If you need a shipping company from Al Ain to Qatif that moves your majlis exactly as it is, with its cushions, backrests, carpets and low tables, and ships your luxury car alongside without a scratch, that is what Al Basmah International Shipping does on this route. We collect from your home or farm in Al Ain, put the cushions in breathable fabric bags instead of plastic, roll the carpets rather than fold them, and ship SUVs in an enclosed carrier. The route is by road through Al Ghuwaifat – Al Batha, taking about 2 to 4 days including clearance to your villa among the palm gardens of Qatif. Send the details on WhatsApp at +971557643821 at any time and the price comes back to you.
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Your majlis, as it was
- We photograph the majlis before taking it apart and number every cushion, backrest and table so it can be set up in Qatif exactly as it was in Al Ain.
- Cushions and backrests go into breathable fabric bags, not sealed plastic, because Qatif’s humidity traps damp and mould inside plastic.
- Carpets are rolled face-in, around a tube or on their own, covered in fabric or a woven bag, and never folded.
- Low tables, coffee dallahs and incense burners are each wrapped separately.
- Your luxury car travels in an enclosed carrier, photographed from every side at pickup, with the photos sent to you on WhatsApp.
From Al Ain
Out on the Al Ain – Abu Dhabi road, then west to Al Ghuwaifat; roughly 1,000 km to Qatif.
Transit
About 2–4 days by road, or 1–2 days by air via Abu Dhabi or Dubai airport.
Destination
Villas in Qatif, Saihat, Safwa, Al Jesh, Umm Al Hamam and Awamiyah, and homes among the farms.
The team writes to you at each stage: packing, loading, border and arrival.
Who ships from Al Ain to Qatif, and what do they ship?
Al Ain is a city of oases and farms, and Qatif is a palm oasis by the sea, so many customers on this route have a lot in common: families in spacious villas with large majlis rooms, business owners with farms, and employees moving to the Eastern Province. A typical shipment is a villa with a men’s and a women’s majlis, bedroom and living-room furniture, and one or two luxury cars.
- Traditional majlis sets: floor cushions, backrests and armrests, low seating, Arabic sofas, and hand-made and machine-made carpets.
- Villa furniture: bedrooms, dining sets, wardrobes, chandeliers and garden furniture.
- Cars: luxury SUVs and sedans, in enclosed or open carriers.
- Farm and palm tools: small irrigation equipment, saws, ladders, pollination and harvesting tools.
- Kitchenware, appliances, and small parcels between family members.
- Shop stock and salon or clinic fit-outs for anyone opening a business in Qatif.
How we move a traditional majlis from Al Ain to Qatif
A majlis is harder to move than it looks. It has many similar pieces, the fabric soaks up smells and moisture, and the carpets may be the most valuable thing in the house. Moving from Al Ain’s fairly dry air to Qatif’s humid coast also means any textile sealed in tight plastic can arrive smelling damp. So we handle the majlis in fixed steps.
Cushions and backrests in breathable fabric bags
Woven cushions, including Sadu cushions, are never wrapped in plastic film. Each cushion or backrest goes into a cotton or woven bag that lets air through, then into large light cartons or a clean section of the truck away from heavy items, so they are not crushed out of shape. We label each bag with its place: “Main majlis – east wall”, “Ladies’ majlis”, and so on.
Carpets are rolled, never folded
Folding leaves lines in the pile and can break the threads of a hand-made carpet. We roll it face-in, with clean paper between the layers if it is silk or old, tie it with wide straps that do not cut the edges, and cover it in a breathable fabric or woven bag. Carpets travel flat on top of heavy items, never underneath. Clean and dry them fully before shipping; a damp carpet starts to rot within days.
Low tables, coffee dallahs and incense burners
Low wooden tables are wrapped in moving blankets with corner guards; tables with glass or marble tops have the top removed and carried upright in a cardboard frame. Dallahs, cups and incense burners are each wrapped in paper in small cartons. Burners are emptied of charcoal and ash before packing, and oud oil and perfumes are tightly closed and bagged separately, away from fabric, because a single drop leaves a permanent mark on a cushion.
Arabic sofas and seating
Wooden seating bases are dismantled where possible and numbered. Long floor mattresses are wrapped in fabric and laid flat. If your majlis was made to fit a particular wall in Al Ain, we give you the measurements in advance so you can compare them with the majlis room in Qatif before loading.
Photograph the majlis from all four corners before we start and send the photos to whoever receives it in Qatif. Those photos are the quickest way to set it up again as it was.
Where the majlis sits in the truck
Loading order decides how the majlis arrives. Heavy furniture such as wardrobes, the dining set and appliances goes in first, deep in the truck, strapped down; then kitchen cartons; then the dismantled seating bases. Rolled carpets lie flat on a level layer, and the cushion bags go on top or along a clean side where nothing presses on them. We never put cushions next to kitchen cartons or appliances that might drip condensation. On a shared truck the majlis gets one continuous section, so its pieces are not scattered among other people’s shipments and it all comes off together in Qatif.
If the house has two majlis rooms, we mark each one’s bags with a different tape colour. It is a small detail, but it saves a full hour of searching at unloading, especially when the shipment arrives in the evening and the receiver has guests coming.
Pickup areas in Al Ain
We collect from villas, farms and warehouses in Al Ain and around it. The areas we serve most:
- Al Jimi, Al Muwaiji, Al Qattara, Al Masoudi and the older districts near the oasis.
- Al Hili, Al Towayya, Al Mutaredh, Al Jahili and Al Maqam.
- Zakher, Al Khabisi, Falaj Hazza, Al Foah and Al Yahar.
- Al Ain Industrial Area for company and workshop cargo.
- Farms in Al Hayer, Al Qua’a and the outlying areas, with the truck type matched to the farm road.
Farm roads are sometimes unpaved or narrow at the gate, so when needed we send a small dyna to shuttle items to the main truck on the paved road.
The road route from Al Ain to Qatif
The truck does not need to pass through Dubai. It leaves Al Ain on the Al Ain – Abu Dhabi road, heads west on the highway to the Al Ghuwaifat border post in the UAE, then to Al Batha on the Saudi side, where clearance is done electronically through the Fasah platform. After the border it passes Al Ahsa (Hofuf), then Dammam, and from there runs about 20 to 30 km north to Qatif. The total distance is roughly 1,000 km.
- Shared truck: suits the majlis on its own or part of a house, priced by the cubic metre, and may wait a few days until the load is full.
- Dedicated truck: for the whole villa, or when you want a fixed arrival day.
- Available vehicles: small closed dyna of about 3 tons, 5- and 7-ton dynas, a 10-ton lorry, closed trailers of 12 to 13.6 m, and enclosed and open car carriers.
For other Saudi cities from Al Ain, see shipping from Al Ain to Saudi Arabia.
Transit times from Al Ain to Qatif
Times are approximate, from pickup in Al Ain to delivery, including clearance at Al Batha.
| Delivery city | Approx. road transit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Qatif (city) | 2–4 days | A short run past Dammam |
| Saihat | 2–4 days | The first town of the governorate coming from Dammam |
| Safwa | 3–4 days | North of the governorate, near the Awamiyah and Al Jesh farms |
| Tarout, Darin and Sanabis | 3–4 days | The last leg may need a smaller dyna |
| Dammam | 2–3 days | On the road before Qatif |
| Khobar | 2–4 days | Within the Eastern Province delivery run |
Luxury car shipping from Al Ain to Qatif
We usually ship luxury SUVs in an enclosed carrier, which shields them from desert-road dust and small stones and from coastal humidity and salt as the truck nears Dammam and Qatif. The car is secured with straps on the wheels, not the chassis, and travels with only a little fuel. If your car is low or a sports model, we tell the driver in advance so a suitable ramp is used.
- Used cars imported into Saudi Arabia must be no more than 5 years old from the model year; special cases are checked with you before booking.
- Required: vehicle registration, export certificate and plate cancellation from the relevant authority in Abu Dhabi, plus the owner’s passport and ID.
- The car is handed over empty of personal belongings, so no majlis cushions or carpets inside.
- We photograph the car from every side, plus the odometer, at pickup and send the photos on WhatsApp.
An SUV on an open carrier starts from AED 2,750; in an enclosed carrier, from AED 4,100.
Air freight from Al Ain to Qatif
When something is needed fast, it flies from Abu Dhabi or Dubai airport to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, then goes by road to Qatif, a short drive away. It usually takes 1 to 2 days including clearance and suits documents, clothes, small spare parts and product samples, or a few embroidered cushions for an upcoming family occasion.
- Charges follow actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher; volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000.
- Cushions are light but bulky, so volumetric weight usually applies: an 80×60×50 cm bag counts as about 40 kg even if it actually weighs 6 kg.
- Furniture and large carpets do not suit air freight.
- Lithium batteries, liquids, perfumes and oud oil are restricted by air.
- For an air price, send the details on WhatsApp and the price comes back to you.
Delivery to Qatif villas among the palm gardens
Qatif governorate lies on the Gulf coast between Dammam and Jubail and is one of the oldest oases of the Eastern Province. Its towns are still ringed by dense palm farms, and its fish market is one of the biggest in the Gulf. We deliver to Qatif city, Saihat, Safwa, Tarout with Darin and Sanabis, Awamiyah, Al Jesh, Umm Al Hamam, Al Rabeiyah, Anak, Al Qudaih, Al Tubi, Al Mujidiyah and Al Bahari.
- Villas among the farms: some access roads are narrow or unpaved, so the team checks the truck’s way in with the receiver and may do the last leg with a smaller dyna.
- Older neighbourhoods: the narrow lanes of old Qatif and Tarout are also served by a smaller truck.
- Majlis first or last: tell us where the majlis should go and we load so it comes off in the order that suits you.
- Humidity: open the cushion bags and unroll the carpets within a day or two, in an air-conditioned or well-ventilated room.
- Sea for big cargo: full containers and heavy commercial loads can go from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, close to Qatif; for homes and cars, road is the usual way.
Shipping from Abu Dhabi city rather than Al Ain? See shipping from Abu Dhabi to Qatif. Delivering part of the load in Dammam? See shipping from Al Ain to Dammam. For the full picture of the route, read the UAE to Qatif shipping guide.
Documents for shipping from Al Ain to Qatif
Household furniture and used personal effects
- Copy of the owner’s passport with Saudi ID, or iqama/residence visa.
- A detailed contents list in Arabic or English: “Majlis cushions – 24 pieces”, “Carpets – 6 rolls”, and so on.
- New items in commercial quantities are dutiable.
Commercial goods
- Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
- A SABER certificate for many consumer goods, and SFDA requirements for dates and other food, cosmetics and medicines.
- A commercial registration for the Saudi consignee.
- Goods of UAE origin with a GCC certificate of origin are exempt from customs duty, with 15% Saudi VAT on imports.
Cars
- Registration, export certificate and plate cancellation.
- Owner’s passport and ID.
- The car empty.
What cannot be shipped?
- Narcotics, alcohol and pork products.
- Weapons and ammunition without permits, including old rifles hung in a majlis as decoration.
- Counterfeit goods and gambling tools.
- Drones and some medicines need prior permits.
- Soil and plants are restricted, including palm offshoots and farm soil.
Prices start from
In UAE dirhams; the final price depends on volume, weight, city, packing and documents.
| Shipping type | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Furniture and household goods in a shared truck | AED 90 per cubic metre |
| Small parcels by road | AED 45 |
| Sedan on an open carrier | AED 2,000 |
| SUV on an open carrier | AED 2,750 |
| Car in an enclosed carrier | AED 4,100 |
| Dedicated truck, air freight, containers | Send the details on WhatsApp and the price comes back to you |
What pushes the cost up or down
- Size of the majlis: cushions are bulky but light, so they are charged by the cubic metre.
- Number and length of carpet rolls.
- Shared or dedicated truck.
- Pickup location: in the city or on a distant farm.
- Access to the villa in Qatif and whether a smaller truck is needed.
- Packing materials: fabric bags, blankets, boxes for dallahs and cups.
- Car carrier type, type of goods and documents.
How to ship from Al Ain to Qatif, step by step
- Send photos of the majlis, the house and the car on WhatsApp, with the pickup address in Al Ain and the delivery address in Qatif.
- The team works out the volume and truck type, and the price comes back to you.
- Prepare passport and ID or iqama copies, the contents list and the car papers.
- Packing day: the majlis first, then the carpets, then the rest of the villa.
- Loading, with a message listing what was loaded, and the car goes onto its carrier.
- Clearance at Al Batha through Fasah, with a message once the border is crossed.
- Delivery in Qatif and the majlis set up again by numbers and photos.
Tips before moving the majlis
- Clean and dry carpets days before shipping, not hours before.
- Never put cushions in plastic bags, however short the trip.
- Keep oud oil, perfumes and incense in a separate sealed carton.
- Measure the new majlis room in Qatif before shipping so you know what will go into storage.
- If you want cover, ask the team about optional insurance.
Warning: An old rifle hung in a majlis for decoration is still a weapon at the border and cannot travel without a permit. Tell the team about any such piece, or any antique you are unsure of, before packing so the whole shipment is not held up because of it.
FAQ: shipping from Al Ain to Qatif
How long does shipping from Al Ain to Qatif take?
About 2 to 4 days by road including clearance, a little longer on a shared truck while it fills. By air, 1 to 2 days via Dammam airport.
Why don’t you wrap cushions in plastic?
Sealed plastic traps moisture, and Qatif’s coast is humid. Fabric bags let air through, so cushions arrive without a damp smell or mould.
Are hand-made carpets folded for shipping?
No. They are rolled face-in, covered in fabric or a woven bag, and carried flat on top of heavy items.
Do you ship luxury cars in an enclosed carrier?
Yes, with enclosed carriers starting from AED 4,100. We photograph the car at pickup and secure it with wheel straps.
How old can a car be to ship to Saudi Arabia?
A used car must be no more than 5 years old from the model year; special cases are reviewed with you before booking.
Do you deliver to villas inside farms in Qatif?
Yes. The team checks the road with the receiver and may use a smaller dyna for the last leg if the road is narrow or unpaved.
Can I ship by air from Al Ain?
Yes, through Abu Dhabi or Dubai airport to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, then by road to Qatif. Send the details on WhatsApp and the price comes back to you.
How do I follow my shipment?
The team messages you on WhatsApp at each stage, from packing to delivery.
Move your majlis from Al Ain to Qatif as it was
Send photos of the majlis and the car with both addresses, and the price comes back to you on WhatsApp.
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