Shipping to Saudi Arabia

[Sjakkelian]

Has anyone shipped a vehicle to saudi Arabia recently.
We were planning on taking the Ferry from Port Sudan but have (for many reasons) been forced to terminate our overland Africa part of the journey and ship from Dar

We have Saudi visas (didn't expect that) and have chosen to ship to Jeddah and continue from there. Really looking forward to saudi.

We got in touch with a renowned clearing company in Jeddah asking how long clearing will take etc.. We received an answer that we are not allowed to import the car that way.

I explained we have a carnet etc. Either the guy has the story wrong or did not understand my question.

Please can some one tell me if they have shipped a bike or car to saudi and which company they used to clear etc.

The next option is Aqaba in Jordan. Any info on shipping to (clearing in) Jordan also welcome

Grtz

Ian

[Margus]

Slightly offtopic question first: may you please enlighten us where and how you got the Saudi VISAs? Did you got a sponsor from Saudi Ariabia?

Jordan is probably much more hassle-free place to ship, but the get a part of Saudi "exotica" is certanly worth a try. Would be good to hear if you find a way to legally get into the country with your vehicle.

Keep us posted!

[Dessertstrom]

Hi Ian,
It is so unusual to get transit visas for Saudi there may not be any help here. All I know of are people who are employed here that brought bikes in and had to wait weeks to get them through customs and one guy with a motocross bike had to register it and fit plates even though it was not for the road.
It is now the Saudi weekend, I will try and get some answers on Saturday but I am on the opposite side of the country in Dhahran.
I think you will be the pioneer on this one.
Cheers
Ian

[Sjakkelian]

Thanks for your reply Ian,

I have contact with a (renowned) company in Jeddah. My contact has asked me to detail my situation as clearly and detailed as possible. He will the take it up with their customs department on saturday. We have until 10 february to enter KSA. We then have 3 weeks to 'tour' the country.
Without getting too detailed. We have made a friend in a very high place here at the Saudi Embassy. He has promissed he will help us in any way he can. Tomorrow is Friday so I won't be calling him until saturday.
If 'Jeddah' can't come up with a concrete answer. We will se if our riend can pull some strings.

If you can come up with any info please all is welcome.
This is the oppurtunity of a lifetime to visit Saudi.
What about shipping to UAE, Yemen or Qatar and then driving overland through Saudi? Would that give less hassle do you think.
cheers
Ian



As

[Dessertstrom]

Ian,
As you say the more info the better.
I don't know if this company would be any good Agent Network they have an agent in Jeddah, you can contact the London office. They do vehicle shipping on ro ro ships.
Some Hubbers have crossed to Yemen and posted on here, it might be easier to cross into Saudi by land.
We cross into Bahrain regularly without problems so that may be an option.
Cheers
Ian

[Sjakkelian]

Regarding my first post

We have Saudi visas (3 weeks....don't ask us how. we will post the info after we have been there) We feel so lucky to have the chance to visit the country we will do our best get there

It seems we can't enter Saudi with our car in a container... Rules and Regulations etc....
We are looking at other options?

What about Travelling from Oman (easy container transport from Tanzania) on to UAE and then on to Saudi.
I can't find any good recent road maps so I don't know about border crossings.
The car will arrive in Salalah. What is my best route to reach Saudi. (1300 km range)
Is via Yemen a option where will we get our (transit) visas?

Is a multi entry visa for Saudi needed to travel from Oman > UAE > Qatar etc?
Our last resort is to ship to Jordan then visit Saudi from there.. Any Ideas on that

Any info is welcome as we need to make decision on where to ship to soon..

Grts
Ian

[Dessertstrom]

Hi Ian,
To get the most out of Saudi I would go through Yemen to the Red Sea coast and cross the border near Najran. Go on to Abha and mount Souda highest mountain in Saudi at 9000 ft, from Abha you then go down the escarpment road cut out of the rock and crossing wadies where old bridges have been washed away by a deluge some years ago. You have a choice when you reach the bottom, you can follow the coast road, dirty villages and a bit boring as you are a fair way from the sea, or you can go through Mahayil and follow the mountain route all the way to Jeddah, much more spectacular. From Jeddah there is a highway that crosses west to east to Riyadh and then on to Dhahran, from Dhahran you go north to Jordan.
You should be able to get maps from Google or in Saudi most book shops sell a map book that is a bit iffy but shows the main roads for the whole of Saudi.
If you get into Saudi you will only be able to transit and leave, you won't get back in unless you have a multi visa. We have multi visas to go back and forth to Bahrain.
I don't know about Yemen visas but some Hubbers have crossed recently.
When you decide what to do I can give you more information about routes etc in Saudi.
Cheers
Ian