One room in Umm Al Quwain, a washing machine, a few cartons and two suitcases, and your family waiting for you on Tarout. That load does not need a whole truck, and the cheapest way to move it is in a shared truck where you pay only for its volume in cubic metres. That is what a shipping company from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif like Al Basmah International Shipping offers: we collect your things from your flat in Umm Al Quwain, they join a shared truck heading for the Eastern Province, and they reach Qatif by road in about 2 to 4 days once the truck sets off, plus the few days a shared truck may wait until it is full. Orders are taken on WhatsApp +971557643821 around the clock, and you get a WhatsApp update at each stage until the last carton is inside your home on the island.
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Prepare your small load
- Measure your cartons and work out the volume: a 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton is about 0.1 m³.
- A shared truck starts from 90 AED per cubic metre, so a washing machine and ten cartons come to about 1.4 m³.
- Number every carton (1 of 12) and write the receiver’s name, mobile and district in Tarout or Qatif on it.
- Shipping a crossover too? Photograph it from every side before handover and send the photos on WhatsApp.
- Urgent papers and very small parcels fly to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, then go by road to Qatif.
Pickup in Umm Al Quwain
From Al Salamah, Al Raas, Al Ramlah, Al Maidan, Al Humrah, Al Raafah, Falaj Al Mualla and the free zone, at a time set on WhatsApp.
How it is priced
By volume in cubic metres on a shared truck, starting from 90 AED per cubic metre.
Delivery on Tarout
To homes in Tarout, Darin and Sanabis, with a smaller truck in narrow lanes when needed.
Contact
WhatsApp +971557643821; Dubai branch in Deira, Port Saeed Street; Sharjah branch in Industrial Area 18.
Who is a shared truck from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif for?
A shared truck suits anyone whose things will not fill a truck: a single person in a room or studio, an employee finishing a contract and going back to family in Qatif, a student sending books and a computer, or a small family that sold its big furniture and wants to ship what is left. You pay for the space your things take up, and the rest of the truck carries other people’s shipments.
- One room’s contents: a dismantled bed and mattress, suitcases, cartons of belongings, a TV.
- Appliances: washing machine, small fridge, window or dismantled split AC, microwave.
- Books and papers: small, heavy cartons, packed against humidity.
- Personal items: clothes, kitchenware, rolled rugs, a bicycle.
- The car: a crossover or sedan on an open or enclosed carrier, separate from the goods.
The price of the saving is time: a shared truck only leaves once it is full, which can mean a few days’ wait. If your date is tight, a small dedicated dyna (about 3 tons) leaves on your day; for its price, send the details on WhatsApp.
How is the per-cubic-metre price worked out? Worked examples
Volume in cubic metres = length × width × height in metres. A 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton is 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 = 0.096, or about 0.1 m³. On a shared truck the price starts from 90 AED per cubic metre. The examples below are approximate and cover the volume part only; the final price depends on actual volume, weight, city, packing and documents.
| Load | Approx. volume | Volume charge from |
|---|---|---|
| Packed front-loading washer + 10 medium cartons | 0.4 + 1.0 = 1.4 m³ | about 126 AED |
| One room: washer, 8 cartons, single bed and mattress, TV, two suitcases | about 2.2 m³ | about 198 AED |
| Studio: fridge, washer, two-seat sofa, bed and mattress, dismantled wardrobe, 15 cartons | about 5.3 m³ | about 477 AED |
| Just 5 cartons of books | about 0.5 m³ | the parcel rate may suit better (from 45 AED per parcel) |
Notice that a sofa and a wardrobe take up more space than their weight suggests; removing the sofa legs and flat-packing the wardrobe cuts the volume charged. Books are the opposite: small volume, heavy weight, so we spread them over small cartons that one person can carry easily.
Preparing the washing machine and cartons for a shared truck
The washing machine
The washing machine is the appliance most likely to be damaged on the road if it is not prepared. Drain the water from the hose and filter the day before and leave the door open to dry. If it is a front loader, refit the transit bolts at the back that lock the drum; if you no longer have them, ask the team to secure the drum another way. Tape the hoses and cable to the back, and it is wrapped with cardboard and corner guards and carried upright, never on its side.
The cartons
- Use strong cartons in a few repeated sizes; they stack better and their volume is easy to work out.
- Heavy items at the bottom, gaps filled with clothes or paper so the carton does not collapse under others.
- Seal each carton with tape in an H pattern on top and bottom.
- Wrap each fragile piece on its own and mark the carton “Fragile” with an arrow showing which way up.
- Medicines, documents, gold and valuables do not go in cartons; carry them with you.
Numbering and labels: why they matter in a shared load
On a shared truck your cartons sit among other families’ shipments, and a clear label is what gets all of them off at your door with nothing mixed up. Write on two sides of every carton:
- A sequence number with the total: 1 of 12, 2 of 12…
- The receiver’s name and Saudi mobile number.
- City and district: Tarout – Sanabis, for example, or Qatif and your district.
- A short content note: “kitchenware”, “books”, “winter clothes”.
Photograph the numbered carton list and send it to the team on WhatsApp; the same list works as the base for the contents list that clearance asks for. On delivery in Qatif, count the cartons against the list before the driver leaves.
Warning: Do not pack loose lithium batteries, perfumes or flammable liquids, gas cylinders or any prohibited items in your cartons. On a shared truck, one shipment that breaks the rules holds up the whole truck at inspection.
Shipping a crossover from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif
Many people shipping a small load also own one car, often a compact family crossover. The car travels separately on an open or enclosed carrier: from 2,000 AED for a sedan and 2,750 AED for larger SUV-class vehicles on an open carrier, and from 4,100 AED in an enclosed carrier. Which class a crossover falls into depends on its size, and the team confirms it on WhatsApp.
Condition photos before shipping
Before handing the car over, photograph it in daylight; these photos are your reference, and the team’s, at handover in Qatif:
- One photo of each of the four sides, plus two of the front and rear corners.
- Close-ups of any existing scratch or dent, and of the wheels and tyres.
- The dashboard showing the mileage and fuel level.
- The seats and headliner inside, and the boot empty.
- A short video walking round the car; send all of it on WhatsApp before loading.
Leave the car empty of personal belongings, with about a quarter tank of fuel and one key. And remember the age rule: used passenger cars cannot be imported into Saudi Arabia if they are more than 5 years old from the model year.
Pickup areas in Umm Al Quwain
Umm Al Quwain is a compact emirate; we reach most of its districts on the same slot and collect small loads from several addresses on one round.
- Residential districts: Al Salamah, Al Raas, Al Ramlah, Al Maidan, Al Humrah, Al Haditha, Al Raafah, Umm Al Thuoob, the Old Town.
- Newer developments: Al Salam City and the apartment projects along the coastal road.
- Inland: Falaj Al Mualla and the farms around it.
- Work and trade: the Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone and the industrial area.
If you live on the third floor or higher without a lift, or in a building that requires a moving permit, tell the team beforehand so they arrive with the right number of workers.
The road from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif
The truck leaves Umm Al Quwain heading south through Sharjah and Dubai and then Abu Dhabi, and carries on west to Al Ghuwaifat and on to the Saudi post at Al Batha. After electronic clearance through the Fasah platform it goes to Al Ahsa (Hofuf), then Dammam, and from there about 20 to 30 km north to Qatif. The whole distance is roughly 1,000 km.
Sea from Jebel Ali or Khalifa Port to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam is an option for containers and big commercial loads, but it does not suit a room or a small flat; road remains the natural way for those.
Transit times from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif
Once the truck leaves, the trip including clearance takes about 2 to 4 days, and a shared truck may wait a few days before departure until it is full. The table is approximate:
| Destination | Dedicated dyna (approx.) | Shared truck (approx.) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qatif city | 2 – 4 days | 5 – 8 days | Direct delivery in most districts |
| Saihat | 2 – 4 days | 5 – 8 days | Close to Dammam |
| Safwa | 2 – 4 days | 5 – 8 days | North of the governorate |
| Tarout, Darin and Sanabis | 3 – 4 days | 6 – 9 days | Smaller truck in narrow lanes when needed |
| Dammam | 2 – 4 days | 5 – 8 days | Before Qatif on the route |
| Khobar | 2 – 4 days | 5 – 8 days | South of Dammam |
Delivery on Tarout Island
Tarout Island is linked to Qatif by short road connections and includes Tarout town, Darin, Sanabis and Al Rabeiyah. The newer districts on the island have wide streets, but the old heart of Tarout around the castle and parts of Sanabis and Darin have narrow lanes a big truck cannot enter. In that case your things are moved in Qatif from the shared truck to a small dyna that finishes the trip to your door.
- Send the house location pin and the receiver’s mobile, plus a photo of the street if it is narrow.
- Choose a time when someone is home; small shipments are handed over in person.
- If the entrance or staircase is tight, tell the team so they send an extra pair of hands.
- Humidity on the island is high; open cartons holding books and electronics within the first two days instead of leaving them sealed.
We also deliver across every town and village of Qatif governorate: Qatif city, Saihat, Safwa, Awamiyah, Al Jesh, Umm Al Hamam, Anak, Al Qudaih, Al Tubi, Al Mujidiyah and Al Bahari. The governorate lies on the Gulf coast between Dammam and Jubail, is one of the oldest oases of the Eastern Province, and is known for its palms and for a fish market counted among the largest in the Gulf.
Urgent air freight from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif
Some things cannot wait for a shared truck: appointment papers, certificates, an electronic part someone in Qatif needs. These fly from Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi airport to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and then reach Qatif by a short road leg, usually in 1 to 2 days including clearance.
- Price is by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher; volumetric = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000.
- Example: a 40 × 30 × 30 cm box has a volumetric weight of 6 kg; if it actually weighs 4 kg you pay for 6.
- Lithium batteries, liquids and perfumes are restricted or banned by air; send them by road.
- Air does not suit furniture or washing machines.
- Price: send the details on WhatsApp and the price comes back to you.
Documents required
Used personal effects
A copy of the owner’s passport and Saudi ID, iqama or residence visa, and a detailed contents list in Arabic or English. Your numbered carton list is a good base for it once you add the contents for each number. New items in commercial quantities are dutiable even inside a personal shipment.
Commercial goods
If the small shipment is stock for a shop: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and the Saudi consignee’s commercial registration, a SABER certificate for many consumer products, and SFDA requirements for food, cosmetics and medicines. Goods of UAE origin with a GCC certificate of origin are exempt from customs duty, and Saudi VAT of 15% applies on imports.
The car
Registration card, export certificate and plate cancellation from the relevant authority in Umm Al Quwain, a copy of the owner’s passport and ID, and an empty car. Special cases are checked with the team first.
Prohibited and restricted items
- Prohibited: narcotics, alcohol, pork products, weapons and ammunition without permits, counterfeit goods, gambling tools.
- Prior permit needed: drones and some medicines.
- Restricted: plants and soil.
- Not allowed in cartons: gas cylinders and flammable materials.
Prices from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif
| Shipment type | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Goods and furniture in a shared truck | 90 AED per cubic metre |
| Small parcels by road | 45 AED |
| Sedan on an open carrier | 2,000 AED |
| 4×4 / SUV on an open carrier | 2,750 AED |
| Car in an enclosed carrier | 4,100 AED |
| Dedicated dyna or air freight | Send the details on WhatsApp and get your price |
The final price depends on volume, weight, city, packing and documents.
What changes the cost of a small load?
- Actual volume: your own measurement is an estimate; what counts is what is measured at loading.
- Dismantling: a dismantled bed and wardrobe take half the space they do assembled.
- Packing: packing yourself saves money; packing by the team is added to the price.
- The last leg: a transfer to a small dyna for Tarout’s lanes, or carrying to a high floor without a lift.
- Truck type: shared is cheaper; a dedicated dyna gets an earlier date.
How to ship from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif, step by step
- Send your list of items, or a photo of them, on WhatsApp +971557643821, with your Umm Al Quwain address and your district in Qatif or Tarout.
- The team estimates the volume, suggests a shared truck or a dyna, and sends the price and the document list.
- Prepare the washing machine, seal the cartons, number them and label them with the receiver’s details.
- The team arrives on time, measures and loads, and sends you a photo of your things inside the truck.
- You get WhatsApp updates when the truck leaves, at the border and after clearance.
- Before arrival the driver calls the receiver, and the goods move to a smaller truck if the street is narrow.
- Delivery, with the cartons counted against the list.
Keep in your suitcase what you will need for your first three nights in Qatif: clothes, a charger, your papers and a few basic tools. A shared truck may arrive a few days after you do.
Tips and warnings
- Do not overdo the large cartons; a big carton full of books will tear.
- Photograph each appliance working before you unplug it, and take a picture of the cables behind the TV.
- Ask the team about optional insurance if the appliances are valuable.
- If you are shipping a car with your things, ask for both in one message so the dates line up.
For bigger shipments from other emirates, see the UAE to Qatif shipping guide and Ajman to Qatif shipping. From Umm Al Quwain to other destinations: Umm Al Quwain to Dammam and Umm Al Quwain to Saudi Arabia.
FAQ: shipping from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif
How much does it cost to ship a few things from Umm Al Quwain to Qatif?
On a shared truck it starts from 90 AED per cubic metre. A washing machine and ten cartons come to about 1.4 m³, or roughly 126 AED for the volume part; the final price depends on actual volume, weight, packing and documents.
How long does a shared truck wait before leaving?
Usually a few days until the load is full, then about 2 to 4 days on the road including clearance. If your date is tight, a dedicated dyna leaves on your day.
Do you deliver to homes inside Tarout Island?
Yes, to Tarout, Darin, Sanabis and Al Rabeiyah. In narrow lanes the goods are moved to a small dyna for the last leg after agreeing it with the receiver.
How do I prepare a washing machine for shipping?
Drain the hose and filter, let it dry, refit the drum transit bolts if it is a front loader, and tape the hoses to the back. It is wrapped in cardboard and carried upright.
Why should I photograph my car before shipping?
The photos record the car’s condition for handover in Qatif: the four sides, existing scratches, mileage and fuel, and the interior. Send them on WhatsApp before loading.
Can I send urgent papers by air?
Yes, by air to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and then by road to Qatif, in about 1 to 2 days. The price is by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
What documents do I need for my personal things?
A copy of your passport and Saudi ID, iqama or residence visa, and a detailed contents list in Arabic or English.
How will I know where my things are?
The team sends you a WhatsApp update at each stage: loading, departure, the border, clearance done, and before arrival.
Only a few things to move? It costs less than you think
Send your list of items on WhatsApp and get the approximate volume and price.
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