlis before shipping
Many families move from a spacious Abu Dhabi villa into a smaller flat or villa in Jeddah. Measure the new sitting room and decide before loading whether the whole set fits or only part of it. Pieces that won’t have a place can be sold in Abu Dhabi rather than paying to ship them and then looking for room.
Pickup areas in Abu Dhabi
We collect from any address on Abu Dhabi island and its suburbs, out to the Western Region. Our branches are in Dubai and Sharjah; the crew comes to your address and everything is coordinated on WhatsApp:
- On the island: Al Khalidiyah, Al Bateen, Al Mushrif, Al Karamah, the Corniche area.
- Islands and waterfronts: Al Reem Island, Saadiyat, Yas, Al Raha Beach.
- Residential suburbs: Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Shamkha, Al Falah, Baniyas, Al Shahama.
- Industrial and commercial: Musaffah, KIZAD, Khalifa Port.
- Western Region: Madinat Zayed, Al Ruwais, Ghayathi, Al Sila – all on the way to the border.
In towers and gated communities on Reem, Yas and Saadiyat, request a move-out permit from management and book the service lift before pickup; a truck that arrives without a permit waits at the gate.
The family car to Jeddah in an enclosed trailer
A family relocating from Abu Dhabi usually has a big car with them: a seven-seat minivan or an SUV that does the school runs. We ship it on a dedicated car carrier and recommend an enclosed trailer for the Jeddah road, because the car stays protected from dust, sun and flying gravel for the whole crossing and arrives as clean as it left.
- An enclosed trailer starts from 4,100 AED; an open carrier from 2,000 AED for a sedan and 2,750 AED for an SUV. Minivan pricing depends on size – send the make and model for a price.
- The car ships empty of personal belongings: child seats, the pushchair, sunshades and anything in the boot all go in cartons with the furniture.
- Two family cars can travel on the same trip and arrive in Jeddah together.
- Age rule: a used car must not be more than five years old from its model year, counted back without the current year.
- Before shipping you need the export certificate and plate surrender from Abu Dhabi’s vehicle licensing authority – details in the documents section below.
Shipping time from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah
By road, allow about three to five days from pickup in Abu Dhabi to delivery, clearance included. A dedicated truck leaves on your chosen date; a shared load may wait a few days until it is full.
| Destination | Approximate time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Jeddah: residential districts north, centre and south | 3–5 days | Household furniture, majlis sets and cars |
| Industrial areas and warehouses in south Jeddah | 3–5 days | Commercial goods and equipment |
| Makkah | 3–5 days | Delivered on the same trip |
| Taif | 3–5 days | On the truck’s way to Jeddah |
| Madinah and Yanbu | 3–5 days | Depending on load planning |
| By sea: Khalifa Port → Jeddah Islamic Port | About 5–7 days sailing | Full commercial containers, plus handling and clearance |
| By air: Abu Dhabi airport → King Abdulaziz International Airport | 1–3 days | Documents and light urgent items |
All times are approximate and can change with border congestion or a missing document.
Getting the documents ready before loading day
Clearance on the Saudi side is electronic through the Fasah platform, and what holds shipments up most at Al Batha is a missing paper or a vague contents list. That’s why we ask for document copies before the truck leaves Abu Dhabi, not when it reaches the border.
The personal effects file
- A clear copy of the data page of the owner’s passport.
- Saudi iqama or residence visa, or the national ID if the owner is Saudi.
- A detailed contents list in Arabic or English.
- The items must be used personal effects; new items in commercial quantities are dutiable.
How to write the contents list
A good list goes room by room and matches the numbers written on the cartons. Don’t write “miscellaneous items”; write what is actually inside:
- Carton number, room and contents in plain words: “winter clothes and shoes”, “glass kitchenware”.
- For the majlis: number of sofa pieces, back cushions and pillows, rugs and coffee tables.
- Appliances by type: fridge, washing machine, TV, computer.
- Unused new items on a separate list, so they don’t get mixed with personal effects.
- One copy sent to the team on WhatsApp, and a printed copy kept with you.
Car papers
- Vehicle registration.
- Export certificate and plate surrender from Abu Dhabi’s vehicle licensing authority.
- A copy of the owner’s passport or ID.
- Special cases, such as a car registered to a company or to someone who is not travelling, are reviewed with the team before booking.
Commercial goods
- Commercial invoice (certified when required), packing list and certificate of origin.
- Goods of UAE origin with a GCC certificate of origin are exempt from customs duty; Saudi VAT of 15% applies on imports.
- A SABER conformity certificate for many consumer products, and SFDA requirements for food, cosmetics and medicines.
- A commercial registration for the consignee in Saudi Arabia.
Keep the originals with you when you travel and send copies to the team – originals never go in the truck.
Commercial goods from Musaffah and KIZAD to Jeddah
An Abu Dhabi trader supplying Jeddah can choose a part load in a shared truck, or a dedicated vehicle anywhere from a 3-ton dyna to a 12–13.6 m closed trailer for a full load. Delivery is to Jeddah’s warehouses and industrial areas south of the city, or near Jeddah Islamic Port. Goods of UAE origin with a GCC certificate of origin are exempt from customs duty, 15% VAT still applies, and SABER and SFDA requirements depend on the product.
By sea: Khalifa Port to Jeddah Islamic Port
Full containers of heavy goods can go by sea from Khalifa Port to Jeddah Islamic Port; sailing alone takes about 5–7 days, plus port handling and clearance. In most cases the sea is slower than the road, but it is worth comparing when the load is large and the consignee is near the port. Household furniture and cars are better by road, since they reach the door directly with no extra transfer from the port.
Air freight from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah
When you need something before the truck arrives, air is the answer: original papers, a work laptop, or a couple of bags of the children’s things to cover the first week. The shipment leaves Abu Dhabi airport and lands at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, usually within one to three days including clearance.
- Air does not suit furniture or majlis sets; pricing is based on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
- Lithium batteries in devices, liquids and perfumes face air restrictions – mention them before booking.
- Air pricing depends on weight, dimensions and contents: send the details on WhatsApp and we will reply with the price.
Arrival day in Jeddah
Before the truck enters Jeddah, the team calls you on WhatsApp to set the time and asks about the floor, the lift and where the truck can stop. Families coming from Abu Dhabi often settle in residential districts such as Al Naeem, Al Muhammadiyah, Obhur, Al Basateen, Al Salamah, Al Rawdah, Al Safa and Al Marwah, where delivery reaches the door directly.
- The majlis first: send us a photo or a simple sketch of the Jeddah sitting room, and we’ll arrange the sofas and cushions by their numbers the way you want, not at random.
- Towers and flats: book the service lift and ask management about unloading hours.
- Narrow lanes: in Al Balad and some southern districts the goods move to a smaller truck for the last leg.
- Humidity: open the cushion bags in an air-conditioned room and don’t leave cartons in the yard.
- The final check: match cartons and pieces against the contents list before the crew leaves.
Packing for a long road and a humid city
Your goods spend days crossing the desert, then arrive on a humid coast, and the packing has to allow for both:
- Wood and upholstered furniture get a fabric cover, then tight film.
- Moisture absorbers in cartons of clothes, books and electronics.
- Fridges and washing machines emptied and dried the day before loading.
- Glassware and china in double-wall cartons with dividers.
- Marble, glass and large mirrors in made-to-measure wooden crates where needed – ask for the price with photos.
What cannot be shipped to Saudi Arabia
- Narcotics, alcohol and pork products.
- Weapons and ammunition without permits.
- Counterfeit goods and gambling equipment.
- Drones and some medicines need prior permits.
If you’re unsure about an item, ask the team before packing it.
Abu Dhabi to Jeddah shipping prices start from
| Service | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Furniture, household goods and majlis sets in a shared truck | 90 AED per cubic metre |
| Small parcels by land | 45 AED |
| Sedan on an open carrier | 2,000 AED |
| SUV on an open carrier | 2,750 AED |
| Car in an enclosed trailer | 4,100 AED |
| Dedicated truck, air freight, containers | Send the details on WhatsApp for a price |
The final price depends on volume, weight, delivery city, packing and documents. You can also send your request through the quote page.
What decides the cost?
- Furniture volume in cubic metres – a large majlis alone can fill the space of two rooms.
- Truck type: shared is cheaper, dedicated is faster and leaves on your date.
- Number of cars and carrier type: open or enclosed.
- Dismantling and reassembly, extra packing or wooden crates.
- Floors and lifts in Abu Dhabi and in Jeddah.
- Delivery city: Jeddah, Makkah, Taif or Madinah.
- Complete documents – anything missing means waiting at the border.
How to book your Abu Dhabi to Jeddah shipment
- Send photos of the majlis and rooms, the car’s make and model, and both addresses on WhatsApp +971557643821.
- We work out the volume, the truck and the carrier, and send you the price.
- You send document copies and the contents list; we agree payment details and the pickup date.
- The crew comes to your Abu Dhabi home, dismantles, wraps and numbers the majlis and furniture, and the car goes onto the carrier.
- You get WhatsApp updates on leaving Abu Dhabi, at the border crossings, on entering Saudi Arabia and before arrival in Jeddah.
- Furniture is unloaded and reassembled in your Jeddah home, you receive the car, and you check everything against the list.
Common mistakes when moving from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah
- Shipping the majlis without numbering, so the cushions of two similar sets get mixed.
- Leaving things in the boot or under the seats – the car must ship empty.
- Writing a general contents list that doesn’t match the cartons.
- Fixing the Jeddah delivery time before asking the building about unloading hours.
- Packing original documents and jewellery instead of carrying them.
Warning: Check the car’s age before issuing the export certificate; a car more than five years old from its model year cannot enter Saudi Arabia as a used imported car.
Hijaz cities served by the same shipment
- Makkah: close to Jeddah and served on the same trip.
- Taif: the truck crosses its highlands on the way to Jeddah.
- Madinah and Yanbu: north of Jeddah, for household and commercial loads.
If part of the family or the household is in Dubai, see the Dubai to Jeddah guide to plan both shipments together.
Frequently asked questions about shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah
How long does shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah take?
About three to five days by road from pickup to delivery, clearance included. Makkah, Taif and Madinah take about the same.
Your branches are in Dubai and Sharjah – do you collect from Abu Dhabi?
Yes. The crew comes to your address in Abu Dhabi or the Western Region, and everything is coordinated on WhatsApp +971557643821.
How do I make sure the majlis pieces don’t get mixed up?
Each set is numbered; its cushions and pillows go into bags marked with the set number and piece count, recorded on the contents list, and the set is reassembled in Jeddah by its numbers.
How much does it cost to ship a minivan from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah?
Minivan pricing depends on its size and the carrier type. For reference, an SUV starts from 2,750 AED on an open carrier and an enclosed trailer starts from 4,100 AED. Send the model for a price.
What documents do I need to move my household goods?
A passport copy, an iqama, residence visa or Saudi ID, and a detailed contents list in Arabic or English; the items must be used personal effects.
Can I ship before my Saudi iqama is issued?
A residence visa stands in for the iqama in the personal effects file. Send the documents you have and the team will review them before booking.
Should I ship to Jeddah by sea or by road?
Road suits household furniture and cars better – it is faster and reaches the door. Sea from Khalifa Port is worth comparing for full commercial containers.
How do I know where my shipment is?
The team sends you WhatsApp updates at each stage, and you can ask on the same number at any time.
From your home in Abu Dhabi to your home in Jeddah
Send photos of the majlis and rooms and your car’s model, and we’ll reply on WhatsApp with the plan and the price.
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