As a shipping company from Abu Dhabi to Jordan, Al Basmah International Shipping moves whole villas, the family car, parcels and goods from Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Reem Island and every part of Abu Dhabi by road, in a dedicated closed truck that leaves through Al Ghuwaifat and crosses Saudi Arabia in customs transit to the Al Omari border, reaching Amman in roughly 6 to 9 days including clearance. Full containers can go by sea from Khalifa Port to Aqaba, and urgent parcels by air from Abu Dhabi airport to Queen Alia International Airport.
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Abu Dhabi is the closest emirate to the Al Ghuwaifat border, so a truck loaded in Khalifa City in the morning reaches the Saudi border within hours, well ahead of trucks coming from Dubai and Sharjah. What really sets Abu Dhabi shipments to Jordan apart, though, is their size: four- and five-bedroom villas, large majlis rooms, crystal chandeliers, solid-wood cabinets and dining rooms for ten. This guide explains how we size the truck for a whole villa, how heavy and delicate pieces are packed, and how delivery works in Khalda, with its stone houses and sloping streets. Orders are received on WhatsApp +971557643821 around the clock.
The villa in one truck
- A 4- to 5-bedroom villa with a majlis usually needs a 12 to 13.6 m closed trailer, decided after a survey, not by guesswork.
- Chandeliers are taken down and packed piece by piece in special boxes, heavy cabinets are dismantled and numbered, and big sofas are wrapped and loaded upright where possible.
- The loading plan: heavy items at the bottom and front, delicate items on top, and what is unloaded first in Khalda goes in last.
- The family minivan travels in an enclosed car carrier after its model year is checked against Jordan’s rules.
- Abu Dhabi is the closest point to Al Ghuwaifat; transit to Amman is about 6 to 9 days including clearance.
- In Khalda we check with the receiver beforehand: the street slope, where the truck can stop and the entrance to the house.
Why the road to Jordan starts one step ahead in Abu Dhabi
Because the only practical land route from the UAE to Jordan passes through the Al Ghuwaifat border in Al Dhafra, inside the emirate of Abu Dhabi. A truck loaded in Abu Dhabi covers a shorter distance to the border than one from Dubai, making the whole journey more than a hundred kilometres shorter, roughly. That does not change the total transit time much, since border clearance decides the number of days, but it does mean a dedicated truck that leaves Abu Dhabi in the morning comfortably reaches the border the same day.
- Loading at the villa, sealing the load and completing export papers.
- West through Al Dhafra to Al Ghuwaifat, then Saudi Al Batha under transit procedures; the load is sealed and not cleared inside Saudi Arabia.
- Riyadh, then north through Qassim and Al Jouf to Al Haditha.
- Jordan’s Al Omari border, with clearance there or at an inland customs centre.
- Amman, then Khalda or any other district or city.
The documents must be complete before the truck leaves, because a sealed load cannot be changed on the road. At each border the team sends you a WhatsApp message saying where the shipment is. For the Saudi leg in detail, see shipping from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia.
What we ship from Abu Dhabi to Jordan
A whole villa
Master bedrooms, Arabic majlis and corner sofas, dining rooms, chandeliers, solid-wood cabinets, rugs, kitchen and laundry appliances, garden equipment.
The family car
A minivan or large SUV in an enclosed car carrier.
Personal items and parcels
Clothes, books, documents and gifts in a shared load, or by air if urgent.
Commercial goods
From Mussafah, the industrial area and Khalifa Economic Zones, with invoices, certificate of origin and the Jordanian importer’s details.
A villa shipment differs from an apartment shipment in three ways: a volume that a shared truck usually cannot take, pieces that need four people to lift, and delicate items that vibration will ruin if they are not secured. So every villa shipment starts with a survey, either in person or as a WhatsApp video call where we walk through the house with you room by room.
Moving a whole villa: how we size the truck
The direct answer: we calculate the volume in cubic metres from the item list or survey, then choose the vehicle that takes everything in one trip with room left for securing the load. The table below is approximate and helps you picture it, but it does not replace a survey; a villa with a large library and a full majlis can equal the volume of a villa one bedroom bigger:
| Home size | Approx. volume | Usual vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment | 10 – 15 m³ | Space in a shared truck or a small closed dyna of about 3 tons |
| 2 – 3 bedroom apartment | 20 – 35 m³ | 7-ton dyna or 10-ton lorry |
| 3 – 4 bedroom villa | 40 – 60 m³ | 10-ton lorry or closed trailer |
| 5+ bedroom villa with majlis | 60 – 90 m³ | 13.6 m closed trailer, sometimes an extra truck |
If the volume exceeds what one trailer can take, we do not press furniture on top of furniture to save a truck; that is what breaks tables and splits sofas. Instead we suggest a trailer plus a dyna, or shipping less: many families find at the survey that the maid’s room furniture or the garden equipment is not worth the cost of moving.
Chandeliers
A chandelier is never shipped hanging in its frame. The crystal pieces are taken off and each is wrapped in soft paper and placed in small divided boxes, while the metal frame is packed separately in a wooden crate or a reinforced carton padded on every side. We photograph the chandelier before taking it down so it is easy to rehang in Jordan. If it hangs from a high ceiling in a double-height hall, we bring the right ladder rather than relying on a chair.
Heavy cabinets and wooden bedrooms
Solid-wood cabinets and classic bedroom sets are very heavy as one piece and will not pass the stairs of a house in Khalda unless dismantled. We take them apart, number every panel and door, bag the screws and hinges with the piece name, and wrap polished surfaces in foam and then board, with special guards on the corners. Mirrors fixed to dressing tables are removed, crated and loaded upright.
Big sofas and majlis seating
Corner sofas are separated into their sections, and majlis cushions and back rests are wrapped in sealed plastic and then blankets. Light-coloured fabric needs an extra layer, because desert dust gets into any small gap, and because Amman’s winter is wet and a sofa can get soaked during unloading if it is not sealed.
The loading plan
- Heavy appliances and dismantled cabinets on the truck floor and towards the front, to spread the weight over the axles.
- Sofas and mattresses above them and along the sides, strapped at regular intervals.
- Chandeliers, mirrors and screens on top or in a separate secured section, with nothing placed on them.
- What you will need first in Jordan, such as children’s beds and basic kitchen items, goes in last so it comes out first.
- A numbered contents list matching the loading order, so the delivery crew in Khalda knows where each piece goes.
Warning: Do not ask for a whole villa to be loaded on a truck smaller than its volume to cut the cost; pressing and stacking is the most common cause of furniture damage on long roads, and the difference in truck price is less than the cost of repairing a single dining room.
Pickup areas in Abu Dhabi
We collect from villas, apartments and warehouses across Abu Dhabi and its suburbs. In gated communities we arrange the entry permit with management before loading day, and in towers we book the lift and loading bay.
- Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Shakhbout City, Al Shamkha, Al Falah and Baniyas.
- Al Raha Beach, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and Al Reem Island.
- Al Mushrif, Al Bateen, Al Karamah, Al Khalidiyah, Al Muroor, Al Manhal and downtown.
- Mussafah and the industrial area for commercial shipments and warehouses, and Khalifa Economic Zones.
- Al Reef, Al Mureef and the villa communities along the Abu Dhabi–Al Ain road.
If you live in Al Ain there is a separate guide: shipping from Al Ain to Jordan. If you live in Dubai and are moving an apartment home for good, the details are in shipping from Dubai to Jordan.
Transit times from Abu Dhabi to Jordanian cities
The times below are door to door including clearance, and approximate:
| City | Approx. road time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Amman | 6 – 9 days | Khalda, Dabouq and Tla’ Al Ali are hillside districts; access arranged a day ahead |
| Zarqa & Salt | 6 – 9 days | Salt is built on hills and may need a smaller truck |
| Irbid & Mafraq | 7 – 10 days | Northern Jordan, relatively close to the Al Omari road |
| Madaba & Karak | 7 – 10 days | South of Amman; time agreed with the receiver |
| Aqaba | 7 – 10 days | By road, or by sea from Khalifa Port for containers |
A villa shipment usually goes on a dedicated truck, which means it leaves on the date you set rather than waiting for a full load. Small parcels go in a shared truck that leaves when it fills.
Shipping the family car from Abu Dhabi to Jordan
The family car in Abu Dhabi is often a seven- or eight-seat minivan or a large SUV. We ship it in an enclosed car carrier that protects it from dust, gravel and sun on a long road. Before booking we check the car’s model year and specifications against Jordan’s current rules for imported cars, because Jordan sets conditions on vehicle age and specification, and taxes vary by engine and fuel type. If the car is not accepted, we tell you before you pay anything towards exporting it.
- Ownership papers, plus an export certificate and plate cancellation from Abu Dhabi traffic.
- The owner’s passport copy, and an authorisation for whoever will receive in Jordan.
- Any bank lien released before export.
- The car empty of belongings; child seats and the pushchair travel with the furniture, not inside the car.
Ask the team about optional insurance for the car, especially if it is new or high in value.
Air freight from Abu Dhabi to Jordan
Air freight from Abu Dhabi airport to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman usually takes 2 to 4 days door to door including clearance. Villa families use it for what cannot wait for the truck: children’s school files, work equipment, the season’s clothes, or spare parts a factory or workshop in Jordan needs. Furniture does not go by air, because the cost exceeds its value.
- Price is by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher; volumetric = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000.
- Lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes are restricted by air; tell the team before packing.
- One large carton can cost more than two small ones of the same weight.
Sea freight from Khalifa Port to Aqaba
For full containers and heavy commercial cargo there is the sea option: from Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi to Aqaba port via the Red Sea, roughly 2 to 3 weeks sailing, then port handling, clearance and the road to Amman or any city. For villas, road is usually faster and better suited, because the truck goes from the villa door to the house door without transfers between two ports, but sea can suit a large commercial shipment that is not in a hurry.
Documents required
Villa furniture and personal effects
A Jordanian who has lived abroad for a year or more and returns for good can usually import used furniture and personal effects free of customs duty once, after proving the stay abroad has ended, importing the goods within about six months of arrival, and attending clearance in person or through an official authorisation. The team reviews your case before shipping, and we do not promise the exemption because Jordan Customs decides. General sales tax (16% at the standard rate) and other fees may be charged on anything the exemption does not cover, and foreigners, new items and commercial quantities are normally dutiable.
- Passport copy.
- Proof the residence abroad has ended, such as a cancelled UAE residence or an end-of-contract letter.
- Family book.
- A detailed, numbered contents list; for villas we list each room separately.
Commercial goods
- Commercial invoice and packing list.
- A UAE certificate of origin for the Greater Arab Free Trade Area customs-duty exemption, with sales tax and other fees still applying.
- The Jordanian importer’s details.
- Approvals from the Jordan Food and Drug Administration or the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization for food, medicines, cosmetics and many electrical products.
The car
- Ownership, export certificate and plate cancellation.
- Owner’s passport.
- An empty car.
Prohibited and restricted items
Narcotics, weapons and ammunition without a permit, counterfeit goods and gambling equipment are not shipped. Drones, some medicines and some wireless devices need a prior permit. In villas we sometimes find hunting rifles, decorative swords or a child’s drone; tell us about them before packing so we know what can go and what needs a permit.
Prices for shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jordan
The price of moving a villa cannot be known before its volume is. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price: a video or photos of the rooms, the number of bedrooms and majlis rooms, the large pieces such as chandeliers and dining sets, your area in Abu Dhabi and the district in Jordan. Or fill in the quote request form.
What decides the price?
| Factor | Effect on the price |
|---|---|
| Volume in m³ | Sets the type and number of trucks |
| Dedicated or shared | Villas are usually dedicated; small parcels shared |
| Delicate items | Chandeliers, mirrors and glass need special crates |
| Dismantling and reassembly | Heavy cabinets and classic bedroom sets |
| Access in Jordan | A steep street in Khalda may need a smaller truck and hand-carrying |
| City | Amman is closer than Karak or Aqaba |
| The car | Minivan or SUV size and the enclosed carrier |
| Papers | Exempt personal effects differ from commercial goods |
Delivery in Khalda: stone houses and sloping streets
Khalda is one of west Amman’s districts, with stone houses and villas, many built on more than one level, and streets that slope and are sometimes narrow. A large truck cannot always stop in front of the house, and the entrance may be a flight of steps up or down to the garden. So the team calls the receiver the day before delivery: how steep the street is, where the truck can stop, whether there are steps to the door and how wide the entrance is. If needed, the goods are transferred to a smaller truck before arrival, and the large pieces are carried in by hand.
- At delivery the furniture is unloaded in the room order written on the list, and dismantled pieces are reassembled if you ask.
- Chandeliers are delivered in their boxes and can be hung if the ceiling points are ready.
- We also deliver in Dabouq, Tla’ Al Ali, Sweifieh, Abdoun, Shmeisani, Marj Al Hamam, Abu Nseir and Tabarbour, and in Zarqa, Salt, Irbid, Madaba, Jerash, Ajloun, Mafraq, Karak and Aqaba.
- Amman’s winter is cold and rainy with occasional snow; on wet days we delay unloading or cover the path from the truck to the door.
Before you travel, send the receiver in Khalda a simple plan of the new house: which room is for the children and where the majlis goes. The delivery crew then puts every piece in its place the first time, and nobody has to move a heavy wardrobe twice.
How to ship your villa from Abu Dhabi to Jordan
- Contact us on WhatsApp +971557643821 and send a video of the villa and the delivery address.
- Video or in-person survey, volume calculation and choice of truck.
- Review of the exemption papers and the car documents.
- Packing day: chandeliers and cabinets taken down, every piece wrapped, the list written room by room.
- Loading to plan, sealing the load and departure through Al Ghuwaifat.
- WhatsApp messages at Al Batha, Al Haditha, Al Omari and when clearance starts.
- Clearance in Jordan, then delivery in Khalda and reassembly.
Tips for villa families
- Start well before your travel date; a villa can take a full day or more just to pack.
- Decide what will not go to Jordan before the survey: maid’s room furniture, large barbecue equipment, or appliances that will not suit your new home.
- Photograph chandeliers and valuable pieces before they come down, and ask the team about optional insurance.
- Make sure the house in Jordan is ready to receive: power, keys and a place for the truck to stop.
- Do not ship the car before we have confirmed it will be accepted in Jordan.
Warning: Gold, cash, passports and original documents never go on the truck. Any piece not written on the contents list can delay clearance of the entire villa at Al Omari.
Frequently asked questions about shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jordan
Can one truck take a whole villa?
A 4- to 5-bedroom villa usually needs a 12 to 13.6 m closed trailer. A larger villa, or one with many majlis rooms and bookcases, may need an extra truck; we decide after the survey.
How long does shipping from Abu Dhabi to Amman take?
About 6 to 9 days by road including clearance; Irbid, Karak and Aqaba about 7 to 10 days.
How are chandeliers shipped without breaking?
The crystal pieces are taken off and wrapped one by one in divided boxes, the frame is packed separately, and they ride at the top of the truck with no weight on them.
Do you ship the minivan in an enclosed carrier?
Yes, after checking its model year and specifications against Jordan’s current rules for imported cars.
The street outside my house in Khalda is steep and narrow. Can you still deliver?
Yes. We coordinate with the receiver before delivery day, use a smaller truck for the last leg if needed, and carry the pieces inside by hand.
Is villa furniture exempt from customs?
Used furniture belonging to a Jordanian returning for good after a year or more abroad is usually exempt once, with proof the residence has ended. We review your case before shipping and customs decides.
How will I know where the shipment is?
The team sends you a WhatsApp message at each stage: leaving Al Ghuwaifat, Al Batha, Al Haditha, Al Omari, clearance and delivery.
How do I get the price for moving my villa?
Send the details on WhatsApp and you will receive the price, with a video of the rooms and the delivery address.
To compare shipping from the other emirates, see the main guide to shipping from the UAE to Jordan.
Your villa is in Abu Dhabi and your next home is in Jordan?
Send a video of the villa, and we will size the truck and arrange the packing and delivery in Khalda.
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