UK or Eorope to Saudi
 

Has anyone actual rode a bike from UK or Europe to Saudi and got it registered in Saudi to ride their. I will be working over their and really want to ride by bike their and pay any taxes etc.
Ta Steve

Hi Steve,

I have a similar question and remember at some stage in the past I came across a HUBB regular called "Stephano", living in Dubai, that has done the Dubai-UK-Dubai run a couple of times, maybe pm him for information.

Stephano, if you come across this ..... I will again appreciate you inputs if possible, you will note that my plans have changed with the time!

From what I could gather from the locals here in Saudi, it does not seem to be too much of a big thing if you wish to import your bike ...... you will probably be buried under parework and will have to employ the services of your arab-speaking friends to decipher forms, but it seems to be possible.

My concern is the paperwork that will be required to buy a used bike (F800GS) in the UK, ride it here, and register it in my name and whether that will be possible?

The first question is how will I prove my ownership if I do not register the bike in the UK, I will probably require some sort of temporary permit from the authorities there on which I might have to rely on the trip to prove ownership along the way.

Anyone ...... your thoughts/experiences on the above will be appreciated.

Steve, maybe we can join forces on the trip? ..... let me know, I am in Riyadh and am thinking of doing this early next year.

Hi Steve,

I am an expat working (& riding) here in Saudi Arabia.
OK, I have not come across anybody who has done what you have in mind. Anyways I could explain the formalities here.

Firstly, as an expat you need to come here & get your Resident Permit (locally called Iqama). Only after you get the resident permit, can you apply for a local saudi driving license (car or bike). Probably as a British expat, they may accept to issue a driving license without a driving test based on your UK license, but the new saudi license has to be linked to your resident permit number. So probably riding into Saudi before getting the Resident Permit may not be technically possible.

Secondly, only if you have a valid saudi motorcycle driving license can you register your bike here.

Thirdly, if you come the first time by flight & join work and get your resident permit and license etc processed, then you are permitted to import the bike under your personal name from UK or any other country. You can definitely ship it by cargo. But if you ride and bring it in probably the authorities may insist for the deregistering papers from UK as it must already have a number plate from UK and that can not be re-registered here with a Saudi plate.

(Me after living here for a few years bought a BMW bike from Dubai and imported it here. Ofcourse I didn't ride it into Saudi but brought it by cargo (truck). With my passport copy, resident permit copy etc, I was able to clear customs and with my saudi driving license I registered it here.)

So thats how I see your way forward.

BTW, have you had a look at the prices here in Saudi for new/used bikes. The BMW/KTM dealer in Riyadh (Mr. Abdulrehman) can be contacted at +966-1-4804567 (Tristar Motorycles LLC)

Haroon

Thanks for the info Haroon, it seems as though the import will not be an issue ..... any ideas on the UK side of things?

I have had a look at the stock at Tristar from time to time but I think that the UK option of a good used bike will probably be cheaper with the added advantage of the trip through Europe which I wish to do any way.

Cheers!

Certainly, import in Saudi should not be an issue, but I have no idea about things in UK.

Right now there is for sale in Jeddah 1) Used GS Adventure with 14000 kms, Akrapovic, BMW Adv side cases etc for SR 50K. 2) Also a regular GS with only 400kms, with lowered suspension, seat and BMW vario cases for SR. 55K. I think both bikes are 08 models.

Hi Haroon, I am in Riyadh and had the same thought, to bring my bike from the UK to KSA - I could fly it but a ride would be so great. But my bike is 9 years old - is there an age limit on importing a bike?

I looked into buying a bike here but I don't want to buy a new one - where are those ones you mention in Jeddah - are they private sales or a shop?

Many thanks and hope to meet you.
Peter

Hi Haroon, me again - can you tell me who can arrange the import for me? Many thanks, Peter