Shipping personal belongings to Saudi Arabia
Relocating to Saudi Arabia? Used household goods and personal effects imported by a new resident around the time of relocation can generally enter free of customs duty, subject to approval — the goods must be used, owned before the move, in reasonable household quantities, and imported under the resident's name with a valid iqama. New items in the shipment are dutiable, and a strict prohibited list applies. A 20ft container of household goods from Europe costs indicatively $1,500–3,000 plus destination charges.
What can move duty-free — and what cannot?
- Generally exempt with approval: used furniture, appliances, clothing, books, kitchenware — a normal household, used and clearly not for resale
- Dutiable: new/unopened items, commercial quantities of anything, and vehicles (cars always pay 5% + 15% VAT — see our car import guide)
- Prohibited: alcohol, pork products, narcotics, weapons without permits, drones and satellite equipment without approval, religious materials for distribution, and items counter to public morals
Customs may inspect household shipments closely — an honest, itemised packing list in English or Arabic is the single best accelerator.
How do I ship a household — options and costs
Sole-use 20ft container (roughly a 2–3 bedroom home) from Europe indicatively $1,500–3,000, from North America $2,500–4,500, sea transit as per the route; groupage (shared container, per CBM) suits smaller moves at $80–150/CBM but adds consolidation time. Air makes sense only for a few urgent boxes. At destination add port charges, clearance and home delivery — quoted upfront in Sanad Global's door-to-door relocation service.
What documents does a personal shipment need?
- Passport and iqama (or proof the residence permit is in process)
- Detailed packing list, valued, marked "used personal effects"
- Bill of lading consigned in the owner's name
- Employer letter supporting the relocation, when available
The exemption is discretionary, not automatic: presentation matters, arrival should be reasonably close to the relocation date, and one clean file avoids the duty assessment that a vague list invites.
Questions importers ask about this
Related guides
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Frequently asked questions
Is furniture duty-free when moving to Saudi Arabia?
Used household furniture imported by a relocating resident generally clears duty-free with approval; new furniture in the same container is dutiable at the normal rate.
Can I ship my car with my household goods?
Ship it, yes — duty-free, no: vehicles always pay 5% duty + 15% VAT and follow the car import rules (under 5 years old, LHD, not salvage).
How long does a household shipment take?
Sea transit per the route (Europe 14–22 days, North America 25–40) plus 3–7 days for arrival formalities, inspection and delivery.
Do you handle relocations end to end?
Yes — packing coordination, shipping, customs exemption file, clearance and home delivery in any Saudi city.
Get a clearance cost estimate
Leave your number. A licensed broker replies within 30 minutes during working hours (Sun–Thu, 9:00–18:00 KSA).