Why Jeddah
Port and route availability changes with carrier schedules. We confirm the current route and port for every booking — ask us on WhatsApp.
The government's Logistics Pathways initiative provides dedicated corridors at Jeddah Islamic Port and the Red Sea ports for cargo diverted from the Eastern Province and GCC ports.
The port and the airport
| Jeddah Islamic Port | 62 berths; two container terminals with a combined capacity of 7.5 million TEU; a bonded logistics zone; the Red Sea's leading re-export port. (Mawani, port profile 2023) |
| King Abdullah Port (KAEC, Rabigh) | Container capacity of 5.5 million TEU today, 25 million TEU planned. (King Abdullah Port operator) |
| King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) | 461,000 tonnes of air cargo in 2024. (GACA) |
We clear at Jeddah Islamic Port and at King Abdullah Port, and air cargo at King Abdulaziz International Airport.
How clearance works at Jeddah
- 1
Documents
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin where applicable, and the SABER product and shipment certificates for regulated products.
- 2
Declaration before arrival
We lodge the FASAH declaration at least 48 hours before the vessel arrives. The FASAH 24-Hour Clearance Programme asks for the declaration at least 48 hours before arrival with two core documents, the commercial invoice and the bill of lading, and ZATCA recommends 72 hours, so we aim for the 48–72 hour window whenever the documents are final.
- 3
Duty and VAT
Customs duty per the 12-digit tariff line, 15% import VAT and the ZATCA customs service fee are paid on the declaration.
- 4
Inspection if selected
If the container is selected for X-ray or examination, our team attends and answers the inspector.
- 5
Release and trucking
On release the container moves by truck to Riyadh, the Eastern Province, our Riyadh warehousing or your site.
Customs clearance in under 4 hours (commercial FCL).
Onward delivery from Jeddah
We truck containers from Jeddah to Riyadh and the Eastern Province, stage goods in our Riyadh warehousing in the Al Sulay district when delivery is phased, and deliver duty paid to your site. Transit times are confirmed per shipment.
SABER at Jeddah
We handle your SABER registration and certification end to end — the product certificate per model and the shipment certificate per consignment — before the vessel sails, so the FASAH declaration is matched on arrival.
No Saudi company?
If you are the foreign seller with no Saudi commercial registration, Safe Hands acts as your Importer of Record at Jeddah: the named importer on the declaration, with duty and 15% VAT paid on that declaration.
Who this page is for
Commercial full-container and air cargo for companies and projects: machinery, building materials, electrical equipment, FF&E and spare parts.
Dangerous goods are reviewed by our team before we quote.
Where we deliver from Jeddah
- Jeddah's industrial cities
- King Abdullah Economic City special economic zone (60 km²; automotive, life sciences and logistics)
- Rabigh
- Yanbu
- Riyadh and the central region
- Dammam, Jubail and the Eastern Province
Special economic zone details: ECZA.
Frequently Asked Questions
QHow long does customs clearance take at Jeddah Islamic Port?
Customs clearance in under 4 hours (commercial FCL), because the FASAH declaration and the SABER certificates are ready before arrival.
QHow long before the vessel berths must the declaration be lodged?
The FASAH 24-Hour Clearance Programme needs the declaration and documents at least 48 hours before arrival, and ZATCA recommends 72 hours. We lodge the declaration at least 48 hours before arrival and aim for 48–72 hours whenever the invoice and bill of lading are final.
QWhat documents do I need for clearance at Jeddah?
The commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, a certificate of origin where the product or origin needs it, and the SABER product and shipment certificates for regulated products. Other approvals apply where the 12-digit tariff line requires them; we check the list from the HS code before the vessel sails.
QCan you clear my container if another forwarder shipped it?
Yes. Send the bill of lading number on WhatsApp and we take over the clearance and delivery at Jeddah.
QHow does cargo for Dammam or Riyadh move?
Through Jeddah with overland trucking, or through a Gulf port, depending on carrier schedules. Port and route availability changes with carrier schedules. We confirm the current route and port for every booking — ask us on WhatsApp.
QDo you handle SABER for my shipment?
Yes. We handle your SABER registration and certification end to end, from the product certificate per model to the shipment certificate per consignment, before the vessel sails.
Cargo for Jeddah? Send us the details.
We reply within minutes on WhatsApp.