If you need a shipping company from Dubai to Al Kharj to move café or restaurant equipment, Al Basmah International Shipping collects from anywhere in Dubai and delivers to Al Kharj by road through the Al Ghuwaifat – Al Batha border in roughly two to four days, customs clearance included. We ship espresso machines, grinders, stainless counters, display fridges, furniture and bags of coffee, and we move sports cars on enclosed carriers. Send the details on WhatsApp to +971557643821 and the team will choose the right truck, list the documents you need and update you at every stage until everything reaches your café door.
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Opening your café in Al Kharj
- Pickup from our Deira branch on Port Saeed Street or from your address anywhere in Dubai.
- Approximate road transit: 2 to 4 days door to door; air: 1 to 2 days for urgent parts.
- Coffee machines are drained before packing; electrical equipment usually needs a SABER certificate; coffee beans fall under SFDA food requirements.
- For a commercial shipment, the receiver in Al Kharj needs a commercial registration.
- Sports cars travel on an enclosed carrier, starting from AED 4,100.
Plenty of people opening a café in Al Kharj buy their fit-out in Dubai because the choice is wider there: machine dealers, stainless workshops, café furniture showrooms and roasters. Buying is the easy part. The hard part is moving delicate equipment more than a thousand kilometres and clearing it through Saudi customs without pushing back the opening date. This guide is written for exactly that, and it works just as well if you are moving household furniture or general goods from Dubai to Al Kharj.
What do we ship from Dubai to Al Kharj?
We ship everything a new café or restaurant needs, plus household furniture, commercial goods and cars. Most café loads are a mix of heavy equipment, glass and food, and each needs its own packing and paperwork, so we ask for a contents list before the pickup date so we can bring the right materials.
- One-, two- and three-group espresso machines, batch brewers and cold-brew equipment.
- Coffee grinders, barista scales, milk jugs and manual brewing tools.
- Stainless steel work tables, sinks and shelving.
- Glass display fridges, under-counter fridges and ice makers.
- Small pastry ovens, blenders and hot-water boilers.
- Tables, chairs, lounge seating, lighting and shopfront signage.
- Roasted coffee, tea, syrups and paper packaging for the café.
- Household furniture for families, and small parcels from AED 45 by road.
- Sports cars, coupés and family cars.
How should an espresso machine and grinder be prepared?
The espresso machine is the most expensive item in a café and the easiest to damage, and the number-one cause of damage is water left inside. The boiler and pipes hold water even after the machine is switched off. On the road that water can leak onto the control board and pump, or sit for days in the summer heat and leave scale and smells. So we ask for the machine to be fully drained before pickup day.
Draining an espresso machine
- Switch the machine off and let it cool for several hours; never open the boiler valve while it is hot.
- Disconnect the water line, filter and drain hose, and cap or tape the open ends.
- Empty the boiler through the drain valve as the manufacturer’s manual describes, or ask the dealer’s technician in Dubai to do it.
- Purge the remaining water from the steam wand and hot-water tap until nothing comes out.
- Remove the portafilters and drip tray and pack them in a separate box labelled with the machine’s name.
- Photograph the machine from every side, including its rating plate, before packing.
Once drained, the machine is wrapped in bubble film and then heavy cardboard. Two-group machines and larger are better in a wooden crate with a base a forklift can lift. The machine stays upright on its feet for the whole trip and is never laid on its side; the crate is marked “This way up” and “Fragile”.
Grinders and barista tools
Empty the bean hopper, take it off and pack it on its own, because a plastic hopper left in place breaks easily. Do not remove the burrs or change the grind setting; just brush out old coffee so it does not go rancid on the way. Electronic scales travel with their batteries removed, and jugs and metal tools go together in one well-padded box so they do not rub against each other.
One point many people miss: Saudi mains power is 230 V at 60 Hz, while the UAE runs at 50 Hz. Most commercial machines are rated 50/60 Hz on the plate and work on both, but some grinders and pumps are built for one frequency only. Check the rating plate before you buy or ship, and if 60 Hz is not listed, ask the dealer before paying to transport something that may not run properly.
Fridges, stainless counters and café furniture
Glass display fridges always travel upright. The front glass is protected with a stiff board or thin plywood before the whole unit is wrapped in bubble film. When it arrives in Al Kharj, leave the fridge standing for a few hours before switching it on so the compressor oil can settle; this is the tip café owners most often skip on opening day, and then they call the technician.
Stainless tables and sinks handle the road well but scratch easily, so their edges get cardboard corners and separator sheets go between them. Removable legs are taken off and their bolts bagged and taped to the table itself. Wooden tables, chairs and sofas are stretch-wrapped and then blanketed, and pendant lights and small chandeliers go in their own boxes with padding on every side.
Espresso machine
Boiler and pipes drained, water lines disconnected, wooden crate for larger machines, always upright.
Grinder
Hopper emptied and packed separately, burrs left in place, old coffee brushed out.
Display fridge
Travels upright, glass protected with a board, rest a few hours before switching on in Al Kharj.
Stainless and furniture
Corner protectors on edges, legs removed with bolts bagged, blankets for wood and upholstery.
Coffee beans and food items: SFDA requirements
Roasted coffee, tea and syrups are all food in the eyes of Saudi customs and fall under the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) requirements. In practice, commercial quantities need a registered importer in Al Kharj or Riyadh with a commercial registration, and the packs should be factory- or roaster-sealed with a clear label showing production and expiry dates. The team goes through the requirements for your product before loading, because a coffee consignment with missing paperwork can be held at the border while the rest of the café fit-out is ready to go.
Our practical advice: if the opening is close, ship the equipment first, buy from a Saudi roaster for the first few weeks, and bring your favourite Dubai roast in a later shipment with complete paperwork. That way a bag of coffee never delays the opening.
Pickup areas in Dubai
We collect from our Dubai branch in Deira, Port Saeed Street, where you can drop off smaller items yourself, or we send a loading crew to your address. Areas we collect from regularly include:
- Deira, Port Saeed, Al Qusais, Al Muteena and Al Twar — close to the branch.
- Bur Dubai, Karama, Mankhool and Oud Metha.
- Al Quoz and Ras Al Khor — home to many stainless workshops and restaurant equipment warehouses.
- Al Barsha, Umm Suqeim, Al Sufouh and Dubai Internet City.
- Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, Jumeirah and Jumeirah Beach Residence.
- Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers and Jumeirah Village Circle.
- Mirdif, Al Warqa, International City and Al Rashidiya.
- Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai Airport Free Zone and Dubai Investments Park.
The road route from Dubai to Al Kharj
The truck leaves Dubai heading west on the Abu Dhabi road and then the Al Sila road to the Al Ghuwaifat border post, crossing to Al Batha on the Saudi side, where clearance is done electronically through the Fasah platform. From Al Batha the route runs to Al Ahsa (Hofuf), then west via Haradh to Al Kharj, about 80 km south-east of Riyadh. The total distance from Dubai is roughly 1,000 to 1,100 km.
The Haradh road is the shorter way to Al Kharj because it does not pass through Riyadh; the shipment reaches the city directly from the east. A dedicated truck leaves on the date you choose. A shared (consolidated) load may wait a few extra days until the truck fills, which suits customers who are not in a hurry and want a lower cost.
Vehicles available: a small closed dyna of about 3 tons, 5-ton and 7-ton dynas, a 10-ton lorry, closed 12–13.6 m trailers, enclosed car carriers and open multi-car carriers. A medium café fit-out usually fits a 5- or 7-ton dyna.
Sea freight is rarely the right choice for Al Kharj: it is an inland city and the road from Dubai is direct. For large commercial containers, though, cargo can go from Jebel Ali to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and then by road to Al Kharj.
Transit times from Dubai to Al Kharj and nearby towns
From pickup in Dubai to delivery in Al Kharj takes roughly two to four days including clearance, a little longer for shared loads or when commercial paperwork is incomplete.
| Destination | Road (approx.) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Al Kharj city | 2 – 4 days | Al Khalidiyah, Al Nahdah, Al Andalus, Al Aziziyah and other districts |
| Al Saih | 2 – 4 days | Adjoins Al Kharj city |
| Al Dilam | 2 – 4 days | South of Al Kharj; farm access arranged in advance |
| Hawtat Bani Tamim | 3 – 4 days | Further south; a short extra leg after Al Kharj |
| Riyadh | 2 – 4 days | Can be served from the same shipment |
| Air freight to Al Kharj | 1 – 2 days | Via King Khalid Airport, then about 1.5 hours by road |
Air freight from Dubai to Al Kharj
Air freight is for the urgent items an opening depends on: a replacement pump, a control board, a small grinder, or a box of barista tools left out of the main load. Cargo flies from Dubai International or Al Maktoum airport to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and is then driven to Al Kharj in about an hour and a half. The usual time is one to two days including clearance.
Air pricing uses the actual weight or the volumetric weight, whichever is higher, where volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000. A 60×50×40 cm carton counts as 20 kg even if it actually weighs 8 kg. That is why air does not suit furniture or large espresso machines, and lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes are restricted by air. Send the dimensions and weight on WhatsApp and you will get the price.
Shipping a sports car from Dubai to Al Kharj
Sports cars and coupés sit low, have delicate paint and large wheels, so we recommend an enclosed carrier, starting from AED 4,100. An enclosed carrier keeps dust, flying gravel and sun off the car for more than a thousand kilometres of desert road, and the car is strapped by the wheels, not the body, so the suspension is not stressed. Very low cars need a loading ramp at the right angle, so tell the team the car’s ground clearance when you book.
For an ordinary sedan, the open multi-car carrier is the cheaper option, from AED 2,000, and family SUVs start from AED 2,750. Before loading, the car is photographed from every side, the odometer reading is noted, and it must be empty of personal belongings.
An important condition: used passenger cars imported into Saudi Arabia must not be more than five years old from the model year, so check this before you cancel the plates. Special cases are reviewed with you first.
Documents needed to ship from Dubai to Al Kharj
Clearance at Al Batha is electronic through Fasah, and complete paperwork is what gets a load through in a day instead of waiting. The documents depend on the shipment:
Café fit-out and commercial goods
- A commercial invoice from the Dubai supplier showing description, quantity and value.
- A packing list with the number of packages and their weights.
- A certificate of origin; UAE-origin goods with a GCC certificate of origin are exempt from customs duty.
- A SABER certificate for many consumer products and electrical appliances such as machines, grinders and fridges.
- SFDA requirements for coffee and other food items.
- A commercial registration for the receiver in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi VAT of 15% applies to imports, so build it into your café budget.
Used household goods and personal effects
- Copy of the owner’s passport.
- Copy of the Saudi national ID, iqama or residence visa.
- A detailed contents list in Arabic or English.
- New items in commercial quantities are dutiable.
Cars
- Vehicle registration (mulkiya).
- Export certificate and plate cancellation from Dubai’s RTA.
- Copy of the owner’s passport or ID.
- The car empty of personal belongings.
Prohibited and restricted items
We do not accept in any load to Al Kharj: narcotics, alcohol, pork products, weapons and ammunition without permits, counterfeit goods or gambling equipment. Some items need prior permits, such as drones and certain medicines, and soil and plants are restricted.
Warning: Do not tuck coffee or food inside machine crates or furniture to save space. Any food item missing from the list can hold the entire shipment at the border until it is inspected.
Shipping prices from Dubai to Al Kharj
These are approximate starting prices in AED; the final price depends on volume, weight, city, packing and documents.
| Shipment | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Furniture and 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 on an enclosed carrier (sports and luxury) | AED 4,100 |
| Dedicated truck for a café fit-out | Send the details on WhatsApp and get the price |
| Air freight | Send the details on WhatsApp and get the price |
| Commercial containers | Send the details on WhatsApp and get the price |
What decides the cost of shipping a café fit-out?
- Volume in cubic metres: sofas and display fridges take up far more space than their weight suggests.
- Truck type: shared or dedicated, small dyna or trailer.
- Packing: wooden crates for large machines add cost but protect an item worth far more.
- Number of pickup points: collecting from several Dubai suppliers.
- Documents: SABER certificates, SFDA requirements, duty and VAT.
- Delivery point: inside Al Kharj, in Al Dilam or Hawtat Bani Tamim, or at a farm.
- Optional insurance: ask the team about it if the equipment is high-value.
How to ship from Dubai to Al Kharj, step by step
- Send a list of items with rough sizes, your Dubai pickup address and the café address in Al Kharj to WhatsApp +971557643821.
- The team suggests the truck type, lists the documents for each item and sends you the price.
- You prepare the machines (drain the water, disconnect the lines) and we bring the packing materials.
- The loading crew arrives on the agreed date, packs, numbers and loads every item.
- The paperwork goes in for clearance, and you get a WhatsApp update when the truck leaves Dubai, reaches the border and clears customs.
- The driver calls you before reaching Al Kharj to agree an unloading time.
- Items are unloaded inside the café where they belong, and you check them with us against the list.
Delivery in Al Kharj: cafés, districts and nearby towns
We deliver across Al Kharj’s districts — Al Khalidiyah, Al Nahdah, Al Andalus, Al Aziziyah, Al Rawdah, Al Faisaliyah, Al Yarmouk and Al Salam — and to Al Saih, Al Dilam, Al Hayathem and Hawtat Bani Tamim. With Riyadh only about 80 km away, a shipment can be split between a branch in Al Kharj and another in Riyadh on the same trip.
New cafés in Al Kharj are often in shops on commercial streets or in new buildings, and some are not finished on the day the truck arrives. So we ask in advance: is the glass front fitted? Is there space for the truck outside? Are power and water ready? If the shop is not ready, do not rush to unload into an open space; we will agree a better time with you.
If you are opening a kiosk or a café at a rest house or farm outside the city, many Al Kharj farms are reached by unpaved service roads. The team confirms the access road and unloading help with the receiver, because a large truck may not get in; in that case a smaller dyna handles the last stretch.
The weather matters here: Al Kharj summers are very hot and dry, winter nights are cold, and dusty winds are frequent. We seal cartons tightly and wrap equipment in plastic before the blankets so dust stays out of ventilation slots, and we avoid leaving machines in the sun during unloading.
Tips before you ship your café fit-out
Book the equipment shipment at least two weeks before opening. That leaves time for clearance, installation and a test run with the technician before your first customer walks in.
- Ask the supplier for an itemised invoice, not a single line saying “equipment”.
- Confirm with the supplier that a SABER certificate exists or can be issued before you pay.
- Photograph every appliance, its rating plate and serial number.
- Keep manuals and small spare parts together in one box marked “machine parts”.
How do you choose the right shipping company from Dubai to Al Kharj?
Ask three things before you agree: does the company understand Saudi paperwork for electrical equipment and food? Does it suggest a truck based on your list, or quote one price for everything? And how will you know where your shipment is? At Al Basmah you get an update from the team on WhatsApp at every stage, you can ask about optional insurance, and you are welcome at our Deira branch to see how we pack. For the wider route see shipping from the UAE to Al Kharj; if you also have a branch in the capital see shipping from Dubai to Riyadh; and for other Saudi cities see our Dubai to Saudi Arabia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Dubai to Al Kharj take?
Roughly two to four days by road, door to door, including clearance at Al Batha. A shared load may wait a few days to fill, and air freight takes one to two days via King Khalid Airport in Riyadh.
Can I ship a used espresso machine from Dubai to Al Kharj?
Yes, provided the boiler and pipes are fully drained and the machine is packed upright. If it is going to a commercial café it is treated as commercial goods and may need a SABER certificate and an invoice; the team will confirm the documents for your machine.
Do I need a commercial registration to ship café equipment?
Yes. For a commercial shipment, the receiver in Saudi Arabia needs a commercial registration; that covers café equipment and coffee in commercial quantities.
Can I ship coffee beans from Dubai to Al Kharj?
Yes, but coffee is food and falls under SFDA requirements: sealed packs with a proper label and clear dates, and a registered importer in Saudi Arabia.
What is the best way to ship a sports car from Dubai to Al Kharj?
An enclosed carrier, starting from AED 4,100. It protects paint and wheels from dust and gravel, and loading allows for the low ride height. The car must not be more than five years old from its model year.
Do you deliver to farms and rest houses around Al Kharj?
Yes, after confirming the service road and unloading arrangements with the receiver. If a large truck cannot get in, a smaller vehicle does the last stretch.
How will I know where my shipment is on the way?
The team sends you a WhatsApp update at loading, at the border, after clearance and before arrival in Al Kharj, and you can ask on the same number at any time.
How much does it cost to ship a café fit-out from Dubai to Al Kharj?
It depends on volume, truck type and documents. Shared loads start from AED 90 per cubic metre; for a dedicated truck, send your item list on WhatsApp and get the price, or use our quote page.
Shipping from another emirate? See shipping from Sharjah to Al Kharj and shipping from Abu Dhabi to Al Kharj.
Put your café equipment list together and send it now
The Al Basmah team in Deira takes orders on WhatsApp around the clock and will confirm the truck, documents and price.
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