From Umm Al Quwain to Dammam, a road shipment arrives in about two to three days door to door, including clearance at the Al Ghuwaifat and Al Batha crossings. As a shipping company from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam, Al Basmah International Shipping collects your floor-seating majlis and its cushions, your rugs, incense burners, coffee pots and the rest of the house, ships your car after documenting its condition in photos, and delivers to your home in Qatif, Dammam or Khobar. Light urgent parcels can fly to King Fahd International Airport. Message us on WhatsApp at +971557643821, day or night.
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Most people shipping with us from Umm Al Quwain to the Eastern Province are families with relatives or work in Qatif and Dammam, and their homes are built around the majlis: floor mattresses, back cushions and armrests, plenty of rugs (some hand-knotted), brass and electric incense burners, coffee pots and serving trays. These things are mostly light, but they take a lot of space in the truck and react to humidity and smells more than wooden furniture does. So this guide explains how to prepare them in detail, alongside the route, timing, paperwork and prices.
What you need to know
- Transit to Dammam, Qatif and Khobar is about 2–3 days on a dedicated truck; a shared load may wait a few days until it fills.
- Majlis mattresses and cushions travel completely dry in breathable fabric bags, not airtight plastic.
- Rugs are cleaned and dried at least a week before, then rolled, never folded.
- Incense burners are emptied of ash and charcoal; lighters and lighter fluid stay out of the shipment.
- The car is photographed before loading and at delivery, and the photo set is sent to you on WhatsApp.
- An air parcel is charged on the greater of actual and volumetric weight, so keep the box as small as you can.
Closest Saudi destination
The Eastern Province is the first region after Al Batha; the road runs via Al Ahsa to Dammam and Qatif.
Approximate transit
About 2–3 days door to door, clearance included.
Prices start from
90 AED per cubic metre for household goods, and 45 AED for a small road parcel.
On WhatsApp
+971557643821 around the clock, with team updates at every stage.
How many days does a shipment from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam and Qatif take?
About 2–3 days door to door on a dedicated truck, the shortest transit to any Saudi region, because Dammam, Qatif and the surrounding cities sit right on the road after Al Ahsa. A shared load leaves once the truck is full, which can mean a few extra days before departure; it suits someone shipping one room or a majlis set who is not in a hurry.
| Eastern Province destination | Approximate time | What matters at delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Dammam | 2–3 days | Houses and villas in residential districts, usually with parking close by |
| Qatif | 2–3 days | Some older streets are narrow, so we shuttle with a smaller dyna |
| Khobar | 2–3 days | Apartments need a slot with building management |
| Dhahran | 2–3 days | Residential compounds require a gate permit |
| Jubail | 2–3 days | Employee housing and the industrial city |
| Ras Tanura | 2–3 days | Served with Qatif shipments |
| Al Ahsa (Hofuf, Al Mubarraz) | 2–3 days | Closest Eastern Province cities to the border |
| Abqaiq | 2–3 days | On the road between Al Ahsa and Dammam |
Times are approximate and depend on border queues and on how complete the contents list and documents are. A shipment with a clear list crosses faster than one labelled “miscellaneous items” with no detail.
The truck route from Umm Al Quwain to Al Batha and Al Ahsa
The truck leaves Umm Al Quwain heading south on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road or Emirates Road, through Sharjah and Dubai to Abu Dhabi, then west along the coastal highway towards Al Ruwais and Al Sila to the Al Ghuwaifat crossing. That stretch takes roughly 4–6 hours of driving. After exit formalities at Al Ghuwaifat, the truck enters the Saudi Al Batha crossing for inspection and electronic clearance on the Fasah platform, then heads to Al Ahsa (Hofuf) and north via Abqaiq to Dammam, then on to Qatif, Khobar, Dhahran or Jubail depending on the address.
At every stage the team sends you a WhatsApp update: at loading, when the truck departs, at the border, and a call before it reaches your home.
What do we move from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam?
- Majlis: floor mattresses, back cushions, armrests, bolsters, low Arabic sofas, small tables, trays and coffee pots.
- Rugs: large machine-made rugs, hand-knotted and silk rugs, and prayer rugs.
- Incense burners, oud and bakhoor: brass, clay and electric burners, and boxes of bakhoor and oud wood.
- Household furniture: bedrooms, wardrobes, appliances, kitchen and clothes.
- Cars: sedans and SUVs on open carriers, and enclosed carriers for extra protection.
- Shop goods: stock from Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone companies bound for Dammam shops and warehouses.
- Parcels: small boxes by road, and light urgent parcels by air.
Moving an Arabic majlis: floor seating and cushions
A floor majlis does not need dismantling and reassembly like a bedroom set, but it needs a different kind of care: foam and fabric absorb moisture and smells, and cushions lose their shape if they sit under heavy items for days. Our rule is that the majlis rides on top or in a section of its own, never under appliances and cartons.
Mattresses, back cushions and armrests
Mattresses are beaten out and left in the sun or an air-conditioned room for a day before packing so they are fully dry. Each set then goes into a fabric or non-woven cover that lets air through, labelled with the room and number of pieces. We avoid vacuum compression; foam squeezed flat for days may never return to its original thickness. Back cushions stand side by side, and small bolsters go inside the mattress bag.
Low Arabic sofas and wooden majlis frames
If the majlis sits on a wooden base or is a low Arabic sofa, the legs come off where they can, and wooden edges are wrapped in a blanket then film. Embroidered fabrics and velvet are covered with clean cloth before any plastic so nothing sticks to them or marks them.
Coffee pots, trays and cups
Brass dallah coffee pots are emptied and dried inside, and each part is wrapped separately: lid, body and spout. Cups go in divided boxes, and serving trays stand upright between sheets of corrugated board. The box is marked “fragile” and travels above the majlis, not beneath it.
Hand-knotted and machine rugs: arriving the way they left
Clean the rug at least a week before shipping, not the day before, because a rug that is not dry all the way through will go mouldy on the road, especially with a humid coast at the other end. Once it is dry, it is rolled tightly on itself and never folded; folding leaves lines in the pile and can break the knots of a handmade rug. We wrap the roll in clean cloth or paper first, then an outer plastic sleeve left slightly open at the ends, and lay rolls flat on top of level items with nothing heavy above them.
- Silk rugs and valuable older pieces are described individually on the contents list and wrapped one by one.
- Prayer rugs and small pieces go together in one box instead of being scattered across cartons.
- If you have an unusually long rug, send us its length so we choose a truck that fits it rolled.
Incense burners, oud and bakhoor: what ships and how
Incense burners are one of the first things Umm Al Quwain families ask about, and the answer is yes, they ship by road, as long as they are clean and empty. Ash and charcoal left inside fly about on the road and leave black marks on mattresses and rugs, and a burner used on the morning of loading may still hold an ember that has not fully died.
- Brass and clay burners: emptied and wiped, each wrapped in paper then bubble wrap; clay ones in a separate box.
- Electric burners: in their original cartons if you have them, with the cable coiled and secured.
- Bakhoor and oud wood: in well-closed tins inside one box, away from clothes and mattresses so the scent does not transfer.
- Oud oil and perfumes: ship by road in sealed containers with absorbent paper; by air they are restricted.
- Not allowed in the shipment: used or burning charcoal, lighters, lighter fluid and small gas cylinders.
Where do we collect in Umm Al Quwain?
We reach any district in the emirate and size the vehicle to the street and the amount of goods:
| Area | What we usually collect |
|---|---|
| Al Salamah | Family homes with large majlis rooms and many rugs, often a car to ship |
| Al Raas and Al Ramlah | Apartments and mid-size houses: personal items, appliances and boxes |
| Umm Al Thuoob and Al Humrah | Houses with large yards, outdoor majlis sets and cars |
| Old Town and Al Khor | Older houses with burners, coffee pots and heritage pieces that need hand wrapping |
| Falaj Al Mualla | Houses and farms inland; send the location so we pick the right road for the truck |
| UAQ Free Trade Zone and industrial areas | Pallets and cartons for companies, with invoice and packing list |
Shipping your car from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam with a condition photo set
Before the car goes onto the carrier we document its condition in a full photo set and send it to you on WhatsApp before departure. That set is the reference at delivery in Dammam or Qatif: we open the photos with the receiver and compare the car point by point.
What the photo set covers:
- Full front and rear.
- Both sides, each from two angles.
- All four corners close up, where most small scratches are.
- The roof, especially on crossovers and SUVs.
- All four wheels and tyres.
- Windscreen and mirrors.
- The dashboard showing mileage and fuel level.
- Seats and cabin interior.
- The empty boot.
- Any existing scratch or dent, close up, with a note describing it.
The car ships empty of personal belongings, with little fuel. A sedan on an open carrier starts from 2,000 AED, an SUV from 2,750 AED, and an enclosed carrier from 4,100 AED. A used car must be no more than 5 years old from the model year, with the registration card, export certificate and plate cancellation from the relevant emirate authority, and the owner’s passport or ID. Special cases are checked with the team before shipping.
Delivering to homes in Qatif and Dammam
Homes in Qatif are often surrounded by palm groves and farms, and some streets in its older neighbourhoods cannot take a large trailer. In that case the truck parks at the nearest wide point and a small dyna carries the goods to the door. Send us the home location on the map the day before arrival, and a photo of the street if you can.
In Dammam we deliver across Al Noor, Al Badiyah, Al Hamra, Al Mubarakiyah, Al Fursan, Al Faisaliyah, Al Shati and Al Mazruiyah. We plan the unloading so the majlis goes into its room first: rugs are laid before the mattresses and cushions, then come the bedrooms and kitchen. That way the family has somewhere to sit from the first hour, instead of the majlis being the last thing unpacked. If delivery is to a Khobar apartment or a Dhahran compound, arrange the building slot or gate permit before the truck arrives.
Tip: open the mattress and rug bags on the first day, even if you do not lay everything out. Fabric left sealed in a new, humid home near the sea holds moisture; opening and airing it is enough to keep it smelling fresh.
Air freight for light parcels and volumetric weight
For a light, urgent parcel, such as documents, a gift, a small device or a box of bakhoor for an occasion, air is faster: we collect from Umm Al Quwain and fly it from Sharjah or Dubai airport to King Fahd International Airport, north-west of Dammam, then deliver to the address in Dammam, Qatif or Khobar. It usually takes 1–3 days including clearance.
An air parcel is not charged on its weight alone. Airlines also work out volumetric weight: length × width × height in centimetres ÷ 6000, and charge the greater of the two. That is why a big, light box costs more than people expect. These examples show the difference:
| Parcel | Size (cm) | Actual weight | Volumetric weight | Chargeable weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box of clothes and gifts | 60 × 40 × 40 | 6 kg | 16 kg | 16 kg |
| Same items in a smaller box | 50 × 35 × 30 | 6 kg | 8.75 kg | 8.75 kg |
| Folder of documents and books | 35 × 25 × 15 | 7 kg | 2.19 kg | 7 kg |
- Choose the smallest box that fits, and fill gaps with useful items rather than paper.
- Do not fly what can wait two days; a small road parcel starts from just 45 AED.
- Oud oil, perfumes, liquids and lithium batteries are restricted on flights, so describe the contents accurately.
- Air freight does not suit majlis sets, furniture or large rugs.
- Send the dimensions, weight and contents on WhatsApp and you will get the price.
Shop goods and sea freight to Dammam
Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone companies and local traders supplying Dammam shops and warehouses have two options: a road truck, shared or dedicated, arriving in about 2–3 days, or a sea container from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, about 2–3 days sailing plus handling and clearance. Sea suits full containers; road suits pallets and mid-size quantities. Send the goods type and the number of pallets or volume and you will get a price.
Documents for shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam
Saudi clearance is electronic through the Fasah platform, and what you need depends on the shipment:
Used household goods
- Copy of the owner’s passport and Saudi ID, iqama or residence visa.
- A detailed contents list in Arabic or English: number of mattresses and cushions, number and type of rugs, burners and coffee pots, rather than “majlis items”.
- Items must be used personal effects; new items in commercial quantities are dutiable.
Commercial goods
- Commercial invoice (certified when required), packing list and certificate of origin.
- Goods of UAE origin with a GCC certificate of origin are exempt from customs duty; 15% Saudi VAT applies on imports.
- SABER conformity certificate for many consumer products, and SFDA requirements for food, cosmetics, commercial perfumes and medicines.
- Commercial registration of the consignee in Saudi Arabia.
Cars
- Registration card, export certificate and plate cancellation.
- Owner’s passport or ID.
- A used car no more than 5 years old from the model year.
Prohibited and restricted items
Not allowed into Saudi Arabia: narcotics, alcohol, pork products, weapons and ammunition without permits, counterfeit goods and gambling equipment. Drones and some medicines need prior permits. And from the majlis in particular: no charcoal, lighters, lighter fluid or gas cylinders inside the boxes.
How much does shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam cost?
These are starting prices; the final price depends on volume, weight, city, packing and documents.
| Shipment type | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Household goods in a shared truck | 90 AED per cubic metre |
| Small parcel by road | 45 AED |
| Sedan on an open carrier | 2,000 AED |
| SUV on an open carrier | 2,750 AED |
| Car in an enclosed carrier | 4,100 AED |
| Dedicated truck, air freight, sea container | Ask for a price on WhatsApp with the details |
Floor majlis sets and rugs are light, but in a shared truck they are charged by volume, not weight, so it pays to leave behind old mattresses you will not use in the new home.
What pushes the price up or down?
- Volume in cubic metres; majlis sets and rugs take more space than their weight suggests.
- A shared truck is cheaper but waits to fill; a dedicated truck leaves on your date.
- Vehicle type: 3, 5 or 7-ton dyna, 10-ton lorry, or 12–13.6 m closed trailer.
- City and address: a narrow street in Qatif may need an extra dyna to reach the door.
- Packing: fabric bags for mattresses, divided boxes for coffee pots and cups.
- Car carrier type: open or enclosed.
- By air: chargeable weight, the greater of actual and volumetric.
- Document readiness, especially for commercial goods.
How to ship from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam
- Send photos of the majlis, rugs and other items, your Umm Al Quwain address and the Eastern Province delivery address on WhatsApp at +971557643821.
- You receive the price and the truck type, and we set a loading date.
- Dry the mattresses and clean the rugs a week ahead, empty the burners and coffee pots, and prepare the contents list and documents.
- The crew arrives, wraps and numbers the boxes, and photographs the car before loading.
- The truck departs and you receive updates on WhatsApp.
- Clearance at Al Batha through Fasah, then the road via Al Ahsa to Dammam.
- We call before arrival, unload the majlis first, and hand over the car by comparing it with the photo set.
Mistakes we see when shipping majlis sets and rugs
Warning: Washing rugs or mattresses a day or two before shipping is the mistake that ruins majlis items most often. A piece that feels dry on the outside can still be damp inside, and a few days on the road in a closed wrap are enough for mould and smells to appear.
- Vacuum-compressing mattresses to save space, so the foam loses its thickness.
- Packing bakhoor and oud in the clothes box, so the clothes arrive heavily scented.
- Leaving ash in a burner, which scatters over the fabric.
- Writing “majlis items” on the list without detail, which slows inspection at the border.
- Not taking your own car photos before loading and relying on memory at delivery.
Qatif, Dammam, the rest of the Eastern Province and the Kingdom
From Umm Al Quwain we deliver to Dammam, Qatif, Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail, Ras Tanura, Al Ahsa, Abqaiq and Hafr Al Batin, and to every other Saudi city. Heading to the capital? See the Umm Al Quwain to Riyadh guide; for the west coast, Umm Al Quwain to Jeddah; and for the full picture, shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Saudi Arabia. Shipping from another emirate to the Eastern Province? The details are in the UAE to Dammam guide. To ask for a price directly, use the quote page.
Questions from families moving from Umm Al Quwain to the Eastern Province
How many days does shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam take?
About 2–3 days door to door on a dedicated truck, clearance included. A shared load may need a few extra days before departure.
Do you deliver to Qatif?
Yes, to Qatif and the surrounding area. If the street is narrow, the truck parks at the nearest wide point and a small dyna takes the goods to the door.
How do you ship floor majlis mattresses without damage?
They are dried completely, placed in breathable fabric bags and loaded on top or in their own section, with no vacuum compression.
Can I ship incense burners and bakhoor?
Yes, by road, once burners are emptied of ash and charcoal and bakhoor and oud are in closed tins away from clothes. Lighters and lighter fluid cannot be shipped.
Do you photograph the car before shipping?
Yes, with a photo set covering every side, the corners, roof, wheels, dashboard, cabin and any existing scratch. It is sent to you on WhatsApp and used for comparison at delivery.
How is an air parcel to Dammam priced?
On the greater of actual and volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000). A smaller box saves you money.
Can oud oil go by air?
Perfumes and liquids are restricted on flights; it is better to ship them by road in sealed containers. Tell us the quantity and we will advise the right option.
How do I know where my shipment is?
The team sends WhatsApp updates at loading, departure and the border, and calls before arrival. You can ask at any time on +971557643821.
Moving your majlis and home from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif or Dammam?
Send photos of the majlis and rugs and the home location in the Eastern Province, and we will plan the packing, the car and the delivery slot.
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