If you only have a few things — a student’s room, a single person’s flat, some boxes and a bicycle — and you are looking for a shipping company from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar that won’t make you pay for a whole truck, a shared load priced by the cubic metre is what you need. At Al Basmah International Shipping we collect from your home anywhere in Umm Al Quwain, put your items on a shared truck heading to the Eastern Province, and you pay only for the space you use, starting from AED 90 per cubic metre. The route is by road through Al Ghuwaifat, Al Batha and Al Ahsa to Dammam and Khobar, and it takes roughly 2–4 days including clearance, plus possibly a few days while the shared truck fills. We deliver to Al Rakah and every other Khobar district, and urgent parcels arrive by air in about 1–2 days.
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Count your cubic metres
- Cubic metres = length × width × height in metres. A 50 × 40 × 40 cm box is 0.08 m³.
- A typical student room (15 boxes, a bike and a small desk) is about 2 m³ — from roughly AED 180 in a shared truck.
- A small parcel on its own starts from AED 45 by road; urgent air parcels are charged on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
- Photograph your car on every side before shipping; a sedan starts from AED 2,000 and an SUV from AED 2,750 on an open carrier.
- You get updates on WhatsApp at every stage.
Pay for your space only
A shared truck priced per m³, made for students, singles and small moves.
Books and bikes
Strong small boxes for books; bikes with wheel and handlebar off, boxed or wrapped.
Your car on record
Condition photos before loading, compared again at delivery in Khobar.
Delivery in Al Rakah
Houses and flats in north and south Al Rakah and the rest of Khobar and Dhahran.
Who is shared shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar for?
Shared shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar suits anyone whose things won’t fill a truck. One truck carries several customers’ loads, each wrapped and labelled with its owner’s name, and each person pays for the cubic metres they take. The people who book it with us on this route are usually:
- Students: someone who has finished studying in the UAE and is moving to Khobar, or who is starting a course or training in the Eastern Province and needs their books, clothes, laptop and bike.
- Singles and individual employees: an engineer or technician who has taken a job in Khobar or Dammam and owns a small bedroom set, a TV and some boxes.
- Families sending part of the house: the father has gone ahead to Khobar, so the essentials go first and the rest follows later.
- Small business owners: a limited quantity of stock for a shop in Khobar, with its commercial papers.
- People shipping a car with their things: a crossover on a carrier, the owner’s boxes in the shared truck.
If your things fill two rooms or more, or you need a fixed arrival date, a dedicated truck may suit you better. Send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price for both options to compare.
How do you work out the cubic metres of your load?
Multiply length × width × height in metres for each item, then add the results. An item of 100 × 50 × 50 cm is 1 × 0.5 × 0.5 = 0.25 m³. This isn’t only for the team: if you know it before you contact us, you have a fair idea of what you will pay — and of what is worth shipping and what is cheaper to sell and replace in Khobar.
Worked examples for common items
| Item | Approx. size | Approx. volume |
|---|---|---|
| Medium box (clothes, kitchenware) | 50 × 40 × 40 cm | 0.08 m³ |
| Small book box | 40 × 30 × 30 cm | 0.036 m³ |
| Bicycle in a bike box | 140 × 25 × 75 cm | 0.26 m³ |
| Small study desk, flat-packed | 120 × 60 × 15 cm | 0.11 m³ |
| Single mattress | 190 × 90 × 20 cm | 0.34 m³ |
| 55-inch TV in its box | 135 × 15 × 85 cm | 0.17 m³ |
| Small fridge | 55 × 55 × 85 cm | 0.26 m³ |
Three real-life scenarios
A student moving a room: 12 medium boxes (0.96 m³) + 6 book boxes (0.22 m³) + a bike (0.26 m³) + a flat-packed desk (0.11 m³) + a mattress (0.34 m³) = about 1.89 m³, rounded to 2 m³. The price starts from about AED 180 before packing.
A single person’s small flat: a dismantled single bed and mattress, a small wardrobe, a TV, a small fridge, a washing machine and 20 boxes usually come to 5–6 m³ — roughly AED 450–540 as a starting point.
Boxes only: 5 medium boxes are 0.4 m³. Here, compare the shared-truck rate with a road parcel from AED 45, and ask the team which works out cheaper for you.
Volume is measured after packing, not before. A small sofa grows a few centimetres on every side once it is blanketed and wrapped, while a dismantled wardrobe shrinks to about half its size. Take apart everything you can before collection day — it is the easiest way to lower your price.
Shipping books and bicycles the right way
Books are heavier than you expect: a medium box full of books can pass 25 kg, splitting its base or straining the back of whoever lifts it. So we spread books across small, strong boxes, put them at the bottom of the load rather than on top, and tape the boxes on both sides. Because Khobar’s summer humidity is high, put important books and papers in sealed plastic bags inside the box before closing it.
A bicycle travels with the front wheel off, the handlebar turned in line with the frame and the pedals removed, then goes into a bike box or is wrapped in foam and plastic. Let a little air out of the tyres and wrap the chain in a cloth so it doesn’t mark anything. An e-bike is a special case because of its lithium battery: by road the team checks it with you, and by air it is restricted.
A few small things that come up in student loads again and again: the laptop travels with you or in the urgent air parcel, not in the shared truck; a monitor goes back in its original box if you still have it; and clothes compressed in vacuum bags save cubic metres.
Where do we collect in Umm Al Quwain?
We collect from every part of Umm Al Quwain, from the old town by the sea to the inland areas. The areas we collect from most:
- Al Salamah, Al Ramlah and Al Humrah: residential areas with many houses and flats.
- Al Raas, the old town and Al Khor: near the lagoon and corniche, older houses and narrow streets.
- Umm Al Thuoob and Al Raafah: family houses and villas.
- Falaj Al Mualla: the inland area, where an exact location matters.
- Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone and Ahmed bin Rashid Port and Free Zone: for goods and commercial shipments.
- Umm Al Quwain industrial area: workshops, warehouses and shop stock.
Send your location and photos of the items on WhatsApp, and say if the flat is on a floor without a lift. If your things are already packed, let us know — it shortens collection time.
The road route from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar
The truck leaves Umm Al Quwain heading south on Emirates Road or Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, passing Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, to the Al Ghuwaifat border. Next is the Saudi Al Batha crossing, where customs clearance is done electronically through the Fasah platform, then Al Ahsa (Hofuf), then north on the eastern highway to Dammam and Khobar. The distance is roughly 900–1,000 km depending on the pickup point.
A shared truck doesn’t leave until it is close to full, which is what keeps the price low. If your date is flexible by a few days, shared shipping saves you a lot. If you start work or classes on a fixed day, allow for those extra days — or send the essentials by air and keep the rest on the shared truck.
For the record: the sea option from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, next to Khobar, exists, but it is for full containers and heavy commercial cargo. A small load belongs on the road.
Transit times from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar and nearby
A road shipment from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar takes roughly 2–4 days from the moment the truck leaves to your door, including clearance. These times are approximate:
| Delivery area | After the truck leaves (approx.) | Note for shared loads |
|---|---|---|
| North and south Al Rakah | 2–4 days | Extra days may be added while the truck fills |
| Khobar: Al Aqrabiyah, Al Thuqbah, Al Hizam Al Dhahabi, Al Yarmouk, Al Jisr | 2–4 days | Delivered in the order of the truck’s drops |
| Dhahran | 2–4 days | Compounds need an entry permit in advance |
| Dammam | 2–4 days | Many shared trucks stop here first |
| Al Ahsa | 2–3 days | First city after Al Batha |
| Jubail | 3–4 days | North of Dammam |
The team messages you on WhatsApp when your things are loaded, at the border and after clearance, then calls you or the receiver before arriving in Khobar.
Air freight for urgent parcels from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar
An urgent parcel from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar flies from Sharjah, Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, then goes by road to your address in Khobar, usually in 1–2 days including clearance. It is the right choice for papers you need to register at university or sign a work contract, clothes for the first week, and anything light that can’t wait for the shared truck.
Air is priced on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher, and volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000. This is why books don’t fly:
- A clothes box of 50 × 40 × 40 cm: volumetric weight 13.3 kg, actual weight 8 kg, so it is charged as 13.3 kg.
- A book box of 40 × 30 × 30 cm: volumetric weight 6 kg, but it actually weighs 14 kg, so it is charged as 14 kg.
- A document envelope: very light, and air makes complete sense.
The simple rule: light and urgent goes by air, heavy or bulky goes by road. Lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes are restricted by air, and furniture does not suit air. For an air parcel price, send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price.
Shipping a crossover and photographing its condition first
We ship crossovers from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar on an open carrier, from AED 2,000 for a sedan-sized car or from AED 2,750 for an SUV depending on size, or in an enclosed carrier from AED 4,100. The most important thing you do before loading is record the car’s condition in photos.
How to photograph your car before shipping
- Wash the car the day before — scratches don’t show under dust.
- Shoot in daylight from all four sides, then the four corners, then the roof if you can.
- Take close-ups of any existing scratch or dent, with something beside it to show the size.
- Photograph the wheels, tyres and windscreen.
- Photograph the odometer and fuel gauge from inside.
- Send a copy to the team on WhatsApp and keep your own.
At delivery in Khobar, compare the car with the photos before you sign. Don’t leave things inside the car: personal items go on the shared truck, not the back seat, and the car must be empty for clearance. Remember too that a used car must be no more than five years old from its model year.
Documents required
Personal effects and used household goods
- Copy of the owner’s passport.
- Copy of the owner’s Saudi ID, iqama or residence visa.
- A detailed contents list in Arabic or English, box by box if possible.
A student whose residence has not been issued yet should contact the team before booking to find out what is accepted in their case. New items in commercial quantities are dutiable.
Small commercial shipments
- Commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
- A SABER certificate for many consumer products.
- SFDA requirements for 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; Saudi VAT of 15% applies on imports.
Cars
- Vehicle registration (mulkiya), plus an export certificate and plate cancellation from the vehicle licensing authority in Umm Al Quwain.
- Copy of the owner’s passport and ID.
- The car empty of personal belongings, and no more than five years old from its model year, counted back excluding the current year.
Prohibited and restricted items
Narcotics, alcohol, pork products, weapons and ammunition without permits, counterfeit goods and gambling tools cannot be shipped. Drones and some medicines need prior permits, and soil and plants are restricted.
Warning: on a shared truck, everything is inspected at the border along with other people’s items. One prohibited item in your box can hold up the whole truck, so write the contents list honestly and don’t pack medicines without their prescriptions.
Prices from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar
Shipping prices from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar start from AED 90 per cubic metre in a shared truck and from AED 45 for a parcel by road.
| Service | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Household items in a shared truck | AED 90 per cubic metre |
| Small parcel 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 parcels, containers | Send the details on WhatsApp and you will get the price |
The final price depends on volume, weight, city, packing and documents.
How to lower the cost of a small load
- Dismantle furniture: a dismantled bed, desk or wardrobe takes less than half its assembled space.
- Decide between selling and shipping: a cheap but bulky item may cost less to replace in Khobar than to ship.
- Fill your boxes: a half-empty box is charged as a full one.
- Be flexible on dates: shared is cheaper because it waits for a full load.
- Prepare documents early: a paperwork delay can hold up the whole truck.
- Ask about optional insurance: the team explains the options before booking.
Delivery in Al Rakah and the rest of Khobar
North and south Al Rakah are among the districts where we deliver the most small loads: the area sits between Khobar and Dammam, with many houses split into flats, shared housing for singles and employees, and family villas. Delivering there has its own details:
- Many houses have several flats with separate entrances, so write the flat number or describe the entrance, and send an exact map pin.
- Some inner streets are narrow, so the last leg may be done with a smaller truck.
- If you won’t be there, give us the number of whoever will receive for you — a flatmate or relative.
- If your flat is on a floor without a lift, say so when booking.
We also deliver to Al Ulaya, Al Aqrabiyah, Al Thuqbah, Al Hizam Al Dhahabi, Al Khobar Al Shamaliyah and Al Janubiyah, Al Yarmouk, Al Bandariyah, Al Jisr, Al Rawabi, Al Hamra, Al Corniche, Al Aziziyah, Al Sheraa and Al Lulu, and to neighbouring Dhahran. If you live in a gated compound, gate access must be arranged in advance and sometimes a smaller truck is used inside; we coordinate this with you or the receiver before arrival.
If you are comparing, the guide to shipping from the UAE to Khobar gives the full picture of this route, and the guide to shipping from Ajman to Khobar is a close alternative if you live near the border of the two emirates. If your destination is Dammam itself, see shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Dammam, and for other cities, shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Saudi Arabia.
How to ship your things from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar, step by step
- List your items, measure the big pieces and estimate the cubic metres using the method above.
- Send the list and photos on WhatsApp with your Umm Al Quwain location and your Khobar address.
- Choose: shared truck, road parcel, or air for urgent items — and a carrier for the car if you have one.
- Prepare the documents: passport, ID or iqama and the contents list.
- Collection day: the crew wraps what needs wrapping, measures the actual volume and labels your items with your name.
- Updates: WhatsApp messages at each stage until the truck nears Khobar.
- Delivery: count the boxes in front of the driver and check the items before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship just a few boxes from Umm Al Quwain to Khobar?
Yes. A few boxes go in the shared truck by the cubic metre from AED 90, or as a road parcel from AED 45, and the team suggests the cheaper option for your case.
How do I know how many cubic metres my things take?
Multiply length × width × height in metres for each item and add them up. A 50 × 40 × 40 cm box is 0.08 m³, and a typical student room is about 2 m³.
Why might a shared load take longer?
Because the truck waits until it is nearly full before leaving, which is why it costs less. Once it leaves, the trip takes roughly 2–4 days.
Can I ship my bicycle?
Yes, with the front wheel and pedals off and the bike wrapped. An e-bike needs checking first because of its battery, and it is restricted by air.
Should I send books by air?
Usually not: books are heavy, and air is charged on actual weight when it is higher. It is cheaper to send them by road in small, strong boxes.
What should I do before shipping my car?
Wash it, photograph it from every side with close-ups of any scratch, photograph the odometer, empty it, and prepare the registration and export certificate.
Do you deliver to Al Rakah?
Yes — to north and south Al Rakah and every district of Khobar and Dhahran, with an exact location and the receiver’s number.
How do I follow my shipment’s progress?
No. The team sends you updates on WhatsApp at every stage.
Worked out your cubic metres? Send them over
Send your item list and Umm Al Quwain location on WhatsApp and you will get the price, or request a price on the site.
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