2nd_opossum

Dear friends,

Can you please share your experiences of transporting household and personal belongings from other Middle Eastern countries to KSA by land, sea or air.

We are trying to ship a mere 5/6 cubic meters from Qatar to Riyadh and are being quoted extortionate prices of 9000 QAT (2000 GBP) for the cheapest option, which is a land shipment. The same shipment from Qatar to Dubai costs around 3500 QAR.

The explanation we are given is that the transporters are reluctant to commit to trips to KSA due to it being "challenging",and, as not many goods are being transported - the combined/ shared option is not available, so we being charged for a whole half-empty truck.

We have asked questions about:

- air freight
- using a smaller truck
- waiting for a combined shipment opportunity
- hiring a man and a van ourselves
- hiring a van and doing a self-drive

but I am not getting any helpful answers.

Please let me know if you have any advice for us - we are now desperate.

Many thanks,

K

sicklyman

I would do the latter of your options there, but even so I'd be prepared for a lengthy search at the border.

The drive is about 10 hours Doha - Riyadh so a very early start might see you in Riyadh by nightfall. You could be back in Doha the next evening if you had to be.

if you do rent a vehicle, make sure the company gives you the paperwork to show you can take it out of the country... and that the vehicle has unlimited mileage.

scot47

I paid less than that to ship a container from Jeddah to Varna !

2nd_opossum

Thank you for this. Somebody also suggested using a KSA shipment company that delivers to Qatar and then goes back "empty".

Can anyone suggest any reliable companies of this kind in Riyadh?

Thank you,

K )

Brains1983

And I paid less than that for a 70" TV. Which is just a relevant to the OPs question.

2nd_opossum

;-)

Brains1983

Your biggest problem is that none of the LTL guys will want to touch personal effects. They're just not worth the hassle, the customers bitch and moan about price (ahem ) and then there's invariably a claim at the end of the job. So your options are to pay a removals specialist which pushes up the price, or to do it yourself as sicklyman has suggested. I would also recommend this, and also point out the border crossing is going to be a pain in the arse.

Airfreight for that volume will be expensive, as 6 CBM is equivalent to 1,000 Kg, so just the airport to airport cost is going to cost the best part of 5,000 QAR + the locals at either end.

You could find one of the local guys that help bring furniture back from IKEA and such like and see what they would be wanting to do the job, but I would be concerned about insurance (both for your stuff, and for the guy if he has an accident and tells the police he was working for you - you may be liable).

Rent the van...

2nd_opossum

Thank you so much, Brains1983 - this is a great summary that helps us understand the situation more clearly. Am I correct in assuming that, if we "drive" our personal belongings ourselves - no "special paperwork" would be necessary, apart from the van rental one allowing for it to be taken to KSA? Thanks again, K )

Brains1983

That's how I would see it, only the van would be required to be declared. But, I'd get someone to double check with customs. Or take a trip out to the border and ask the customs guys there.

2nd_opossum

Thank you! K )

2nd_opossum

Dear Brains1983, sorry to take advantage of your kindness - can I ask you one more question?
In order to make the border crossing less painful we are contemplating not taking any DVDs with us. I have a niche taste and most of them are older American and UK TV series like Startrek, Bewitched (will the customs objects to the name?), Jeeves and Wooster, etc.

Most of them can be now watched for free on the internet, but I am not sure if the sites in question are accessible in KSA:

Watch Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Online Free - Watch Series

Coke & Popcorn TV Shows Guide

Are you able to let me know? If they are - I can leave the DVDs behind with a light heart.

Also, what about paid subscription services like Netflix - can they be accessed?

Many thanks for your help,

K )

afkksa

Hello , the prices seems very higher side, when I was moving from Jeddah to Dubai I checked several companies and found extremely higher rates, than I found one company named Buzyb shipping , reasonable charges, and till my cargo reaching home in Dubai from Jeddah the service excellent I found, in several meeting with them I learnt that they do have services to other locations including from Qatar Jeddah Riyadh ,unfortunately I lost the contacts of Buzyb shipping, so if any one knows pls share as I am planning to move back from Dubai to jeddah

Sabi Star

They come up straight away on google - with online contact fill in page and phone numbers in Saudi - +966538277602 and 0092-514861359; [email protected] etc.

nottmbantam

Driving by car is quicker than that, its around 6-7hrs. However, you'd have to factor in the border crossing and what not, and customs clearance, so could quite easily stretch to a long journey time. Last time I drove back from Doha was around 6hrs door to door. Dubai to Riyadh is around 9hrs.

Renting a van would probably be cheaper by self drive etc, but you'd have to get clearance from the rental company to cross the border into KSA I would imagine.