Al Mellah International Shipping (0580402747) ships cars from Riyadh to Kuwait on enclosed and open carriers through one of two crossings: Ruqi → Salmi via Hafr Al-Batin, or Khafji → Nuwaiseeb via Dammam, to Kuwait City, Hawalli, Farwaniya, Ahmadi and Jahra in 2 to 4 days. A sedan starts from SAR 1,850, a 4×4 from SAR 2,100 and a pickup from SAR 2,000, and we book full carriers for showrooms and traders.
Kuwait is the only Gulf destination we reach from Riyadh through two different crossings, each with its own road and advantages. The car market between the two countries is active: employees moving with their cars, Kuwaiti showrooms buying from the Riyadh market, and families moving two cars together. This guide helps you choose the crossing, then explains prices, carriers and registration in Kuwait.
🛂 Ruqi or Khafji? Choosing the crossing
| Criterion | Ruqi → Salmi | Khafji → Nuwaiseeb |
|---|---|---|
| Road from Riyadh | Via Hafr Al-Batin | Via Dammam and Jubail |
| Approx. distance | Shorter from Riyadh | Slightly longer |
| Best for your destination | Jahra, western Kuwait and Kuwait City | Ahmadi, Fahaheel and southern Kuwait |
| When we choose it | Most Riyadh shipments | When Ruqi is busy or cars are added from the Eastern Province |
We choose the crossing by the delivery address and congestion on shipping day, and tell you in advance. In busy seasons the quieter crossing can save a full half day.
| Stage | Approx. duration |
|---|---|
| Collection in Riyadh and loading | A day |
| Road to the crossing | A day |
| Clearance at both crossings | Half a day |
| Delivery in the governorate | Day two to four |
💰 Car shipping prices from Riyadh to Kuwait
| Car type | Transport | Starts from | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | Open or enclosed carrier | SAR 1,850 | 2–4 days |
| 4×4 | Enclosed carrier | SAR 2,100 | 2–4 days |
| Pickup | Open carrier | SAR 2,000 | 2–4 days |
| Luxury or low | Enclosed hydraulic flatbed | Request a quote | 2–3 days |
| Full carrier for showrooms | Up to 8 cars | Request a quote | By appointment |
From Riyadh to Kuwait City, including loading, transport and clearance at both crossings, excluding Kuwait registration fees.
How to get the cheapest price
🏷️ Showrooms and traders: bulk shipping
Kuwaiti showrooms buy from Riyadh’s used-car market for its variety and prices. For traders we book a full carrier, prepare an export certificate for each car, arrange clearance in the showroom’s name, and photograph each car and record its odometer before loading:
| What the trader needs | Detail |
|---|---|
| A purchase invoice for each car | From the seller or auction in Riyadh |
| Export certificate and plates | For each car separately |
| The importing showroom’s name | Its commercial licence in Kuwait |
| A list of chassis numbers | To match the carrier at the crossing |
🚛 The right carrier
| Method | Suits | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Open carrier | Ordinary sedans and pickups | The car is under a protective cover |
| Enclosed carrier | 4x4s and new cars | Protection from northern dust and sun |
| Enclosed hydraulic flatbed | Luxury and low cars | A low ramp and precise securing |
The Hafr Al-Batin road is known for dust storms in some seasons, so we recommend the enclosed carrier for new and dark cars.
🔑 Preparing the car in Riyadh
🇰🇼 Registration in Kuwait
| Step | What you need |
|---|---|
| Customs certificate | Issued at Salmi or Nuwaiseeb |
| Technical inspection | At a General Traffic Department inspection centre |
| Kuwaiti insurance | A policy from a licensed insurer |
| Kuwaiti plates | The receiver’s civil ID |
🕐 Short visit or a move?
| Your situation | Solution |
|---|---|
| A visit or holiday | Drive on your Saudi plates with insurance covering Kuwait |
| Moving for work or residence | Export shipping, then Kuwaiti registration |
| Selling the car to a showroom | Export with the sale invoice and showroom’s name |
🚢 Road or sea?
| Method | Route | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Road by carrier | Riyadh → Ruqi or Khafji | The usual choice for all cars |
| Sea by container | Dammam port to Shuwaikh or Shuaiba | Commercial numbers with goods |
| Air | To Kuwait airport | Rare, for exceptional cars |
🛡️ Transport insurance and proof of damage
Your Saudi car insurance stops doing its job once the car goes on the carrier, so we issue transport insurance from Riyadh to delivery in Kuwait, based on the value you give at booking. Proving any issue relies on the photos we take at loading and the delivery report you sign, so don’t sign before inspecting the car yourself.
🔋 Electric and hybrid cars
We ask for the battery to be charged to 30–50%, the home charger and its cables to go with your belongings rather than inside the car, and transport mode enabled as in the manufacturer’s manual. Some large models need a special booking, so tell us the model when you request a price.
🛋️ The car with the home’s furniture
For families moving to Kuwait, we coordinate the car carrier with the furniture truck so they use the same crossing and arrive on about the same day, with one person tracking both shipments.
🌡️ Kuwait’s summer and the shipped car
Kuwait’s summer heat is among the highest in the region, and a car left for days before registration can suffer battery and tyre stress. We recommend shaded parking, starting the car every couple of days if the wait is long, and checking tyre pressure before the first drive on the ring roads. If your paperwork will take a while, storage in our covered yard beats leaving the car in the sun.
| Period | Road and crossing conditions | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | High heat and occasional dust storms | Enclosed carrier and shaded parking after arrival |
| Eid and holidays | Congestion at Ruqi and Nuwaiseeb | Book two weeks ahead |
| Winter | The best season for transport | A good time for luxury cars |
📄 Documents
| Document | Personal move | Cars for sale |
|---|---|---|
| Registration or owner’s authorisation | ✔ | ✔ |
| Export plates and export certificate | ✔ | ✔ |
| ID or iqama | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fasah authorisation | ✔ | ✔ |
| Receiver’s civil ID in Kuwait | ✔ | — |
| Purchase invoices and showroom licence | — | ✔ |
🚫 Shipment prohibitions
🏁 Delivery and tracking
We notify you at loading, at the crossing and at release, then deliver the car to your address in any governorate, remove the cover in front of you and compare its condition with the loading photos. If you’re not ready to receive it, we store it in a covered yard until your date.
⚠️ Common mistakes
⚖️ How to choose a car shipping company from Riyadh to Kuwait
🔁 From Kuwait to Riyadh
We also ship cars from Kuwait to Riyadh, taking into account the Kingdom’s used-car import rules, SABER platform requirements and 15% VAT.
❓ FAQ: car shipping from Riyadh to Kuwait
❓ How much does it cost to ship a car from Riyadh to Kuwait?
From SAR 1,850 for a sedan, SAR 2,100 for a 4×4 and SAR 2,000 for a pickup.
❓ How long does shipping take?
Two to four days to delivery.
❓ Which crossing do you use?
Usually Ruqi → Salmi, or Khafji → Nuwaiseeb depending on the address and congestion.
❓ Do you ship showroom cars in bulk?
Yes, on full carriers with an export certificate for each car.
❓ Can I drive on my Saudi plates?
Yes for a visit, with insurance covering Kuwait.
❓ Can any car be registered in Kuwait?
There are age and specification requirements; we review them before booking.
Send the car type, year and receiving governorate, and we’ll send you the price, crossing and carrier date.
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