Shipping from Germany to Saudi Arabia: auction purchases, art and spare parts, door to door.
Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam: we collect in northwest Germany, pack for transport, prepare the export documents and ship insured by express. Saudi customs charges 15 % VAT on every import and duty of 5 % or more depending on the goods, collected by the carrier. For companies we prepare the paperwork the SABER system expects.
Shipping to Saudi Arabia: what to expect.
2 to 4 working days door to door with DHL Express, UPS or FedEx, plus clearance.
15 % on the CIF value plus duty and fees, on every shipment regardless of value, collected by the carrier.
GCC tariff of at least 5 %; many lines were raised to 5 to 15 % in November 2025, machinery among them. Art, collectors' items and antiques: 5 % in the ZATCA tariff; antique furniture 15 %.
Personal purchases under SAR 1,000 CIF are exempt from duty but not from VAT, and carry a SAR 15 declaration fee.
Private buyers: full name and 10-digit national ID or Iqama number plus the National Address short code on the waybill. Companies: commercial registration number, customs importer registration and SABER product registration where applicable.
Since October 2025 a SABER shipment certificate is mandatory for regulated and many non-regulated goods before customs will clear a commercial shipment.
Facts checked October 2026. Rates and thresholds are set by Saudi authorities and can change; your quote states what applies on the day.
From the hammer or the supplier to your door in Saudi Arabia.
Auction purchases
Paintings, prints, sculptures, porcelain, glass, clocks, watches, coins, books and collectors' items from German auction houses. We collect with your authorisation, photograph the condition and pack each piece for its own risk.
Antiques and furniture
Chests, chairs, mirrors, small furniture and decorative objects up to about 1.3 m and a few hundred kilograms, in made-to-measure wooden crates from our workshop. Larger pieces we route to a specialist forwarder and tell you so in advance.
Spare parts and industrial goods
Machine parts, components, samples and small equipment from German suppliers, collected, consolidated, export-packed and shipped with commercial invoice, packing list and the origin statement where a trade agreement saves you duty.
Four steps from Germany to Saudi Arabia.
- You write to us
Auction house and lot number, or supplier and order, plus your delivery address in Saudi Arabia. We reply within one working day with a quote that covers collection, packing, export documents and transport.
- We collect
With your authorisation at the auction house, or at the supplier, across northwest Germany. Items are photographed on arrival in Hannover.
- We pack and declare
Made-to-measure packing or a wooden crate, export declaration with EU exit confirmation, commercial invoice with the right HS codes for Saudi customs. You pay our invoice after packing, by card or PayPal.
- Delivery to your door
DHL Express, UPS or FedEx with tracking, insured on request for the value you name. Import duty and tax are collected by the carrier on arrival; this page tells you what to expect.
Importing into Saudi Arabia: duties, VAT and rules.
General information for buyers and importers, not tax or legal advice. Duties and taxes are assessed by the customs authority of Saudi Arabia on the day of import and collected by the carrier; we prepare the documents so that assessment goes smoothly. Checked October 2026; sources at the end of this page.
VAT and duty on arrival
Saudi Arabia charges 15 % VAT on the CIF value plus duty of every import, whatever its value. Customs duty follows the GCC tariff starting at 5 %; in November 2025 the Kingdom raised many lines to between 5 and 15 %, machinery and equipment among the affected sectors. The ZATCA integrated tariff lists 5 % for paintings, sculptures, prints, collectors' items and antiques over 100 years, and 15 % for antique furniture; the November 2025 changes did not touch chapter 97. The carrier pays customs and VAT and bills you before delivery with a VAT receipt.
Personal shipments
Personal purchases by individuals with a total CIF value under SAR 1,000 are exempt from duty, with a SAR 15 customs declaration fee; VAT applies anyway. The waybill must carry your full name, your 10-digit national ID or Iqama number and the National Address short code, otherwise the shipment waits. We collect these details with the quote.
Commercial shipments and SABER
Companies import under their commercial registration and importer registration with ZATCA. Products subject to Saudi standards need registration in the SABER platform, and since 1 October 2025 a SABER shipment certificate must exist before the customs declaration can be lodged, otherwise no clearance. We tell you in advance whether your goods are affected and provide the technical documents from the German supplier that SABER asks for.
Art, antiques and cultural goods
Trade in movable antiquities inside the Kingdom requires a Heritage Commission licence, and printed or visual media is inspected on arrival. Religious items and anything considered contrary to Islamic principles are refused. Tell us what you plan to bid on and we check first; most paintings, porcelain, clocks and collectors' items are unproblematic, antique furniture carries 15 % duty.
German VAT refund and restricted items
Our export declaration with the EU exit confirmation lets the German seller refund the German VAT to you. We do not ship alcohol, weapons, militaria or items containing ivory.
Frequently asked questions.
What taxes do I pay when a shipment from Germany arrives in Saudi Arabia?
15 % VAT on the value plus freight, insurance and duty, and customs duty of 5 % or more depending on the goods. The carrier collects both before delivery.
Is anything exempt?
Personal purchases under SAR 1,000 are exempt from duty but still pay 15 % VAT. Commercial shipments have no exemption.
What is SABER and do I need it?
SABER is the Saudi product conformity platform. Commercial importers must register regulated products and, since October 2025, obtain a shipment certificate before clearance. Private buyers of a single auction purchase are normally not affected; companies importing parts usually are. We tell you which case applies.
How long does express from Germany to Riyadh take?
2 to 4 working days door to door after dispatch, plus clearance. Complete paperwork is what keeps clearance short.
What details must be on the waybill?
Your full name, your national ID or Iqama number and your National Address short code for private shipments; the commercial registration number for companies.
Can I get the German VAT refunded?
Yes, if the auction house or supplier agrees to the export procedure. We provide the export declaration with the EU exit confirmation; the seller refunds the German VAT.
Question not listed?
Ask us directlySources and date checked
- ZATCA, integrated tariff, chapter 97 (works of art, collectors' pieces, antiques)
- ZATCA, customs rules for customers of e-stores (personal shipments, SAR 1,000 exemption)
- ZATCA, SAR 15 customs declaration fee for individuals
- US ITA, Saudi Arabia import tariffs (2025 tariff increases)
- GTAI, FAQ on SABER registration (shipment certificate since October 2025)
- ZATCA, prohibited goods
- Aramex, Saudi Arabia customs requirements
Shipping from Germany, question by question
Practical answers for companies buying in Hannover and northwest Germany: spare parts, suppliers who do not export, packing, customs, trade fairs, industrial auctions.
Other destinations
Country pages with the same facts for the other countries we ship to.
Something to ship from Germany?
Tell us what needs shipping, where it is now and where it is going. A photo or a catalogue link helps. You receive a personal quote by email from the person who will handle your shipment.
Thank you, we have your request.
We will reply by email within one working day.
Or message us directly on Telegram:
BFF Logistics is the international shipping service of BFF Business Services GmbH (HRB 209217, Amtsgericht Hannover). We run Mail Boxes Etc. centre 0051 in Hannover, which is why our email address ends in @mbe.de.
Your contact: Michael Leikine, Managing Director. We reply within one working day, in your language: write to us in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese or Arabic.
Günther-Wagner-Allee 13-17, 30177 Hannover, Germany.