Saudi import duty, VAT, SABER fees and the importer’s broker are not included unless the quote is written as DDP. “Is clearance included?” is therefore two questions. This page answers both so the rate does not explode at Al Batha. This page is the Is Customs Clearance Included brief from Ras Al Khor — neighbouring URLs are different jobs.
| Line | Standard road quote | Only if written DDP |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice / packing-list check in Dubai | Yes | Yes |
| Al Batha presentation support | Yes | Yes |
| SABER flag before load | Yes — we flag | We still do not own their login |
| Saudi duty + VAT 15% | No | Yes if DDP priced |
| SABER / lab fees | No | Only if listed |
| Importer Bayan broker | No | Only if listed |
What “included” means here
We check invoice vs cartons, present a road file at Al Batha, and tell you if SABER looks missing. We do not pay 15% VAT or HS duty out of an LTL CBM rate.
When we will include more
DDP, only in writing, with values we can defend. That is a different product from door-to-door DAP-shaped freight.
What the road quote actually covers
UAE collection or Ras Al Khor intake, invoice versus carton check, Al Batha presentation support, main-haul to the named Saudi city, handover at the address type you booked. That is file work plus freight. It is not 15% VAT, HS duty, SABER/lab fees, or a Jeddah broker’s Bayan. Calling those “clearance” in one word is why this page exists.
DAP-shaped door-to-door is still not DDP
Most shippers want the truck at a Sulay warehouse or an Olaya apartment without us secretly paying tax. That is DAP-shaped. Door-to-door is the routing. DDP is who pays import charges. If you need one number that includes duty, say DDP on the first WhatsApp and send values we can defend.
Where people get surprised
At Al Batha, when SABER SHA is missing on a regulated line, or when the invoice said gifts and the cartons are phones. Those are not items we “forgot to include”. They are importer-owned lines. We would rather hold in Ras Al Khor than invent a clearance bundle inside an LTL CBM rate. WhatsApp +971 55 214 5290 if you want the quote restated as included versus excluded.
How to read the quote footer
Look for three words: included, excluded, DDP. Included should list export-file check and gate presentation. Excluded should list duty, VAT, SABER fees. If someone wrote “all-in to Saudi” with no DDP, ask us to rewrite it before you pay. Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam share this split — the city changes the freight band, not who owns the tax.
Worked example — LTL furniture to Riyadh
Four CBM LTL might sit AED 800–1,400 freight plus our file work. Saudi duty is HS-based on the importer’s Bayan. VAT is 15% on customs value. SABER fees sit on the importer’s portal. None of those three appear inside the CBM unless the quote is written DDP. Door-to-door still happens; the importer still pays tax. That is what “is clearance included?” means on this desk.
How a booking works
- 01 · Send the briefPhotos, piece count, UAE pin, and the GCC district or plot — not only the country.
- 02 · We confirm the vehicleLTL or FTL with the lane partner, pickup or Ras Al Khor drop-off, packing if intake fails. Dedicated: 1–4 days. Groupage: 2–6 days.
- 03 · Papers before wheelsPapers must list the destination city, not only “GCC”.
- 04 · HandoverName the country and the city. Door, warehouse and terminal are different rates.
- IncludedExport file + gate presentation support
- Not includedDuty, VAT, SABER fees, unless DDP
- Default termDAP-shaped door-to-door
- AskWrite DDP if that is what you want
Common questions
So is clearance included?
File work yes. Import taxes no, unless DDP is on the quote.
Will customs surprise me?
Not if HS, origin and SABER were honest in Dubai. Surprises are almost always a file we were not shown.
Is Al Batha presentation included?
Yes on a standard Dubai–KSA road quote. That is our gate support, not payment of duty.
Are SABER fees included?
No. We flag before load. The importer owns the portal and the fees unless DDP listed them.
Can you include duty on one CBM?
Not honestly. Duty is HS-based. DDP is a separate product, not a markup on groupage.
Is door-to-door the same as included clearance?
No. Door-to-door is collect, truck, handover. Included on a standard quote is the Dubai export file plus Al Batha presentation support. Import tax is still the importer’s unless DDP is written.