Ascope Shipping provides car shipping to Saudi Arabia from the UK for private owners, expats relocating to Riyadh, dealers, and businesses, moving vehicles from UK ports through to Jeddah Islamic Port and Dammam. With more than 15 years of experience across Gulf shipping routes, we handle the compliance side that catches most importers out, from mandatory SASO/SABER certification to Saudi Arabia’s strict left-hand drive and five-year age rules, alongside the paperwork, collection, and shipping arrangements from start to finish.
We manage the export documentation, loading, and coordination on the UK side of your shipment, and we’ll flag anything about your specific vehicle that could cause a problem at Saudi customs before it’s too late to fix.
Vehicle Shipping Options to Saudi Arabia
The right shipping method for car shipping to Saudi Arabia depends on your vehicle type, its value, and how much protection it needs during the sea crossing. We arrange both RoRo and container shipping, so the choice is based on what suits your vehicle rather than a one-size-fits-all service.
RORO SHIPPING TO SAUDI ARABIA
RoRo shipping is the most cost-effective way to move a car to Saudi Arabia when the vehicle is in running condition. It’s driven onto a dedicated vessel at the UK port, secured for the voyage, and driven off at your chosen Saudi port. This suits standard saloons, 4x4s and vans, with door-to-port and port-to-port collection available.
CONTAINER CAR SHIPPING TO SAUDI ARABIA
Container shipping to Saudi Arabia loads your car inside a sealed 20ft or 40ft unit, which suits classic cars, luxury vehicles, non-running vehicles, or shipments combined with personal belongings. Shared container (LCL) space is available if you don’t need a full unit to yourself, or a full container load (FCL) if you’re shipping more than one vehicle. Loading and lashing is handled at our Essex warehouse or your preferred UK location.
Car Shipping to Saudi Arabia Costs
Car shipping costs to Saudi Arabia depend on the vehicle type, dimensions, UK departure port, shipping method and current carrier rates. The indicative prices below provide a starting point, but your final quotation should be confirmed before booking.
Vehicle Type | RO/RO Prices |
Saloon Vehicle e.g Mercedes C Class | Enquire |
4×4 Vehicle e.g. Range Rover | Enquire |
Vans e.g Ford Transit | Enquire |
2 cars (saloon / 4×4) | Enquire |
Prices can change according to carrier rates, sailing availability, vehicle dimensions, loading requirements and applicable charges. Destination customs duties, taxes, clearance fees and local charges may be separate.
Car Shipping from the UK to Saudi Arabia: Route & Transit Time
Vehicle shipping to Saudi Arabia is available from selected UK ports, with the departure port and destination depending on the carrier schedule, vehicle type and available sailing.
UK Port | Saudi Port | Shipping Method | Transit Time |
Southampton | Jeddah Islamic Port | RoRo | Approximately 24–34 days |
Felixstowe | Dammam (King Abdulaziz Port) | RoRo | Approximately 28–38 days |
Immingham | Jeddah Islamic Port | 20ft Container | Approximately 28–38 days |
London Gateway | Dammam (King Abdulaziz Port) | Container | Approximately 30–40 days |
Tilbury | Jeddah Islamic Port | 40ft Container (2 vehicles) | Approximately 28–38 days |
RORO VS CONTAINER SHIPPING TO SAUDI ARABIA: WHICH IS CHEAPER?
RoRo is generally the more affordable option for a standard, running vehicle, since you’re paying for deck space rather than a dedicated container. Container shipping costs more but suits classic cars, higher-value vehicles, non-running cars, or shipments where you want to include personal effects alongside the vehicle. Our team can talk you through both options against your vehicle and budget before you book.
VEHICLES WE SHIP TO LEFT-HAND DRIVE AND SAUDI ARABIA IMPORT RULES
This is the part that catches most people out, so it’s worth reading carefully. Saudi Arabia requires left-hand drive vehicles with no exceptions for standard road use, and right-hand drive vehicles, including most UK-registered cars, will be rejected at customs regardless of any conversion work carried out beforehand.
Saudi Arabia also enforces a strict five-year age limit on imported passenger vehicles, which is tighter than most other Gulf destinations. There’s a separate exemption for genuine classic and antique vehicles over 30 years old, though these are typically approved for collection purposes only rather than everyday road use. Vehicles previously used as taxis, police cars, or with significant prior damage are generally not eligible for import at all.
SASO AND SABER CERTIFICATION FOR SAUDI ARABIA
Every vehicle imported into Saudi Arabia needs a Certificate of Conformity filed through the SABER platform, confirming it meets SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) technical requirements before customs will release it. This is a step that doesn’t apply to most other Gulf destinations, and getting it wrong or leaving it until the vehicle has already sailed is one of the most common causes of delay and unexpected cost. We can point you toward the right process for arranging this ahead of shipping.
UK Ports Used for Shipping to Saudi Arabia
We organise shipments from major UK export ports with regular vessel departures:
- Southampton
- Felixstowe
- Immingham
- London Gateway
- Tilbury
Our logistics team can arrange vehicle collection from almost anywhere in the UK and coordinate transport to whichever departure port best suits your shipping method and sailing schedule.
Documents Needed to Ship a Car to Saudi Arabia
Before your vehicle can clear customs in Saudi Arabia, you’ll typically need:
- Original vehicle registration document and certificate of title
- Purchase invoice showing CIF value
- Bill of Lading, issued once your vehicle has departed the UK
- SABER registration confirmation (Product and Shipment Certificates of Conformity)
- Export clearance documentation from the UK
- Passport copy of the owner or consignee
We handle the UK export side of your paperwork with every booking and can guide you toward a trusted contact for the Saudi-end SASO and customs requirements.
CUSTOMS CLEARANCE IN SAUDI ARABIA
Customs clearance runs through Jeddah Islamic Port or Dammam depending on your sailing, and depends on accurate, complete documentation from the outset, including your SABER certification. Vehicles are inspected on arrival, checked against the Bill of Lading and import paperwork, and undergo a vehicle inspection (MVPI) before registration. Missing paperwork or an invalid Certificate of Conformity is the most common cause of delays, which is why we check everything before your vehicle sails rather than after.
Customers choose Ascope Shipping for our practical approach to international vehicle transport, clear communication and more than 15 years of shipping experience. We arrange vehicle movements from the UK to ports, including Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam, and help customers understand the documentation and preparation required before their car leaves the country.
Our service is designed around the vehicle being shipped, whether you are sending a personal car, SUV, van, commercial vehicle, classic vehicle or multiple vehicles. We focus on clear quotations, appropriate shipping methods and reliable coordination rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution.
Whether you’re relocating to Riyadh, exporting a vehicle for sale, or sending a car to a family in Saudi Arabia, Ascope Shipping can help arrange your shipment from the UK. Tell us your vehicle make and model, year, dimensions, collection location and preferred destination, and we’ll assess the available shipping options.
For the most accurate quotation, contact us before booking so we can check current carrier rates, departure options and any specific requirements for your vehicle. Call 01482 228366 or email sales@ascopeshipping.co.uk to discuss your car shipping requirements with our UK team.
ARE CLASSIC CARS EXEMPT FROM SAUDI ARABIA’S IMPORT RULES?
Genuine antique vehicles over 30 years old can generally be imported outside the standard five-year age limit, but they’re typically approved for collection purposes only rather than everyday road use, so check eligibility before shipping.
CAN I SHIP A NON-RUNNING OR DAMAGED CAR TO SAUDI ARABIA?
Non-running vehicles can usually be shipped by container rather than RoRo, but significantly damaged, salvage, or flood-affected vehicles are generally not eligible for import at all under current Saudi customs rules.
HOW MANY CARS CAN I IMPORT INTO SAUDI ARABIA PER YEAR?
Import frequency limits can apply, particularly for expats on a standard residency permit, so it’s worth confirming your personal eligibility and any restrictions on repeat imports with Saudi customs before booking a shipment.
WHICH PORT IS BEST — JEDDAH, DAMMAM, OR RIYADH?
Jeddah Islamic Port and Dammam are the two main sea ports; Riyadh has no direct port and is reached via inland delivery from Jeddah, so the best choice depends on where you’re collecting the vehicle in Saudi Arabia.
