Gulf International Shipping handles shipping from Makkah to the UAE by road, door to door, from your home in Makkah to your new address in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or any other emirate, with an air option through Jeddah airport for urgent parcels. The truck covers more than 1,800 km east via Riyadh and the Al Batha border crossing. Road shipments usually arrive in 4–6 days and air shipments in 24–48 hours. Prices start from SAR 138 per carton, SAR 2,100 for a room or small apartment on a shared truck and SAR 1,100 for a sedan. Call 0568829975 or message us on WhatsApp to book.
Route: Makkah → Riyadh → Al Batha crossing → Ghuwaifat crossing → Abu Dhabi → Dubai · Distance: more than 1,800 km depending on the road and consolidation point · By road: 4–6 days · By air: 24–48 hours · Contact: 0568829975
At a glance: shipping from Makkah to the UAE
- Border crossing: Al Batha in the Eastern Province, the only land crossing between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It faces the UAE’s Ghuwaifat post and runs 24 hours a day.
- Distance: More than 1,800 km from Makkah to Dubai, one of the longest road routes from the Kingdom to the Emirates.
- Transit time: 4–6 days door to door by road, about one extra day for the northern emirates and the east coast, and 24–48 hours by air.
- Cartons and parcels: From SAR 138 per carton, and personal effects by weight from SAR 14 per kg.
- Furniture: A room or small apartment on a shared truck from SAR 2,100, a full home from SAR 7,400 and a villa from SAR 8,300.
- Cars: Sedan on a multi-car carrier from SAR 1,100, open hydraulic flatbed from SAR 2,050, luxury or electric in an enclosed trailer from SAR 3,600.
- Air freight: From SAR 46 per kg via King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
How long does shipping from Makkah to the UAE take?
A road shipment from Makkah to the UAE normally takes 4 to 6 days from loading to delivery. That is roughly two days longer than a shipment from Dammam, because the truck crosses the whole Arabian Peninsula from west to east. The count includes a day for collection and packing in Makkah, about two days on the road to Riyadh and Al Batha, a day for formalities at both border posts, and then distribution inside the UAE.
Air freight compresses the whole journey into 24–48 hours: the parcel goes from Makkah to Jeddah airport, about 80 km away, and flies to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. Sea freight from Jeddah Islamic Port to Jebel Ali is an option only for large cargo loads, and usually takes 7–12 days because the vessel sails around the peninsula.
Note: these are approximate door-to-door times and vary with shipment size, paperwork and border timing.
Approximate shipping prices from Makkah to the UAE
No competitor publishes prices for the Makkah–UAE route, so Gulf International Shipping based its Makkah rates on the published Jeddah prices, the nearest priced city about 80 km away, and set each starting price 5–10% below the lowest competitor figure. Where nobody publishes a Jeddah price for an item, we used published Riyadh prices. In each range, the lower number is our “from” price and the higher one is where market prices typically top out.
Note: road shipping from Makkah to the UAE usually takes 4 to 6 days depending on the emirate and customs clearance, and air freight 24 to 48 hours.
Prices for the items Makkah households ship most
The city alone does not set the final price. What moves it up or down is the volume in cubic metres, whether you take a private truck or space on a shared one, the destination emirate, how many pieces need dismantling and reassembly, and the insurance value you choose. Want to see how Makkah compares with other Saudi origins? Check shipping prices from Saudi Arabia to the UAE.
Why do Makkah shipments go via Riyadh and Al Batha?
Some customers expect the truck to head straight from Makkah towards the Emirates, but geography decides otherwise. The Empty Quarter separates the west of the Kingdom from the south-east, and the only land crossing with the UAE is Al Batha at the far edge of the Eastern Province. So Makkah trucks drive east on the Makkah–Riyadh road, continue from Riyadh on the usual truck road to Al Batha, and cross into the Ghuwaifat post in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
This long route matters for your goods. Furniture spends more than two days on the road and passes through changing temperatures between the Hejaz mountains, the Najd plateau and the salt flats of the eastern coast. That is why Gulf International Shipping uses closed trucks out of Makkah, straps the load internally, keeps heavy pieces at the bottom and places fragile items in the middle, away from the walls.
Your Makkah shipment, day by day
- 1Day 1: Collection from your home in Makkah: dismantling, packing, photographing each piece and writing the packing list, then loading or transfer to the consolidation point.
- 2Day 2: The truck heads east towards Riyadh, and the shipment data is filed on the Fasah platform about 24 hours before it reaches the border.
- 3Day 3: The drive continues from Riyadh to Al Batha, and Saudi exit formalities are completed.
- 4Day 4: Entry through Ghuwaifat and the UAE customs declaration, then on to Abu Dhabi.
- 5Days 5–6: Distribution in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, then the northern emirates and the east coast, with furniture reassembled in your new home.
This is a typical plan for a private load with complete paperwork. Shared shipments may wait an extra day for the truck to fill, which is exactly why they cost less. For the crossing itself, read our guide to the Al Batha border crossing.
Moving household furniture and Arabic majlis sets from Makkah to the UAE
Most of what we load from Makkah homes bound for the Emirates is heavy family furniture: Arabic majlis seating with floor cushions and long backrests, wool carpets, lined curtains, wooden bedroom sets, fridges and washing machines. This kind of furniture suffers more from moisture and rubbing than from weight, so we start with packing, not loading.
At Gulf International Shipping we wrap majlis sofas in a fabric cover and then a layer of reinforced plastic, and seal cushions and backrests in clear bags so they stay clean and are easy to count on arrival. Carpets are rolled on a tube, never folded, so they keep no creases. Wooden furniture is dismantled piece by piece, every part is numbered, and the screws go in a small bag tied to it.
How we pack each piece for a 1,800 km journey
If your family is moving to the UAE for work or residence, ask us to inventory your belongings before packing. That inventory becomes the packing list UAE customs asks for, so you do not have to write it twice. For more on preparing a whole home, see furniture shipping from Saudi Arabia to the UAE.
Makkah districts we collect from
We collect from every district of Makkah, including Al Aziziyah, Al Shawqiyah, Al Naseem, Al Awali, Al Zaher, Al Sharaye, Al Kakiyah, Al Rusaifah, Al Utaybiyah, Jarwal, Al Taneem, Wali Al Ahd, Batha Quraysh and Al Hamra. We also reach Al Jumum and Bahra, and Jeddah for customers who want to combine goods from two homes into a single shipment.
For small shipments we may move your goods from Makkah to a consolidation point before they go on a UAE-bound truck. That lowers the price, because the truck fills with several customers’ loads. Full loads leave straight from your door. In the busy seasons we fix the collection date early so the truck is not held up leaving Makkah.
A tip before loading day
Is your used furniture exempt from UAE customs?
Yes, in specific cases. Under Dubai Customs rules, used household goods and personal effects are normally exempt for two groups: Emirati citizens coming back to settle permanently, and expatriates relocating to the UAE as first-time residents. Three conditions apply: the items are second-hand, the volume is what a household would reasonably need, and everything is registered to the person claiming the exemption.
A new resident needs proof of work and residence in the UAE, such as a residence visa, Emirates ID, employment contract or lease, and everyone needs a packing list of the full contents. New appliances and personal items are not covered and attract duty. If you buy new appliances before travelling, keep the invoices and expect the duty, or buy them in the UAE after you arrive.
More on the exemption
Car shipping from Makkah to the UAE
Gulf International Shipping moves cars from Makkah to the UAE by road on three types of transport: an open multi-car carrier for everyday cars, from SAR 1,100 for a sedan and SAR 1,390 for an SUV; an open hydraulic flatbed for a single car from SAR 2,050; and an enclosed trailer for luxury and electric cars from SAR 3,600. The car normally arrives in the same 4–6 days as the furniture.
Car paperwork on the Saudi side
- Export plates: Issued by the traffic department with the final export certificate.
- Absher authorisation: Needed when the person delivering the car is not its registered owner.
- Clearance letter: Confirming no outstanding fines or liens on the car.
- ID and registration: Owner’s ID or passport and the vehicle registration (istimara).
- Fasah authorisation: An electronic mandate allowing the carrier to handle clearance.
Will the UAE accept your car?
The UAE charges 5% customs duty on the car’s value including freight and insurance, plus 5% VAT. Several emirates cap the age of imported cars at roughly 10 years, so we confirm the local rule before shipping. Right-hand-drive cars are generally accepted only if they are 25 years or older, and cars recorded as major-accident, salvage or flood-damaged may be refused. The advantage of a Saudi car is that it is GCC-spec, which makes testing and registration there easier.
Before you hand over the car
Cartons, Makkah gifts and personal effects
Many Makkah–UAE shipments are small: cartons of clothes, suitcases and gifts for relatives living in Dubai or Sharjah. A carton starts from SAR 138, a suitcase from SAR 138 and personal effects by weight from SAR 14 per kg. Shared road freight is the most economical choice for these parcels, since they travel with other loads on the same truck.
Gifts that often leave Makkah include prayer rugs, prayer beads, copies of the Quran, clothing and packaged dates. All of these are fine when well packed. Perfumes and oud oil need prior confirmation, because flammable liquids are restricted in transport, as are liquids in large containers. Ask us before packing and we will tell you what is accepted by road and what by air. Details in cartons and parcels shipping to the UAE.
Air freight from Makkah to the UAE
Makkah has no airport, so Gulf International Shipping takes air parcels from Makkah to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and from there to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. Air shipments arrive within 24–48 hours, prices start from SAR 46 per kg, and an express air electronics shipment starts from SAR 1,500.
Air freight is charged on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is greater, so it suits documents, permitted personal medicines and small devices rather than furniture. If your shipment is above roughly 50 kg, compare the road price before deciding. For weights and air packing, read air freight from Saudi Arabia to the UAE or our air freight service.
Commercial cargo from Makkah: full or part load
Shops and suppliers in Makkah have two road options. With a part load (LTL) you ship one or more pallets alongside other traders’ goods, from SAR 740 per shared pallet. With a full load (FTL) you book the whole truck: a 15 m trailer starts from SAR 6,450, and full pallet loads on smaller trucks start from SAR 3,000.
Saudi-origin goods are normally treated as national products in the UAE when accompanied by a GCC certificate of origin, which saves customs duty. For very large, non-urgent volumes, sea freight from Jeddah Islamic Port to Jebel Ali is worth comparing, although it takes 7–12 days. For the commercial details, see goods shipping from Saudi Arabia to the UAE.
Ready to ship from Makkah to the UAE?
Send your list or photos of your items and the destination emirate, and we will reply with a quote and a collection date.
Documents required for shipping from Makkah to the UAE
We file the data on the Fasah platform on your behalf under your authorisation and prepare the declaration for the UAE side. All you need to do is make sure the documents are correct and that the packing list matches what is actually in the cartons. For help with formalities, see our customs clearance page.
What can’t you ship from Makkah to the UAE?
Common prohibited and restricted items
- Explosives, weapons and ammunition, and hazardous chemicals without a safety data sheet.
- Flammables such as gas cylinders, most alcohol-based perfumes and flammable liquids.
- Loose lithium batteries, counterfeit currency and counterfeit goods.
- Narcotics, pornographic material and anything contrary to public morals.
- Unlicensed medicines, and prescription medicines without a medical report.
- Restricted items that need a permit: drones, wireless communication equipment, seeds and plants.
This is a list of common restrictions; we confirm each case individually before loading.
Steps to ship from Makkah to the UAE
- 1Contact us: Send your Makkah district, shipment type and destination emirate and area on WhatsApp 0568829975.
- 2Get your quote: We choose shared or private transport and send the price and a collection date.
- 3Prepare the documents: We send the list of papers your shipment needs and check them before loading.
- 4Collection and packing: Our crew comes to your home in Makkah to dismantle, pack, number and photograph each piece.
- 5Clearance and crossing: We file on Fasah, and the truck crosses Al Batha and then Ghuwaifat.
- 6Delivery and reassembly: We deliver to your UAE address, reassemble the furniture, and you check the pieces against the packing list.
Delivery across the UAE, from Abu Dhabi to the east coast
After the Ghuwaifat crossing the truck enters the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, then heads east to Abu Dhabi city and Dubai, and on to the northern emirates. We deliver in all seven emirates and reach the east coast at Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, a destination many of our Makkah customers ask about because some of them are moving for work at the ports and projects there.
The cheapest way to ship from Makkah to the UAE
The most economical option is shared road freight, because you only pay for the space you use. You can lower the cost further by getting rid of old furniture that costs more to move than it is worth, by packing small items into uniform cartons instead of loose bags, and by giving us two days of flexibility on the loading date so we can add your shipment to a truck already heading to the same emirate.
Air is the most expensive per kilo, but for a small urgent parcel it can be the cheapest in practice because it saves days. Sea freight only saves money on large commercial loads. Compare the routes in land freight from Saudi Arabia to the UAE.
Common mistakes when shipping from Makkah to the UAE
- Declaring new appliances as used: New items are dutiable, and finding them at the border holds up the whole shipment.
- A vague packing list: “Household goods” is not enough; list what is in each carton.
- Leaving items in the car: This delays inspection and can lead to refusal.
- Ignoring car age rules: Check the emirate’s rule before paying for export paperwork.
- Packing perfumes with clothes: Flammable liquids can stop the whole carton.
- An incomplete UAE address: Give the area, building number and a UAE phone number for the recipient.
Why choose Gulf International Shipping in Makkah?
We know the whole route
From Makkah’s districts to Riyadh, Al Batha and Ghuwaifat, planned before we load.
Long-haul packing
Packing layers suited to more than 1,800 km, with every piece numbered and photographed.
Published prices
“From” prices 5–10% below published competitor rates.
Clearance on both sides
Fasah filing and the UAE declaration handled for you.
All seven emirates
Delivery from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Road and air
Trucks for furniture and cars, air via Jeddah for urgent parcels.
Related articles
- Land freight from Saudi Arabia to the UAE
- Shipping from Jeddah to the UAE
- Shipping from Taif to the UAE
- Shipping from Madinah to the UAE
- Car shipping from Saudi Arabia to the UAE
- UAE customs rules for used household goods
- International furniture moving service
- Land freight service
- All shipping destinations
