Importing from China to Saudi Arabia: shipping, costs and customs
Saudi Arabia is the largest market in the Gulf. Customs clearance is fast when the paperwork is right — and the key document is the SABER certificate.
Shipping options and prices from China to Saudi Arabia
| Method | From | Time |
|---|---|---|
| International express, 10 kgdoor to door · delivered by FedEx | ¥788≈ $111 | — |
| Air cargo, 100 kgairport to airport | ¥3,634≈ $512 | — |
| Sea LCL to portJeddah | price on request | 20–30 days at sea |
| Sea LCL to portDammam | price on request | 19–25 days at sea |
Cheapest line on our rate sheet in October 2026, in Chinese yuan (≈ US dollars at 7.1 yuan per dollar). Not included: duties and taxes in your country, and destination charges for air and sea. Prices change with fuel and season — use the calculator for today's price.
Customs duties and taxes
- Most goods pay 5% customs duty (GCC common tariff); some protected sectors pay more.
- VAT is 15%, charged at import on the value plus shipping plus duty.
- Small personal shipments up to about SAR 1,000 can be exempt from customs duty; commercial imports pay duty and VAT.
Rules and documents
- Most consumer goods need a SABER registration and a Certificate of Conformity for each shipment (SASO standards).
- Food, cosmetics and medical products must be registered with the SFDA.
- Commercial imports need a Saudi company with a commercial registration; declarations are filed through FASAH.
- Arabic labelling is required for many products.
Our tips
Start the SABER process before the goods are ready: it can take time.
By sea, Jeddah and Dammam are about 20 to 30 days at sea.
For urgent goods, air cargo to Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam takes only a few days.
Customs rules change often. This page was checked in October 2026 and is general information, not legal or tax advice: confirm the duty rate of your product with a customs broker before you import.
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