The Al Batha crossing
| Where | A Saudi land customs port in ZATCA's eastern region, on the border with the United Arab Emirates. The UAE side is the Al-Ghuwaifat Customs Center (Abu Dhabi). (UN TIR Data Bank: Al Batha (Saudi Arabia)) |
| TIR | Al Batha and Al Ghuwaifat are both TIR offices of departure, destination and en route, so TIR transport can run between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The UAE joined TIR in 2007. (UN TIR Data Bank: Al-Ghuwaifat Customs Center (UAE)) |
| Abu Dhabi truck crossing permit | Since 18 September 2023, Abu Dhabi Customs requires the declaration to be prepared in advance and a truck crossing permit issued before the truck reaches Ghuwaifat. Trucks leaving the UAE also enter the Saudi FASAH clearance details and the expected arrival date. (Abu Dhabi Customs: truck crossing permit at Ghuwaifat (18 Sep 2023)) |
| Road south to Oman | The 564 km Saudi road to the Rub' al Khali crossing (Oman) starts at the Batha–Haradh intersection. (SPA: the Saudi section of the Rub' al Khali road (31 Jul 2024)) |
Rules for the truck
| Transport document | A foreign truck needs the TGA electronic transport document from bayan.logisti.sa; its number is entered in FASAH. It is an entry requirement for non-Saudi trucks. (SPA: TGA transport document required for non-Saudi trucks (1 Apr 2023)) |
| Foreign trucks (TGA) | Loads only on the return trip; no transport between Saudi cities; the same transport rules as national carriers; violations settled before entering or leaving. (SPA: TGA conditions for foreign trucks (24 Sep 2024)) |
| FASAH appointment | The carrier books an appointment on FASAH before the truck reaches a land customs port and arrives at the booked time; ZATCA may allow entry up to three hours before or after the slot. (Umm Al-Qura: ZATCA decision 1446-99-113, FASAH appointment before land customs ports) |
| Weight and size | Maximum gross weight 45 t for 5 axles; length 23 m, width 2.6 m, height 4.8 m. Weight and dimension fines are paid before entering the Kingdom. (SPA: Roads General Authority truck weight and dimension limits (24 Sep 2024)) |
| Truck age | Trucks must meet Saudi operating-age rules: 20 years from manufacture as the base rule; a temporary TGA allowance currently permits up to 22 years. (Umm Al-Qura: TGA board decision 11/1 (18/04/1448 H) extending the 22-year allowance) |
| Storage at the land port | Storage fees at land customs ports apply after three days, counted from the day after the truck's entry is recorded. (ZATCA: rules for storage fees at land ports (Ministerial Decision 296)) |
How a truck shipment crosses
- 1
1. Plan the lane
We confirm the crossing, the truck type, the delivery city and whether the transport runs under a TIR carnet.
- 2
2. Approvals before loading
SABER certificates for regulated products and SFDA release for food and other SFDA goods are prepared before the truck leaves.
- 3
3. Declaration in FASAH
Safe Hands files the customs declaration in FASAH, ideally at least 48 hours before arrival, as the licensed customs broker the carrier authorises.
- 4
4. Transport document and appointment
The foreign truck carries the TGA transport document and arrives on its FASAH appointment.
- 5
5. Clearance at the border
Duty and 15% import VAT are paid on the declaration and the goods are released at the border post.
- 6
6. Delivery
Delivery to your site or our Riyadh warehouse; legs between Saudi cities run on Saudi-licensed trucks.
Documents for a commercial truck shipment
- Customs declaration in FASAH (filed by Safe Hands as your licensed customs broker)
- Commercial invoice and, where origin is not otherwise established or a GCC preference is claimed, a certificate of origin
- TGA electronic transport document for a foreign truck, with its number entered in FASAH
- FASAH truck appointment before reaching the land port
- Pre-transit declaration for transit movements; a TIR carnet where the movement runs under TIR between TIR offices
- Approvals the tariff line lists (SABER certificates, SFDA release and others)
- Driver and vehicle documents: passport, vehicle registration, driving licence and any documents required by transport agreements
Routes, crossings and transit times are confirmed per shipment.
Sources
- UN TIR Data Bank: Al Batha (Saudi Arabia)
- UN TIR Data Bank: Al-Ghuwaifat Customs Center (UAE)
- Abu Dhabi Customs: truck crossing permit at Ghuwaifat (18 Sep 2023)
- SPA: the Saudi section of the Rub' al Khali road (31 Jul 2024)
- ZATCA: branches and customs ports (land ports)
- UN Treaty Collection: TIR Convention, status of parties
- SPA: TGA conditions for foreign trucks (24 Sep 2024)
- SPA: TGA transport document required for non-Saudi trucks (1 Apr 2023)
- Umm Al-Qura: ZATCA decision 1446-99-113, FASAH appointment before land customs ports
- SPA: Roads General Authority truck weight and dimension limits (24 Sep 2024)
- TGA: Executive Regulation for Heavy Goods Transport, Art 24
- Umm Al-Qura: TGA board decision 11/1 (18/04/1448 H) extending the 22-year allowance
- ZATCA: rules for storage fees at land ports (Ministerial Decision 296)
Official pages, checked 11 October 2026. Routes, crossings and transit times are confirmed per shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is the UAE side of Al Batha?
Al Ghuwaifat, in Abu Dhabi.
QIs Al Batha a TIR office?
Yes, and so is Al Ghuwaifat on the UAE side, so TIR transport can run between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
QDoes Abu Dhabi need anything before the truck reaches Ghuwaifat?
Yes. Since 18 September 2023 Abu Dhabi Customs requires the declaration to be prepared in advance and a truck crossing permit issued before arrival; trucks leaving the UAE also enter the Saudi FASAH clearance details.
QDo I need an appointment to bring a truck to a Saudi land port?
Yes. The carrier books a FASAH truck appointment before the truck reaches the land port; ZATCA may allow entry up to three hours before or after the slot.
QWhat does a foreign truck need to enter Saudi Arabia?
The TGA electronic transport document from bayan.logisti.sa, with its number entered in FASAH. It may carry goods only on the return trip, may not transport between Saudi cities, follows the national carriers' rules and settles any violations before entering or leaving.
QHow old can the truck be?
Trucks must meet Saudi operating-age rules: 20 years from manufacture as the base rule; a temporary TGA allowance currently permits up to 22 years.
QHow long does it take?
There is no official transit time; we quote per lane and confirm the route for every shipment.
Our credentials
- Licensed customs broker
- ZATCA customs clearance
- TGA Freight Forwarder & Broker Licence
- 42/00008120
- ISO certification
- ISO 9001:2015 AMER300621 · ISO 45001:2018 AMER300622
- Verify · Certification body's certificate check
- Head office · Warehouse
- 7273 Fatimah Al Zahraa Rd, Riyadh 12837 · Al Sulay industrial district, Riyadh
Safe Hands Shipping Line is the trade name of شركة الايدي الامينة (Al Aidi Al Amina Company). All credentials →
Get a Land Transport Quote via Al Batha
Tell us the origin city, the cargo, the number of trucks and the delivery city in Saudi Arabia; our team sends a written quote.