If your family is moving from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait and you need a shipping company from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait to move the whole house, kids’ rooms, beds and toys included, and carry the family car under cover to your new home in Al Jahra, this guide is for you. At Al Basmah International Shipping we collect from your home anywhere in Abu Dhabi, pack and prepare the personal-effects paperwork, and send the truck west along the Al Dhafra road to the Al Ghuwaifat border, through Saudi Arabia in transit to Al Nuwaiseeb, and on to your door. It usually takes about 3–5 days door to door including clearance. Household furniture in a shared truck starts from 90 AED per cubic metre, and an enclosed car carrier starts from 4,100 AED. In a family move, though, the truck is only half of it; the other half is timing, so the house arrives before the children start their new school.
Stops in this guide17 sectionsShowHide
The family plan
- Start about four weeks before you travel: a list or video of the rooms on WhatsApp, plus a photo of the car registration so we can check Kuwait’s conditions.
- Kids’ rooms are packed last in Abu Dhabi and opened first in Kuwait, so the family sleeps in its own beds on the first night.
- A first-two-weeks bag travels with you or by air: clothes, the children’s usual medicines, school papers and a few favourite toys.
- Papers: passport copies, Kuwaiti civil ID, and a contents list in Arabic or English.
- The team sends a WhatsApp update at loading, at the border and on arrival at Al Nuwaiseeb, then sets the delivery time in Al Jahra with you.
Family move by road
Furniture, kids’ rooms and the family car in one organised move, about 3–5 days.
The family car
Van or family car in an enclosed carrier from 4,100 AED, or an SUV on an open carrier from 2,750 AED.
Urgent by air
What the family needs right away flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait airport in about 1–2 days.
Start of the road
Abu Dhabi is the emirate closest to Al Ghuwaifat, so the truck starts well along the route.
How does shipping from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait work?
Shipping from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait is mostly done by road, through Saudi Arabia in transit. Your goods are loaded at home and the truck heads west on the main highway through Al Dhafra to the Al Ghuwaifat border, roughly 350 km from Abu Dhabi city. UAE exit formalities are done there, and the truck enters Saudi Arabia at Al Batha with its load sealed and declared in transit, so nothing is cleared inside Saudi Arabia. It then runs north through Al Ahsa, Dammam and Jubail to Al Khafji, enters Kuwait at Al Nuwaiseeb, where the shipment is cleared electronically, and continues to your address.
Abu Dhabi is effectively where this road begins; trucks from Dubai and the northern emirates pass through it anyway on their way to Al Ghuwaifat. A load collected in Abu Dhabi therefore starts closer to the border, which helps when you want a dedicated truck to leave the morning after loading. It is the same road we use for shipping from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia, except that here the load stays sealed until Kuwait.
The family move, week by week
What throws most families is that everything ends up happening in the last week. This is the plan we suggest to families moving from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait; compress it if you have less time:
| When | What the family does | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks before | List or video of the rooms; decide what moves and what gets sold or donated | Estimate volume and truck type; check the car’s model year and specs against Kuwait’s conditions |
| 3 weeks before | Sort toys and clothes with the children; request school records | Fix the collection date and send the price |
| 2 weeks before | Book the service lift or community permit; prepare passport and civil ID copies | Draw up the contents list with you and review the car papers |
| 1 week before | Pack the first-two-weeks bag; complete plate cancellation and the export certificate once we confirm | Prepare packing materials and any crates |
| Collection day | One parent present to check the list | Dismantle, pack, number and load, kids’ rooms last |
| Arrival week | Receive the house in Al Jahra | Unload and set up the kids’ rooms first, then the rest |
If the move is tied to a job starting on a fixed date, work the plan backwards from that date and leave a spare week between the truck arriving and the first school day.
What we move for a family relocating from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
We move the whole house or part of it: bedrooms, majlis and dining rooms, the kitchen and its appliances, washing machines, fridges and dismantled AC units, garden items, bikes and strollers. What sets a family move apart is the children’s rooms.
Kids’ rooms
Bunk beds are fully dismantled, posts and panels wrapped together, and the screws kept in a bag with the child’s name on it. Cots are taken apart and their mattresses go into sealed bags. Small desks and toy cupboards are emptied, and toys go into medium cartons marked with the owner’s name and a colour for their room. Ask each child to pick one small carton and write “open first” on it themselves; it is a small thing that takes a lot of the stress out of a move for young children.
Kitchen and appliances
The fridge is emptied and dried the day before, the washing machine drum is locked, and plates are wrapped one by one and packed on edge. It gets very hot inside the truck, so we do not ship opened food or anything that can melt or leak.
Goods and parcels
Alongside family moves, we ship business goods from Musaffah, the industrial area and Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, and small parcels by road from 45 AED.
When to move: timing around the school year
The best time for a family with school-age children is the start of the summer holiday or a break between terms, not mid-term. But summer is also the busiest season on the UAE–Kuwait road, because many families make the same decision. If you are moving in summer, book collection early and allow for a shared truck needing a few extra days to fill.
- Short on time before school starts: a dedicated truck that leaves on your date, even if it costs more.
- A few weeks to spare: a cheaper shared truck, with the first-two-weeks bag travelling with you.
- What the children need on day one at school: bags, supplies and school files do not go on the truck; they travel with you.
Pickup areas in Abu Dhabi
We collect anywhere in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Areas we often move families from include:
- Abu Dhabi island: Al Mushrif, Al Bateen, Al Khalidiyah, Al Karamah and Al Muroor.
- The islands: Al Reem, Yas, Saadiyat and Al Raha Beach.
- Villa and house areas off the island: Khalifa City, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Al Shamkha, Al Shawamekh, Baniyas, Al Rahba and Al Falah.
- Industrial areas: Musaffah and Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi for business cargo.
- Al Dhafra: Madinat Zayed, Ruwais and Ghayathi, all on the same road to Al Ghuwaifat.
If you are in Al Ain, our guide to shipping from Al Ain to Kuwait covers the route from there.
Transit times from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait areas
Approximate door-to-door times by road, including clearance. A shared truck may wait a few days to fill; a dedicated truck leaves on your date.
| Area in Kuwait | Approx. time from Abu Dhabi | For families |
|---|---|---|
| Kuwait City | 3–5 days | Access to residential buildings arranged in advance |
| Hawalli and Salmiya | 3–5 days | Apartments need a lift booking |
| Farwaniya | 3–5 days | Includes Khaitan and Jleeb Al Shuyoukh |
| Al Ahmadi and Fahaheel | 3–5 days | Includes Mangaf and Abu Halifa |
| Al Jahra | 3–5 days | Family houses; unloading arranged with a parent |
| Mubarak Al Kabeer | 3–5 days | Includes Sabah Al Salem |
Family car shipping from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
The family car, whether a seven-seat van or an SUV, ships from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait in an enclosed carrier from 4,100 AED, or on an open multi-car carrier from 2,750 AED for an SUV and 2,000 AED for a sedan. The enclosed carrier keeps dust and sun off the cabin for the whole journey, which matters in a car with fabric seats and child harnesses.
The car must be handed over empty of personal belongings, and that includes child car seats. Take them out and we will pack them in their own carton to travel with the furniture. Before loading we photograph the car from every side and send you the pictures.
Kuwait sets an age limit and technical conditions for imported used cars, and they can change, so the team checks your car’s model year and specifications against Kuwait’s current conditions before booking. You will need the registration card, the export certificate after plate cancellation in Abu Dhabi, and the owner’s ID. Do not cancel the plates until we have confirmed the car is accepted.
Air freight from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
Air freight from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait takes about 1–2 days from Abu Dhabi airport to Kuwait International Airport including clearance, and suits urgent, light parcels: an extra carton of the children’s clothes, work equipment, documents. It does not suit furniture or large appliances.
Air freight is charged on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher, where volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000. A 50 × 50 × 48 cm toy carton counts as 20 kg even if it really weighs 6 kg, so big, light toys belong on the truck. Lithium batteries, including those in tablets and electric toys, liquids and perfumes are restricted by air; tell the team about them in advance. For a price, send the details on WhatsApp and you will get one back.
Packing for a family and a hot road
- Colour system: a colour sticker for each room and each child; the delivery crew and your kids both understand it.
- Numbered cartons: a number and short description on every carton, matching the contents list used for clearance.
- Mattresses: sealed bags to keep dust out, with blankets on top.
- Wood: blankets then corrugated board, no film pulled tight against it, because wood expands in the heat.
- Fragile items: wooden crates for mirrors, glass and large screens.
- Bikes and strollers: folded or wheels removed, wrapped, and loaded on top.
Put the family’s “open first” carton together with bed sheets, a night light for the kids’ room, a few basic tools, and cups and plates for day one. The first night in the new house goes far more smoothly.
Documents you need
The family’s personal effects
Passport copies, a Kuwaiti civil ID copy (if it has not been issued yet, ask the team before shipping which alternative is accepted in your case), and a detailed contents list in Arabic or English. Used furniture and belongings of a family moving to live in Kuwait are treated as personal effects; new items in commercial quantities are dutiable.
Commercial goods
Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and the Kuwaiti consignee’s commercial licence or importer details. UAE-origin goods with a GCC certificate of origin are exempt from customs duty; the general duty on other imports is usually 5%. Food, medicines and cosmetics have extra health requirements, and many electrical products need conformity approval.
The car
Registration card, export certificate and plate cancellation, the owner’s ID, and the car emptied of personal belongings.
What cannot be shipped to Kuwait
Not accepted: narcotics, alcohol, pork products, weapons and ammunition without permits, counterfeit goods and gambling equipment. Drones, including ones bought for children as gifts, need a permit in advance, as do some medicines. If anything like that is in the house, tell the team before packing.
Shipping prices from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
| Shipment type | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Household furniture and family belongings, shared truck | 90 AED per cubic metre |
| Small parcels by road | 45 AED |
| Sedan on an open carrier | 2,000 AED |
| SUV or van on an open carrier | 2,750 AED |
| Family car in an enclosed carrier | 4,100 AED |
| Dedicated truck, air freight, containers | Send the details on WhatsApp and get your price |
The final price depends on the size of the house, the weight, the area in Kuwait, packing and complete documents.
What pushes the cost of a family move up, and what brings it down
- Pushes it up: a dedicated truck in summer, lots of wooden crates, upper floors without a lift, and missing papers that hold the truck.
- Brings it down: sorting toys and clothes before packing, dismantling beds and wardrobes, and a shared truck when time allows.
- Worth checking: replacing an old large appliance in Kuwait can cost less than shipping it; ask the team how much volume it adds before deciding.
To compare starting points, our guide to shipping from Dubai to Kuwait covers the same move from Dubai, and shipping from the UAE to Kuwait gives the overview for every emirate.
How to book
- Send us on WhatsApp a short video of each room, your Abu Dhabi area, your Kuwait address and a photo of the car registration.
- We work out the volume and truck type, check the car, and send the price.
- We fix a collection day that fits the family plan and the school date.
- Collection day: dismantling, packing, numbering and loading, kids’ rooms last.
- The truck sets off, and you get a WhatsApp update at every stage.
- Delivery and setup in Kuwait, kids’ rooms first.
Delivery in Al Jahra and the rest of Kuwait
Al Jahra is one of the most common destinations for families coming from Abu Dhabi, and most homes there are multi-storey family houses, which makes it easier to park the truck at the door than at apartment towers. We call you a day before the truck reaches Al Nuwaiseeb to set the unloading time, and we need one parent there to direct cartons to their rooms. We assemble the children’s beds first, then the main bedroom, then the rest of the house.
We also deliver to Kuwait City, Hawalli, Salmiya, Jabriya, Mishref, Bayan, Salwa, Rumaithiya and Surra, Farwaniya, Khaitan and Jleeb Al Shuyoukh, Al Ahmadi, Fahaheel, Mangaf and Abu Halifa, Mubarak Al Kabeer and Sabah Al Salem, Sabah Al Ahmad city, and Shuwaikh Industrial, Al Rai and Amghara for business cargo.
Clearance at Al Nuwaiseeb runs on the papers that left Abu Dhabi with the truck, and a missing document cannot be added on the road, so we ask for everything before loading. For commercial goods filling a container, the sea option from Khalifa Port to Shuwaikh or Shuaiba port is worth comparing: a few days at sea plus port handling and clearance. For a family’s home and car, the road is usually the better and faster fit. If you move around the Gulf, our guide to shipping from Abu Dhabi to Qatar may also help.
Tips for families before shipping
Warning: Passports, school certificates, the children’s medical papers, jewellery and cash never go on the truck; they travel with you in your hand luggage.
- Let the children pack and label their own cartons; the move becomes their project rather than a loss.
- Photograph the kids’ rooms before dismantling so you can set them up the same way in Kuwait.
- If you have valuable pieces, ask the team about optional insurance.
- Leave a week between the house arriving and the first school day.
FAQ: shipping from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
How long does shipping from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait take?
About 3–5 days by road, door to door, including clearance, possibly longer on a shared truck while it fills. By air, roughly 1–2 days.
When should we book if we are moving in summer?
At least about four weeks ahead, because summer is the busiest season on the road, and leave a spare week before school starts.
Do you dismantle and reassemble children’s beds?
Yes: bunk beds, cots and desks, with screws bagged under each child’s name, and we set them up first in Kuwait.
Can we leave the child car seats in the car?
No, the car ships empty of personal belongings; we pack the car seats in a separate carton that travels with the furniture.
How much does a family house move from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait cost?
From 90 AED per cubic metre in a shared truck; the final price depends on volume, packing, area and documents. For a dedicated truck, send the details on WhatsApp and get your price.
Is the shipment cleared in Saudi Arabia?
No. It crosses Saudi Arabia sealed in transit from Al Batha to Al Khafji and is cleared at Al Nuwaiseeb on entering Kuwait.
What papers do we need for the family’s belongings?
Passport copies, the Kuwaiti civil ID, and a detailed contents list in Arabic or English.
Do you deliver to Al Jahra?
Yes, and to every area of Kuwait, with the unloading time agreed a day before the truck arrives.
Your family’s move starts with one message
Send a video of the rooms and a photo of the car registration on WhatsApp, and we will set a date that works before school starts.
Tags: shipping company from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, Abu Dhabi to Kuwait shipping, family relocation to Kuwait, moving kids’ rooms, furniture moving Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, house moving Abu Dhabi, car shipping Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, enclosed family van shipping, delivery Al Jahra, land freight Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, air freight Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, Al Ghuwaifat border, Al Nuwaiseeb border, Saudi transit, personal effects to Kuwait, Abu Dhabi to Kuwait shipping prices, Al Basmah International Shipping
