On Dubai–KSA road we usually quote a door-to-door operations price, then name what is excluded (duty, SABER, unloading crane). If you need EXW, FCA, DAP or DDP, say the term on the first message so we do not treat a DAP request as a DDP surprise. This page is the Incoterms Explained brief from Ras Al Khor — neighbouring URLs are different jobs.
| Term | What you are asking us to do | What still sits with you / importer |
|---|---|---|
| EXW Dubai | Collect from your site | Export file still needs to exist |
| FCA / warehouse Dubai | Receive at Ras Al Khor | You deliver to us, on time |
| DAP named KSA door | Freight + delivery, uncleared | Duty, VAT, SABER, importer broker |
| DDP | Only if we quoted DDP | We will not eat undeclared duty on a DAP rate |
DAP is the honest default
Most shippers want the truck at the Riyadh warehouse without us secretly paying 15% VAT. That is DAP-shaped. Calling it “all-in” without DDP in writing is how invoices fight.
What Incoterms do not decide
Truck size, SABER, and whether Olaya takes a trailer. Those are operations. A DAP booking with no suburb is still an incomplete brief. A DDP booking with a fake value is a file we will not run.
How to write it on WhatsApp
“DAP warehouse Sulay, Riyadh, duty extra” is a brief. “All-in to Saudi” is not. We will reply with the term we are actually selling so both sides can read it later.
EXW, FCA and the Ras Al Khor dock
EXW Dubai means we collect from your site — export file still has to exist. FCA / warehouse Dubai means you deliver to IFA Building, Office 5, 10 San'a Rd, Ras Al Khor Industrial 1, on time, with papers. A late drop that misses the groupage trailer is not our FTL clock. Named place matters: Deira shop collection is not FCA warehouse.
DAP door versus DAP warehouse
DAP Sulay warehouse and DAP Olaya apartment are different last miles on the same term. DAP does not mean we paid 15% VAT or SABER. DAP does not mean a crane at destination. Write the door type. Jeddah Corniche DAP is not Dammam industrial DAP. The term is the cost split; the suburb is the operations.
DDP is a product, not a favour
We will quote DDP only with values we can defend, a scope in writing, and time to price duty/VAT/SABER. We will not eat an undeclared 15% on an LTL carton rate because someone said “all-in”. Under-valued DDP is a file we will not run. If you need DAP-shaped freight, say DAP.
Insurance is not an Incoterm either
CIP and CIF include a minimum insurance conversation on sea terms. Road DAP from Dubai does not secretly place all-risks cover. If you need declared-value insurance, say the value on the same message as the term. Groupage terms are not all-risks by default. The cargo-insurance URL is that product; this page is who pays freight versus import charges.
Write the named place, not the country
DAP Saudi Arabia is not a term we can operate. DAP warehouse Sulay, Riyadh, duty extra is. DAP apartment Corniche, Jeddah is another booking. FCA Ras Al Khor is a dock with hours. EXW Al Quoz is a pickup pin. The Incoterm without a suburb is still an incomplete brief on this corridor.
How a booking works
- 01 · Name the termDAP door, DAP warehouse, or DDP.
- 02 · We price that termExclusions listed.
- 03 · Importer prep if DAPSABER/Bayan ready.
- 04 · DeliverAgainst the term we sold.
- Default conversationDAP-shaped door-to-door
- DDPOnly in writing
- SABERNot an Incoterm
- DutyNot freight
Common questions
Is door-to-door DDP?
No. Door-to-door is the physical routing. DDP is who pays import charges.
Can you do DDP to Riyadh?
Only as a separately priced product with values we can defend. Not as a favour on an LTL carton rate.
Is door-to-door the same as DAP?
Door-to-door is the physical routing (collect, truck, handover). DAP is who pays freight versus import charges. We often run door-to-door that is DAP-shaped. Say both if you care.
Who pays SABER on DAP?
The importer. SABER is not an Incoterm. We flag; they own the portal. DDP only if we listed SABER fees in the DDP quote.
Can I write CIF Jeddah on a road truck?
CIF is a sea term. Road cargo from Dubai is not a bill of lading ocean move. Use DAP named place, or ask us to name the term we are actually selling.