Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to Saudi Arabia in 2026

RORO shipping from Southampton or Tilbury to Jeddah Islamic Port typically costs £900-£1,400 for a standard saloon or SUV, with Dammam on the Gulf coast running slightly higher at £1,100-£1,700 due to the longer routing around the Arabian Peninsula. Shared container shipping is a popular alternative for buyers moving personal effects alongside the car, priced from £1,000-£1,600 depending on how quickly a full container can be consolidated. Get a route-specific quote through our cost calculator.

Direct RORO services to Jeddah take around 18-25 days from a UK port, while services calling at intermediate Mediterranean or Red Sea ports can stretch to 30 days. Dammam, reached via the Suez Canal and around the Gulf, typically takes 25-35 days. Container shipments follow similar schedules but add a few extra days for loading and stuffing before departure and unloading at the destination terminal.

Saudi Arabia requires all imported vehicles to carry a SABER certificate of conformity, issued through the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) platform before the shipment arrives. This confirms the vehicle meets Gulf technical specifications for emissions, lighting and safety equipment. Buyers must register on the SABER portal, submit vehicle specifications and pay a certification fee (typically SAR 700-1,500 depending on vehicle type) well ahead of shipping, as customs will not release an uncertified vehicle at the port.

Saudi Arabia applies a 5% customs duty on the CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value of imported vehicles, with no separate VAT charged on used personal vehicles in most cases, though a 15% VAT can apply in specific commercial import scenarios. A £15,000 car with £1,100 freight faces roughly £805 duty, taking the landed cost to about £16,900 before SABER fees and local registration (istimara) charges, which typically add a further £150-£300.

Saudi Arabia generally restricts imports of used vehicles older than five years for private registration, so a 2019-plate or newer car is the safe cut-off for most buyers shipping in 2026. Right-hand-drive vehicles cannot be registered for road use in Saudi Arabia at all — the country drives on the right, so any UK-sourced vehicle intended for permanent use there must be a left-hand-drive model, which narrows sourcing to specific import or ex-diplomatic stock rather than typical UK-market cars.