Shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania
Shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania by sea from Jeddah to Nouakchott and Nouadhibou in 26–42 days, or by air in 4–9 days, with delivery to your address after customs release.
Shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania with Al Mellah International Shipping goes by sea from Jeddah Islamic Port through the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar to the Atlantic ports of Nouakchott or Nouadhibou, taking 26–42 days for a full container or a car, or by air to Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport in 4–9 days for documents and urgent parcels. A carton up to 10 kg starts from SAR 141, a cubic metre in a shared container from SAR 799, and a small car by RoRo from SAR 4,230. To book, call 0580402747.
This page is a complete guide for anyone moving belongings, a car or goods from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania: how the shipment actually travels, why it takes weeks rather than days, what it costs, which documents you need, what happens at the port of arrival, and which cities we deliver to. For a closer look at the route and its paperwork, see our guide to Shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania.
Mauritania is one of the most distant Arab destinations from the Kingdom. It lies on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, and the sea route there runs almost halfway around the continent from the north: up the Red Sea to the Suez Canal, across the Mediterranean from east to west, out through the Strait of Gibraltar into the ocean, and then south along the Moroccan coast to Nouadhibou and Nouakchott. So distance on the map does not reflect the length of the voyage, and transit time depends more on vessel schedules and transhipment ports than on sailing speed. Most people shipping on this lane are Mauritanians finishing years of work or study in the Kingdom and going home with their furniture and cars, students sending books and belongings, and traders importing Saudi products such as dates, perfumes, clothing and household goods.
🛳️ Ways to ship from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania: sea first, air for urgent items
There is no practical land route from the Kingdom to Mauritania, because a shipment would have to cross several African countries with different transit regimes over enormous distances. This lane therefore relies on two methods: sea for anything heavy or bulky, the natural choice for furniture, cars and goods; and air for documents and light, urgent parcels. Within sea freight there are two options: a full container just for you, or space in a shared container where you pay only for the cubic metres you use.
| Method | Route / port | Transit | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft container | Jeddah → Nouakchott | 26–42 days | Furniture of a two- or three-room apartment | SAR 5,640 |
| 40 ft container | Jeddah → Nouakchott | 26–42 days | A villa, a large home, or furniture plus a car | SAR 7,520 |
| Shared container | Jeddah → Nouakchott via transhipment | 5–7 weeks | A room, a few items or small consignments | SAR 799 per CBM |
| RoRo for cars | Jeddah → Nouakchott when a sailing is available | 26–42 days | Small and mid-size cars | SAR 4,230 |
| Air | Riyadh / Jeddah / Dammam → Nouakchott | 4–9 days | Documents, permitted medicines, urgent parcels | SAR 14.2 per kg |
The rule of choice here differs from nearby destinations: the price gap between sea and air is very large on this lane, so air only makes sense for light, urgent or valuable items. Once your shipment exceeds a few cubic metres, a full container becomes cheaper per metre than shared freight, and safer, since it is not opened or unloaded at transhipment ports. For a broader comparison, see our page to compare shipping methods.
🌊 Sea freight to Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, step by step
The voyage starts at Jeddah Islamic Port, the Kingdom’s largest Red Sea port, because shipping from the Arabian Gulf ports would mean sailing all the way around the Arabian Peninsula before reaching Suez. The vessel heads north up the Red Sea to the Suez Canal, then across the Mediterranean to a major transhipment port in the western Mediterranean or on the Atlantic, where the container is moved to a smaller feeder vessel serving West African ports, which then sails south to Nouadhibou and Nouakchott.
The Autonomous Port of Nouakchott, known as the Port of Friendship, is the main gateway for Mauritanian imports. It handles containers, vehicles and general cargo, and shipments are distributed from it to the capital and inland by road. Nouadhibou in the north is an important commercial and fishing port, suited to shipments for Nouadhibou itself and its free zone, or for northern towns such as Zouérat and Atar. We choose the arrival port according to your final city and the sailings available.
| Stage | What happens | Approx. duration |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and loading | Packing, loading and sealing the container, trucking it to Jeddah port | 3–7 days |
| Saudi clearance and sailing | Export declaration via Fasah and waiting for the vessel | 2–5 days |
| Jeddah → transhipment port | Red Sea, Suez and the Mediterranean | 10–16 days |
| Transhipment → Nouakchott or Nouadhibou | Feeder vessel along the Atlantic | 6–10 days |
| Mauritanian clearance and delivery | Import declaration, inspection, release and delivery to the address | 3–7 days |
📏 From Saudi cities to Jeddah port and on to Mauritania
Whatever your city, the shipment goes first to Jeddah port: from Makkah and Jeddah the distance is short, while from Riyadh, Qassim and the Eastern Province the container or goods are trucked before sailing. This inland leg adds one to three days and is priced in the itemised quotation.
| Origin city | Distance to Jeddah port | Door-to-door transit (full container) |
|---|---|---|
| Jeddah | within the city | 26–42 days |
| Makkah | about 80 km | 26–42 days |
| Madinah | about 420 km | 27–43 days |
| Qassim | about 900 km | 28–44 days |
| Riyadh | about 950 km | 28–44 days |
| Al-Ahsa | about 1,280 km | 29–45 days |
| Dammam and Khobar | about 1,340 km | 29–45 days |
Shared freight usually adds a week or more to these times, because the container only sails once it is full and is then unloaded at a consolidation warehouse in Nouakchott before each consignment is handed over. Air freight is barely affected by the origin city: 4–9 days from Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam.
💰 Shipping prices from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania
How much does shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania cost? It starts from SAR 141 for a carton up to 10 kg, SAR 799 per cubic metre in a shared container, SAR 1,880 for a bedroom set, SAR 5,640 for a 20 ft container from Jeddah, SAR 4,230 for a small car by RoRo and SAR 14.2 per kg by air; the final price depends on volume, origin city and shipping method.
| Shipment | From | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Documents envelope (air express) | SAR 57 | 4–9 days |
| Personal parcel or bag by air (per kg) | SAR 19 | 4–9 days |
| Commercial air freight (per chargeable kg) | SAR 14.2 | 4–9 days |
| Carton up to 10 kg (shared sea freight) | SAR 141 | 5–7 weeks |
| Carton 10–20 kg (shared sea freight) | SAR 235 | 5–7 weeks |
| Goods over 100 kg (per kg, shared sea freight) | SAR 9.5 | 5–7 weeks |
| Single appliance (fridge, washer, TV) | SAR 329 | 5–7 weeks |
| Full office furniture | SAR 659 | 5–7 weeks |
| Sofa or majlis set | SAR 1,690 | 5–7 weeks |
| Bedroom set | SAR 1,880 | 5–7 weeks |
| Shared container (per cubic metre) | SAR 799 | 5–7 weeks |
| Commercial goods up to 100 kg | SAR 1,410 | 5–7 weeks |
| 20 ft container of household goods (from Jeddah) | SAR 5,640 | 26–42 days |
| 40 ft container of household goods (from Jeddah) | SAR 7,520 | 26–42 days |
| Small car or sedan by RoRo (from Jeddah) | SAR 4,230 | 26–42 days |
| SUV or luxury car in a 20 ft container | SAR 10,340 | 26–42 days |
| Packing service per home (materials and labour) | SAR 419 | — |
| Dismantling and numbering before shipping, per home | SAR 279 | — |
Container, RoRo and shared-freight prices are from Jeddah port; inland transport from other cities is added in the itemised quotation. Prices do not include Mauritanian customs duties and taxes, arrival port charges, or storage if collection is delayed, while marine insurance, wooden crates and delivery to distant inland towns are priced after the free survey. Our aim is that before loading you know every item you pay here and every item the recipient pays in Mauritania.
Worked cost examples
On this lane, sea freight is priced mainly by volume rather than weight, and air freight by chargeable weight. The examples below use the starting prices to give you a realistic picture:
| Case | Calculation | Approximate cost from |
|---|---|---|
| A family shipping apartment furniture in a 20 ft container from Jeddah, with packing and dismantling | 5,640 + 419 + 279 | SAR 6,338 |
| A student sending two medium cartons and one small carton by sea | 2 × 235 + 141 | SAR 611 |
| A trader shipping 4 cubic metres of goods in a shared container | 4 × 799 | SAR 3,196 |
Measure your belongings with the CBM volume calculator; if your volume approaches 25 cubic metres, a 20 ft container is usually cheaper than shared freight. For a quick estimate to any destination, try the shipping cost calculator.
🛋️ Moving furniture and belongings to Mauritania
The long voyage and transhipment at an intermediate port make packing more important here than on any other lane. A container may be lifted on and off two or three times and pass through Red Sea heat and Atlantic humidity, so we wrap furniture in several layers: a protective blanket, then stretch film, then corner boards; mattresses go into sealed covers, mirrors and glass into wooden crates, and appliances into their cartons with padding that stops movement. We place moisture absorbers inside the container so clothes and books do not arrive smelling damp.
Before loading we dismantle bedrooms and wardrobes and number their pieces, keep screws and hinges in numbered bags taped to each piece, and write a detailed contents list in Arabic, and in French when needed, since French is used in much of Mauritanian administration. The container is then loaded in an order that spreads the weight and prevents movement, and sealed with the shipping line’s seal. In Mauritania, after clearance and customs release, we carry your belongings to your address in Nouakchott or the city you choose and hand them over there.
| Item | How we prepare it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioners | Removed by a technician after gas pump-down, both units packed separately | Avoids gas leaks and impact damage |
| Fridges and washers | Fully emptied and dried, washer drum secured | Prevents mould and internal breakage |
| Wooden furniture | Multi-layer wrapping and corner protection | Humidity and repeated handling |
| Books and papers | Small cartons lined with plastic | Weight and moisture |
| Rugs | Rolled with a moisture absorber | Protects colours and keeps them fresh |
🚗 Car shipping to Mauritania
Cars to Mauritania travel by sea in one of two ways. The first is RoRo: a vehicle carrier onto which the car is driven up the ramp under its own power and secured on the vessel’s deck; it is the most economical option for small and mid-size cars, starting from SAR 4,230 from Jeddah, but depends on a RoRo sailing to Nouakchott or a nearby transhipment port. The second is inside a container: the car is secured with straps and wooden chocks inside a dedicated 20 ft container, which suits SUVs and luxury cars because the box stays sealed until arrival, starting from SAR 10,340.
Before booking we check the key condition: the car’s age. Mauritanian regulations prohibit importing used vehicles older than eight years, according to the rules in force at the time of shipping, so we ask for the model year from the registration before any commitment, so the car does not reach Nouakchott only to be refused entry. Duties in Mauritania are calculated on the car’s value, type and engine size and paid at clearance.
Car documents on the Saudi side
All traffic fines must be settled, an export certificate issued, the Saudi plates surrendered and export plates obtained, a bank no-objection letter provided if the car is financed, and the shipper must be the registered owner or hold a power of attorney. If the car is not in Jeddah, we bring it to Jeddah port on a flatbed or carrier from your city.
📦 Cartons, parcels and personal bags
If your belongings fit in a few cartons, shared sea freight is the economical answer: a carton up to 10 kg starts from SAR 141 and a carton of 10–20 kg from SAR 235, with 5–7 weeks transit. If they are urgent and light, air starts from SAR 19 per kg for personal parcels door to door, or SAR 57 for a documents envelope. This suits sponsored students, Hajj and Umrah pilgrims sending books, gifts and dates to their families.
Write the recipient’s name, Mauritanian phone number and city on every carton, and put a contents list inside and outside it. Do not put cash, gold or original official papers in cartons; carry them with you.
🏭 Commercial goods to Mauritania
Mauritanian traders import dates, perfumes, incense, clothing, fabrics, household wares and packaged food from the Kingdom. We ship goods in a shared container from SAR 799 per cubic metre or SAR 9.5 per kg above 100 kg, SAR 1,410 for a small commercial consignment up to 100 kg, or in a full 20 or 40 ft container for volume importers. Commercial goods need a commercial registration, a commercial invoice showing the true value, a packing list, a certificate of origin, and the importer’s details and tax number in Mauritania.
Some goods need additional approvals in Mauritania, such as food, cosmetics and medicines, and we flag them before shipping. Under-declaring an invoice to reduce duties is a violation that exposes the shipment to reassessment, fines and delay, so the cheapest route is always a correct invoice and a complete file.
✈️ Air freight from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania
Air freight flies from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam airports to Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport, usually via a hub because direct flights are limited, so transit is 4–9 days door to door including clearance. It starts from SAR 14.2 per chargeable kg for commercial cargo airport to airport, and SAR 19 per kg for personal parcels door to door. It suits documents, samples, spare parts and permitted medicines, not furniture.
How is chargeable weight calculated? You are charged the greater of actual and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000. Example: a 60 × 50 × 40 cm carton weighing 12 kg has a volumetric weight of 20 kg, so it is charged at 20 × 14.2 = about SAR 284. Work out your shipment precisely with the chargeable weight calculator.
📄 Documents for shipping to Mauritania
What documents do I need to ship from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania? For furniture and belongings: a copy of your ID or iqama and passport, a detailed contents list, a Fasah authorisation for the clearing agent, and the recipient’s details in Mauritania with a copy of their ID card or passport. For a car: the registration, export certificate and plates, and proof of ownership. For goods: commercial registration, invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and importer details.
| Shipment type | Documents |
|---|---|
| Furniture and personal effects | ID or iqama, passport, detailed contents list, Fasah authorisation, recipient’s details and ID |
| Cartons and parcels | ID copy, description of each carton’s contents, recipient’s name, phone and address |
| Car | Registration, owner ID, export certificate and plates, clearance of fines, bank no-objection for financed cars |
| Commercial goods | Commercial registration, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, importer details and tax number |
| Air freight | Air waybill, invoice or contents list, sender and recipient details |
🧾 Customs and charges in Mauritania
Do I pay customs when shipping to Mauritania? Yes in most cases, but the amount depends on the shipment: used personal effects and furniture of people relocating are treated differently from commercial goods when a clear packing list is presented, and may benefit from facilities under the rules in force at the time of shipping, while new appliances, commercial goods and cars are subject to duties and taxes according to their type, value and the customs assessment. These charges are paid by the recipient in Mauritania at clearance, and we prepare a complete file that speeds up release and spares you a reassessment.
Alongside customs duties there are port and container handling charges in Nouakchott, and daily storage charges if the container is not collected promptly after release. The solution is simple: make sure the recipient or their agent is ready before the vessel arrives, that their phone number works, and that they have their papers.
🚫 Prohibited and restricted items
- Weapons, ammunition, explosives and fireworks.
- Flammable materials: gas cylinders, petrol, large loose batteries and solvents.
- Narcotics and controlled medicines without a prescription and permit.
- Fresh food, meat, plants and seeds without health and agricultural certificates.
- Printed matter and materials contrary to public order and morals.
- Cash, gold and original documents: keep them with you, not in the shipment.
🏙️ Delivery in Nouakchott and Mauritanian cities
After customs release at Nouakchott or Nouadhibou port, we carry the shipment to your address in the capital or in inland towns. In Nouakchott we deliver to all its districts, such as Tevragh Zeina, Ksar, Arafat, El Mina, Dar Naim, Toujounine, Sebkha and Teyarett, and to other cities along the main highways: the Route de l’Espoir to the east, the Nouakchott–Nouadhibou road to the north and the Rosso road to the south.
| City | Best arrival port | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nouakchott (capital) | Nouakchott | Delivery to every district after release |
| Nouadhibou | Nouadhibou | The economic capital and free zone |
| Zouérat | Nouadhibou | Mining town in the north |
| Atar and Akjoujt | Nouakchott or Nouadhibou | Via the northern road |
| Rosso | Nouakchott | On the Senegal River, south of the capital |
| Boutilimit and Aleg | Nouakchott | On the Route de l’Espoir heading east |
| Kaédi and Boghé | Nouakchott | The river region in the south |
| Kiffa | Nouakchott | Centre of the country on the Route de l’Espoir |
| Aïoun and Néma | Nouakchott | Far east, longer delivery time |
| Sélibaby and Tidjikja | Nouakchott | Delivery date agreed in advance |
Before delivery we call the recipient to set a time, and they check the numbered cartons against the list before signing. You can follow the shipment through WhatsApp messages at sailing, transhipment and arrival, and on the shipment tracking page with your shipment number.
🗂️ Our detailed guide to Mauritania
Alongside this reference page, we have a guide that goes deeper into one specific aspect of the lane:
We ship to every country in the world by land, sea and air, so if you also have a shipment to another country in West Africa or the Maghreb, tell us about it together with your Mauritania shipment.
📝 How to book your shipment to Mauritania
You can also fill in the get a quote form or visit our contact us page.
⚠️ Common mistakes when shipping to Mauritania
- Shipping a car older than the permitted age, then discovering the ban at the arrival port.
- Choosing shared freight for a large volume when a full container is cheaper, faster and safer.
- A vague contents list that triggers manual inspection and delays release.
- A recipient who is not ready, or an inactive phone number, when the vessel arrives, so storage charges pile up.
- Under-declaring the commercial invoice, exposing the shipment to fines and reassessment.
- Ordinary packing for a voyage of more than a month at sea, so wood and fabrics suffer from humidity.
⭐ Why ship to Mauritania with Al Mellah?
Tell us your city, the Mauritanian city, and the type and size of your shipment, and we will reply with the method, transit time and price.
❓ Frequently asked questions about shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania
❓ How much does shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania cost?
It starts from SAR 141 for a carton up to 10 kg, SAR 799 per cubic metre in a shared container, SAR 5,640 for a 20 ft container from Jeddah and SAR 4,230 for a small car by RoRo.
❓ How many days does shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania take?
A full container or car takes 26–42 days from Jeddah, shared freight 5–7 weeks, and air 4–9 days.
❓ Is there land shipping from Saudi Arabia to Mauritania?
There is no practical land route; shipments go by sea through the Suez Canal and Gibraltar, or by air for urgent items.
❓ Which ports do shipments reach in Mauritania?
The Autonomous Port of Nouakchott (Port of Friendship), the main one, and Nouadhibou port in the north.
❓ What documents do I need to ship to Mauritania?
ID or iqama and passport, a detailed contents list, a Fasah authorisation and the recipient’s details; for a car, the registration and export certificate; for goods, the invoice and certificate of origin.
❓ Can I ship my car to Mauritania?
Yes, by RoRo from SAR 4,230 or in a dedicated container from SAR 10,340, provided it does not exceed the age limit in the Mauritanian regulations in force at the time of shipping.
❓ Do I pay customs in Mauritania?
New appliances, goods and cars are subject to duties according to their type and value, used belongings are treated differently with a clear list, and the recipient pays the charges at clearance.
❓ What is the cheapest way to ship to Mauritania?
Shared sea freight for small and medium volumes, and a full container once the volume approaches 25 cubic metres.
❓ Do you deliver outside Nouakchott?
Yes, to Nouadhibou, Rosso, Kaédi, Kiffa, Atar, Zouérat, Néma and other towns after customs release.
❓ Is air freight suitable for furniture?
No, air is for documents and urgent parcels from SAR 14.2 per chargeable kg; sea is far cheaper for furniture.
❓ Which Saudi port do containers to Mauritania leave from?
Jeddah Islamic Port; we truck shipments there from Riyadh, Qassim, the Eastern Province and Madinah.
❓ How do I track my shipment to Mauritania?
Through WhatsApp messages at sailing, transhipment and arrival, and on the shipment tracking page of our website with your shipment number.
Shipping guides to Mauritania
Other countries we ship to in the same region
Ready to ship your belongings to Mauritania?
Send the shipment details and receive a clear price showing the transit time and what it includes.