If your job is moving from a refinery or plant in Abu Dhabi to Jubail Industrial City, Al Basmah International Shipping is a shipping company from Abu Dhabi to Jubail that moves the whole family home: furniture, bookshelves, framed pictures, children’s things and the kitchen, together with the family car in an enclosed carrier, from Ruwais, Mussafah or Abu Dhabi city to your new home in Al Deffi or any Jubail district. The route is by road via Al Ghuwaifat and Al Batha, the transit is roughly 2 to 4 days including clearance, and we plan collection and delivery around your rotation schedule. Orders are taken on WhatsApp +971557643821 around the clock.
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From one plant town to another
- The family moves from an industrial town in Abu Dhabi to an industrial city in Jubail, so we fit both dates into your days off rotation.
- Every room gets a colour and number on its boxes, so the crew in Jubail knows where each box goes without asking.
- Bookshelves are taken apart, books go in small cartons, and framed pictures go in picture boxes with corner protectors.
- The family car in an enclosed carrier starts from 4,100 AED, or an SUV on an open carrier from 2,750 AED.
- Documents: passport copy, Saudi iqama or residence visa, and a contents list in Arabic or English.
Who is this guide for?
We wrote this guide for the families of engineers and technicians in Abu Dhabi’s oil, gas and petrochemical sector who have moved, or are about to move, to jobs at Jubail’s plants. This is not an ordinary shipment. The father often works a rotation, the mother runs the packing with the children, and the house in Jubail may be allocated housing that is handed over on a fixed day. So we build the plan around dates before anything else.
We also ship commercial goods, parcels and spare parts from Abu Dhabi to Jubail, but on this lane it is home moves that come up again and again.
What do we move from your Abu Dhabi home to Jubail?
- Bedrooms: beds, wardrobes and dressers, taken apart with every piece numbered and its screws bagged and tied to it.
- Majlis and living rooms: sofas, rugs and tables, with fabric wrapped against dust and moisture.
- Bookshelves and books: the heaviest part of most engineers’ homes, with technical books, references and certificate files.
- Framed pictures, photos and mirrors: in dedicated boxes, carried upright, never flat.
- Kitchen and appliances: fridge, washing machine and cookware, with the fridge emptied and dried the day before.
- Children’s things: toys, bikes and study desks.
- The family car: SUV or sedan, enclosed or open.
A box set per room: how we pack
What wears a family out after arrival is not the road; it is the week spent hunting through boxes. So we use a simple system: each room gets its own set of boxes with a colour and a number, labelled with the room’s name in the new house, not the old one.
Parents’ room
One colour and number 1 on every box; clothes go in wardrobe cartons and stay on their hangers.
Children’s rooms
A different colour for each child, plus a “first night” box with bedding and favourite toys that is opened before anything else.
Library and study
Small cartons for books so no box is heavier than one person can carry; important files travel with you, not on the truck.
Kitchen
Plates stand upright between dividers, each glass is wrapped on its own, and oils and liquids stay out of the shipment.
Bookshelves and books
A large bookcase is taken apart if it is built to be, and its panels are wrapped in bubble wrap with cardboard corners. Books never go into one big carton, however much quicker that seems: a big box of books gets so heavy that its bottom gives way while it is being carried. We use small cartons, large books lying flat and small ones standing, with paper filling the gaps so nothing shifts.
Framed pictures and photos
A framed picture is first covered with paper that will not stick to the surface, then taped across the glass in an X so it will not scatter if it breaks, then fitted with cardboard corners and placed in a flat picture box. On the truck the boxes stand upright side by side, never stacked. Large mirrors get the same treatment, with “glass” written on the box.
From experience: photograph each wall before taking down the pictures and shelves. The arrangement of family photos is hard to remember in a new house, and one picture saves a long debate on the first night.
Humidity in Jubail
Jubail’s coastal summers are hot and very humid, and Abu Dhabi is not far behind. Wood is wrapped well, metal parts are sealed, and electronics go in bags with silica gel. Nothing is packed wet; even the fridge and washing machine are dried a day before collection.
Moving around a rotation schedule
Many site engineers work a rotation, so many days on site and so many off. We plan it with you like this: collection in Abu Dhabi during your days off before you start in Jubail, or a family member stands in for you. Delivery in Jubail is set for a day when one of you is at the new house. And if the new housing will not be handed over for some days, we time the shipment to that date rather than have it arrive and wait.
- Send us the date of your last day in your current home and the date you get the keys in Jubail.
- If there is a long gap between the two, ask the team for the best timing for the move.
- The first-days bag stays with you in the car or on the plane: medicines, documents, phone charger and two days of clothes.
- A dedicated truck leaves on your date; a shared load is cheaper but may wait a few days to fill.
Pickup areas in Abu Dhabi
We collect from anywhere in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. These are the areas most engineers’ homes come from:
Ruwais and Al Dhafra
Staff housing for the Ruwais industrial complex, plus Al Mirfa and Madinat Zayed. Ruwais is the closest pickup point to the Al Ghuwaifat border on this lane.
Mussafah and KIZAD
Mussafah Industrial, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) and Khalifa Economic Zones: workshops, warehouses and staff homes.
Abu Dhabi city
Al Khalidiyah, Al Mushrif, Al Bateen, Al Reem Island, Al Zahiyah and Saadiyat Island.
Mainland suburbs
Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Baniyas, Shakhbout City, Al Raha and Yas Island.
If your home is in Al Ain, our guide to shipping from Al Ain to Jubail fits better, and anyone collecting from more than one emirate will find the details in our guide to shipping from the UAE to Jubail.
The road from Abu Dhabi to Jubail
The truck leaves Abu Dhabi heading west through Al Dhafra to the Al Ghuwaifat border post, then crosses to the Saudi Al Batha post, where clearance is done electronically on the Fasah platform. It continues to Al Ahsa (Hofuf) and Dammam, then north along the coastal highway for about 95 km to Jubail. The distance is shorter than from Dubai, since Abu Dhabi is on the same road, and collecting from Ruwais shortens it further because it is close to the border.
- Abu Dhabi (or Mussafah or Ruwais) → western Al Dhafra road → Al Ghuwaifat border post.
- Al Batha: list and document check, inspection and clearance on Fasah.
- Al Batha → Al Ahsa → Dammam → coastal highway → Jubail.
How long does shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jubail take?
A dedicated truck takes roughly 2 to 4 days door to door including clearance, and a shared load may wait a few extra days until the truck fills.
| Destination | Road (approx.) | Best for families | Air (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jubail Industrial City (Al Deffi, Al Fanateer, Al Huwailat, Jalmudah) | 2–4 days | Full household and the car | 1–2 days + about an hour from Dammam airport |
| Jubail city (Al Balad) | 2–4 days | Flats and houses in town | 1–2 days + about an hour |
| Ras Tanura | 2–4 days | Staff housing near nearby sites | 1–2 days + under two hours |
| Dammam | 2–3 days | First big city on the route | 1–2 days |
| Khobar | 2–3 days | For families living in Khobar and working in Jubail | 1–2 days |
Some families choose to live in Khobar or Dammam and commute to Jubail; for them we have guides to shipping from Abu Dhabi to Khobar and shipping from Abu Dhabi to Dammam.
Shipping the family car from Abu Dhabi to Jubail
A family SUV can go on an open multi-car carrier, or in an enclosed carrier if you want it shielded from dust and sun the whole way. Many families choose enclosed, because the car is the first thing they need in Jubail for school runs and shopping, and nobody wants it arriving with gravel chips.
- The car is handed over completely empty: no boxes in the boot and no child seats unless the team explicitly says so.
- A used car must not be more than 5 years old from its model year; special cases are checked with the team first.
- Documents: vehicle registration (mulkiya), export certificate and plate cancellation from Abu Dhabi’s vehicle licensing authority, and a copy of the owner’s passport or ID.
- We photograph the car from every side at collection and send the photos on WhatsApp.
Air freight from Abu Dhabi to Jubail
Furniture does not go by air, but air freight helps a family with specific things: a box of school records, a work laptop, or items that cannot wait for the truck. It flies from Abu Dhabi airport (or Dubai or Sharjah) to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, then about an hour by road to Jubail, usually 1 to 2 days including clearance.
- Charged by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher; volumetric = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000.
- Example: a 50 × 40 × 40 cm carton weighing 8 kg is charged at 13.3 kg volumetric. Books are heavy and compact, so a book carton is usually charged on its actual weight.
- Lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes are restricted by air.
- Price: Send the details on WhatsApp and get the price.
Documents you will need
Furniture and personal effects
- A copy of the owner’s passport.
- A copy of the Saudi ID, iqama or residence visa; for an engineer moving to a new job this is usually the work visa or iqama.
- A detailed contents list in Arabic or English, and this is where the numbering system helps: the list follows the box numbers.
- New items in commercial quantities are dutiable even inside a furniture shipment.
Commercial goods
- Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin, plus a commercial registration for the receiver in Saudi Arabia.
- A SABER certificate for many consumer products, and SFDA requirements for food such as dates, cosmetics and medicines.
- Goods of UAE origin with a GCC certificate of origin are exempt from customs duty; Saudi VAT of 15% applies on imports.
The car
Registration, export certificate and plate cancellation, a copy of the owner’s passport or ID, and an empty car. If the car is registered to your Abu Dhabi employer, tell the team before you start.
What stays out of a household shipment
Prohibited for Saudi Arabia: narcotics, alcohol, pork products, weapons and ammunition without permits, counterfeit goods and gambling tools. Drones and some medicines need prior permits, and soil and plants are restricted, so the balcony plants stay behind or go to the neighbours.
Warning: Carry the family’s regular medicines with you, with their prescriptions, rather than packing them on the truck. The same goes for children’s drones: they need a prior permit and must not be packed with ordinary toys.
Abu Dhabi to Jubail shipping prices
These are starting prices; the final price depends on volume, weight, city, packing and documents.
| Service | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Household furniture in a shared truck | Starts from 90 AED per cubic metre |
| Small parcels by land | Start from 45 AED |
| Sedan on an open carrier | Starts from 2,000 AED |
| SUV on an open carrier | Starts from 2,750 AED |
| Car in an enclosed carrier | Starts from 4,100 AED |
| Dedicated truck for a full home, air freight, containers | Send the details on WhatsApp and get the price |
What decides the cost of a home move?
- Number of rooms and amount of furniture: a two-bedroom flat is very different from a four-bedroom villa with a majlis and a library.
- Who packs: if the family packs the small boxes and leaves us the large furniture, the cost comes down.
- Shared or dedicated truck: a full home often fills a 7-ton dyna or a 10-ton lorry, and a dedicated truck leaves on your rotation date.
- Pickup point: Ruwais is closer to the border than Abu Dhabi city.
- The car: open or enclosed.
A rough guide to the vehicle: a small closed 3-ton dyna for a small flat, a 5- or 7-ton dyna for a family flat, and a 10-ton lorry or a 12–13.6 m closed trailer for a full villa or two families moving together.
How to move your home from Abu Dhabi to Jubail, step by step
- Send us on WhatsApp +971557643821 photos of each room, your area in Abu Dhabi, the district in Jubail, and your move-out and arrival dates.
- You get the price and the suggested vehicle, and decide whether the family packs the small boxes or we pack everything.
- We send you the colour and number system for the rooms, and you start with books, pictures and things you do not need daily.
- Collection day: furniture taken apart, numbered, wrapped and loaded, and you get a copy of the list.
- Clearance at Al Batha on Fasah, with the team sending you updates on WhatsApp at each stage.
- Delivery in Jubail: every box carried to its room by colour, and beds and wardrobes reassembled.
Delivery in Al Deffi and other Jubail districts
Most engineers’ families live in Jubail Industrial City, the planned city run by the Royal Commission, in districts such as Al Deffi, Al Fanateer, Al Huwailat, Jalmudah and Al Danah. Many homes in Al Deffi are two-storey townhouses, and the streets are wide and quiet, so the truck can stop close to the door and unloading goes easily.
- In two-storey houses we agree before arrival which rooms are upstairs, so their boxes go straight up.
- If the housing is inside a compound with a gate and guard, give us the contact’s name and number so we can arrange the truck’s entry.
- Jubail city (Al Khalidiyah, Al Faisaliyah, Al Hamra, Al Dana, Al Firdaws) is for direct delivery to flats and houses in town.
- If some items are for the office or the site, deliveries inside plants need a gate pass arranged by the receiver, set times and a driver in safety gear; we coordinate this with the site contact.
Does a home move suit sea freight through the Jubail ports?
For homes and cars, road remains the usual way from Abu Dhabi because it is faster and involves less handling. Sea freight from Khalifa Port to Jubail Commercial Port or King Fahd Industrial Port suits full containers and heavy industrial equipment, not household furniture. Price: Send the details on WhatsApp and get the price.
Tips from family moves
- Start with books and pictures two weeks ahead; nobody needs them in the last days.
- Photograph the back of the TV and router before unplugging the cables.
- Keep screws in bags tied to the piece itself, not in a separate box.
- Leave the “first night” box to be loaded last so it comes off first.
- Check who is moving your home: a branch with a clear address, a fixed number, and a price breakdown on WhatsApp before loading.
- Ask the team about optional insurance if the home has valuable pieces.
Shipping from another emirate or to another city? Our Dubai to Jubail guide covers precision instruments and lab equipment, and our Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia guide covers the rest of the Kingdom.
FAQ: shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jubail
How long does shipping from Abu Dhabi to Jubail take?
About 2 to 4 days by road door to door including clearance at Al Batha, and a shared load may take a few more days. By air about 1 to 2 days to Dammam airport, then roughly an hour by road.
Do you collect from Ruwais?
Yes, we collect from Ruwais and Al Dhafra, Mussafah, Abu Dhabi city and its suburbs. Ruwais is the closest pickup point to the Al Ghuwaifat border.
Can the move be arranged around my days off rotation?
Yes. We build the dates around your move-out date in Abu Dhabi and the handover date of your Jubail home, and a family member can attend instead of you.
How much does it cost to move a home from Abu Dhabi to Jubail?
A shared load starts from 90 AED per cubic metre; for a dedicated truck for a full home, send room photos on WhatsApp and get the price. The final price depends on volume, packing and documents.
How much does it cost to ship an SUV from Abu Dhabi to Jubail?
On an open carrier from 2,750 AED and in an enclosed carrier from 4,100 AED, provided the car is not more than 5 years old from its model year.
What documents are needed to move household furniture?
A passport copy, a copy of the Saudi ID, iqama or residence visa, and a detailed contents list in Arabic or English.
Do you reassemble furniture in the new home?
Yes. We take beds and wardrobes apart in Abu Dhabi and put them back together in Jubail, carrying every box to its room by colour and number.
How do I follow our belongings on the way?
The team sends you updates on WhatsApp at each stage, from collection in Abu Dhabi to arrival in Jubail.
Home in Abu Dhabi, new job in Jubail?
Send room photos and your move dates on WhatsApp, and we will plan collection and delivery around your schedule.
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