Dammam port shipping means moving cargo through King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Saudi Arabia's main port on its east coast and the sea gateway for the Eastern Province and Riyadh. The port is owned by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), its container terminals are run by Saudi Global Ports (SGP), and a freight railway links it to the dry port in Riyadh. From Dubai it is the shortest sea route into Saudi Arabia, and this guide covers the terminals, customs rules and how we ship your cargo there. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Dammam, and from Dammam to Dubai.
Dammam port guide: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam |
| Owner and port authority | Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) |
| Customs authority | Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) |
| UN/LOCODE | SADMM |
| Location | Dammam, Eastern Province, east coast of Saudi Arabia |
| Berths | 43 per Saudipedia; the Logistics Cluster berthing table lists 31 conventional, 4 container and 4 grain silo berths |
| Handling capacity | 105 million tonnes |
| Terminals | A container terminal, two general cargo terminals and supporting terminals |
| Container terminal operator | Saudi Global Ports (SGP), sole operator under a 2020 build-operate-transfer agreement |
| Container berths | Berths 23 to 26, 2,380 m of quay, 16 m maximum draft |
| Container traffic | 1,769,118 TEU in 2021; more than 2 million TEU in 2022 |
| Reefer points | 2,500, with 24-hour monitoring |
| Rail | Freight line to the Riyadh dry port, about 556 km |
| Maximum depth by vessel type | Containers 16.0 m, Ro-Ro 14.0 m, breakbulk 13.8 m, bulk 13.0 m |
| Nearest airport | King Fahd International Airport, about 52 km |
| Customs declaration | Fasah, at least 48 hours before arrival |
| Import VAT | 15% |
| Shipping Dammam to Dubai | Export declaration on Fasah by the shipper's broker; import declaration with Dubai Customs, 5% duty on non-GCC goods and 5% VAT |
What is King Abdulaziz Port and who uses it?
King Abdulaziz Port was first built by Aramco on the order of King Abdulaziz to serve the oil industry. After an expansion it took its current name in 1961. Saudipedia describes it today as the Kingdom's main port on the east coast and a gateway for goods moving to the eastern and central regions.
The port's traffic reflects the region around it. Main imports include food, construction materials and consumer goods, and main exports include petrochemicals and industrial products. Most shippers choose Dammam for one of these reasons:
- The consignee is in Dammam, Al Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail or Al Ahsa.
- The cargo is going to Riyadh or the central region, and the sea leg plus rail or truck beats a cross-country move from the west coast.
- The cargo starts in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE, and a short sea leg from Jebel Ali is simpler than a truck for that cargo.
For Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and the western region, Jeddah Islamic Port is usually the better choice.
Which terminals does Dammam port have?
Saudipedia lists an advanced container terminal, two general cargo terminals and supporting terminals across 43 berths, with a total handling capacity of 105 million tonnes.
Container terminals run by Saudi Global Ports
Saudi Global Ports, a PSA-linked operator, began running Dammam's second container terminal in 2015. On 13 April 2020 Mawani and SGP signed a new 30-year build-operate-transfer agreement that made SGP the sole container terminal operator for the port. Saudipedia describes this as the largest single concession contract in the Kingdom, with investment above SAR 7 billion over 30 years.
The container terminal sits on berths 23 to 26, with 2,380 m of quay and a 16 m maximum draft. The Logistics Cluster lists 15 twin-lift quay cranes with up to 75 tonnes under hook, 39 rubber-tyred gantries, 21 reach stackers, a container freight station for LCL, and 2,500 reefer points with 24-hour monitoring for chilled and frozen cargo down to -18°C.
The container side has grown fast. The port handled 199,609 containers in August 2022, its highest single month on record, and PSA reports more than 2 million TEU for 2022 as a whole. In March 2022 the port handled 18,020 TEU on one vessel call, the highest single-vessel figure at a Saudi port at the time. In 2019 the second container terminal received the COSCO Solar, a ship with capacity for more than 21,000 containers.
General cargo, bulk and Ro-Ro
The berth layout tells you where non-containerised cargo goes. The Logistics Cluster port profile, run by the UN World Food Programme, lists it like this:
| Berths | Use |
|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3 and 30 | Grain discharge (silo berths, 660 m, 14 m draft) |
| 4 to 9 and 11 to 13 | General cargo, rail connected |
| 10 | Bagged fertiliser |
| 14 to 22 | General cargo, Ro-Ro ramps at 14 and 22 |
| 23 to 26 | Container terminal |
| 27 to 29 | Ro-Ro and project cargo |
| 31 to 34 | General cargo and grey cement |
| 35 | Cold stores (2.9 ha) and a Ro-Ro ramp |
| 36 to 38 | Bulk ores, cement, clinker, grain and edible oils |
| 39 | Explosives terminal, plus cement, clinker, gypsum and other bulk |
The 31 conventional berths have 6,362 m of quay and a maximum draft of 14 m. In 2021 the port handled 10,818,138 tonnes of bulk and 2,822,204 tonnes of breakbulk from 1,632 vessel calls. Findaport gives maximum depths of 14.0 m for Ro-Ro, 13.8 m for breakbulk and 13.0 m for bulk vessels, so check your ship against the berth before you fix it. The port also has a ship repair facility with two floating docks that can take ships up to 215 m long.
The rail link from Dammam port to Riyadh
This is what sets Dammam apart from other Saudi ports. A Saudi Railways freight line starts at the port and runs about 556 km through Al Ahsa, Abqaiq and Al Kharj to the dry port in Riyadh. Berths 4 to 13 are connected to the rail system for general cargo.
In 2021 Saudi Global Ports was also given a concession by the Saudi Railway Company to develop and operate the Riyadh Dry Port ecosystem, with facilities in Riyadh and Dammam. PSA states a target of 1.5 million containers a year through the Riyadh Dry Port by 2030.
| Inland option from Dammam | When it fits | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Truck to the Eastern Province | Dammam, Al Khobar, Dhahran, Jubail | Short delivery, book with the consignee's transporter |
| Rail to the Riyadh dry port | Regular container flows to Riyadh | Whether your carrier offers a rail-linked through service and where clearance happens |
| Truck direct to Riyadh | Urgent or one-off containers, oversized cargo | Road permits for out-of-gauge loads |
The Logistics Cluster notes that most containers and bulk cargo still leave the port by road, with part of the flow moving by rail. Ask at booking whether your container will clear at Dammam or at the Riyadh dry port. It changes who files what, and where.
What cargo can you ship through Dammam port?
| Cargo type | How it moves | What to plan |
|---|---|---|
| General goods in containers | FCL or LCL through the SGP container terminals | Free time, truck or rail on-carriage |
| Chilled and frozen food | Reefer containers on the 2,500 reefer points, or cold stores at berth 35 | Set temperature, food permits before sailing |
| Construction materials and steel | Containers or breakbulk at the general cargo terminals | Lashing, lifting, delivery to site |
| Machinery and project pieces | Breakbulk, or flat racks on container ships | Drawings, lift plan, road permits |
| Vehicles and rolling equipment | Ro-Ro ramps at berths 14, 22, 23, 35 and 36, Ro-Ro and project berths 27 to 29, or containers | Vehicle import rules |
| Grain, cement and other dry bulk | Silo and bulk berths | Discharge plan and receiving facility |
| Chemicals and other DG | IMDG containers | Carrier acceptance, permits, quick clearance |
FCL and LCL shipping to Dammam port
- FCL (full container load). You book a whole 20ft or 40ft container. It suits heavier cargo and anything that would fill most of a box.
- LCL (less than container load). Your cargo shares a container that is unpacked at a freight station in Dammam before release. It suits small volumes, but your release depends on the whole consolidation.
From Dubai there is a third choice for small volumes: road groupage across the Ghuwaifat-Batha border, which delivers to the door in one move. For a few pallets to Dammam or Al Khobar, compare LCL by sea with a groupage truck. Our guide to FCL vs LCL costs shows where a full container starts to pay off.
Breakbulk, project cargo and dangerous goods at Dammam
Breakbulk and project cargo
Industrial projects around Dammam and Jubail often need oversized equipment delivered by sea. Pieces that fit a container go on flat racks or open tops. Pieces that do not fit move as conventional breakbulk to one of the general cargo terminals. Our planning order:
- Collect drawings, dimensions, weights and centre of gravity for each piece.
- Choose between a flat rack on a container service and breakbulk tonnage.
- Check the vessel against the port's depth limits for breakbulk or Ro-Ro.
- Agree lifting and lashing with the carrier and the terminal.
- Line up the Saudi broker, permits and the road move from the quay to site.
From Dubai, an oversized piece can also go by low-bed truck across the land border if its size and weight allow. We price both. See our break bulk and project cargo service, or our bulk cargo service for dry bulk.
Dangerous goods
Petrochemicals are among the port's main exports, and chemical imports are common too. We could not open Mawani's own DG rules for Dammam, so we confirm class limits and storage rules with the carrier and terminal for each booking. You need to provide:
- UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group.
- A Safety Data Sheet for each product.
- A dangerous goods declaration signed by a trained person.
- UN-approved packaging, labels and placards.
- Any Saudi permit the product needs, approved before sailing.
Our dangerous goods shipping team checks carrier acceptance before you commit to a sailing.
Customs clearance at Dammam port: documents, duty and VAT
ZATCA clears cargo at Dammam through Fasah. The importer files the declaration and documents there, directly or through a customs broker, and ZATCA's instructions say this should be done at least 48 hours before the shipment reaches the port.
Which documents does Saudi customs need?
| Document | When it is needed |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Always |
| Bill of lading | Always for sea cargo |
| Packing list | Always in practice, piece by piece for breakbulk |
| Certificate of origin | ZATCA says it is not needed if the origin is clearly established, but it is essential for a GCC duty exemption |
| SABER product certificate (PCoC) | Products covered by a Saudi technical regulation |
| SABER shipment certificate (SCoC) | Each shipment of regulated products, before arrival |
| IECEE certificate | Goods that require one |
| Permits and product registration | Restricted goods such as food, medicines, cosmetics and chemicals |
| DG declaration and SDS | Dangerous goods |
SABER certificates
SABER is the platform run under the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). Regulated products need a Product Certificate of Conformity, issued in SABER after a conformity body assesses them, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity for each shipment. SABER lists fees of SAR 500 for a product certificate and SAR 350 for a shipment certificate, excluding VAT, and shipment certificates are now valid for 90 days. Without the product certificate there is no shipment certificate, so start early.
How much is customs duty and import VAT?
Saudi Arabia applies the GCC common external tariff, at least 5% for most goods from outside the GCC, on CIF value. Some lines are higher and some staples, such as rice, coffee and tea, are duty-free. Goods made in a GCC country can enter duty-free if they meet the Saudi origin rules: a valid certificate of origin, direct shipment and at least 40% local value added. Goods made outside the GCC and re-exported from Dubai do not qualify, and goods made in a GCC free zone are unlikely to.
Import VAT is 15% on the customs value plus duty and other charges, and it applies even when the goods are exempt from duty. Goods from the UAE are treated as imports for VAT under the current transitional rules. A VAT-registered importer can apply to ZATCA to pay import VAT through its VAT return.
How to ship to Dammam port from Dubai: step by step
Dammam is the short sea leg from Jebel Ali Port, and it competes directly with trucking across the land border. A rough rule: full containers and heavy cargo suit the sea route, part loads and urgent cargo often suit the truck.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers or feeder services we use from Jebel Ali to Dammam and our typical port-to-port and door-to-door transit days]
This is how we handle a typical sea shipment from Dubai to Dammam. We book the space, prepare the UAE side and work with your Saudi consignee or their clearing agent in Dammam.
- Send the cargo details. Commodity, HS code, weight, volume or dimensions, pickup location in the UAE, final delivery city and the Incoterm.
- Check Saudi product rules. We check SABER status, permits and the origin evidence you have.
- Choose sea or road. We price a container to Dammam and, where it fits, a truck across the border.
- Book space. We confirm the sailing from Jebel Ali and, for DG, reefer or out-of-gauge cargo, carrier acceptance.
- Collect and stuff. We arrange the empty container, stuffing at your site or a warehouse, and the seal.
- File the UAE declaration. Export for UAE goods, re-export for goods that came in from abroad. Dubai Customs asks for the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any permit.
- Gate in at Jebel Ali before the carrier's cut-off.
- Share documents with the Saudi side, so the consignee's broker can file on Fasah at least 48 hours before arrival.
- Clearance and delivery. ZATCA assesses duty and VAT, inspects if selected, and releases the cargo for truck or rail on-carriage.
- Empty return to the depot the line names, within free time.
Our sea freight service from Dubai covers FCL and LCL to Dammam. If your cargo is in Abu Dhabi, we can compare a sailing from Khalifa Port.
How to ship from Dammam port to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Dammam to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The Saudi export papers stay with the shipper or its Saudi agent.
The Saudi export side
- Export declaration. The shipper's customs broker creates it on Fasah. Fasah reuses the manifest data the shipping agent has already entered, the broker adds the export details, and the system calculates the customs fees once the declaration is accepted.
- Documents. ZATCA lists the bill of lading, the commercial invoice and the manifest as the papers behind an export declaration.
- Restricted exports. Saudi rules ban or limit the export of some goods, and ZATCA publishes the list. Check it before you book.
- Certificate of origin. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issues certificates of origin to Saudi exporters and manufacturers. Ask for one if the goods are Saudi-made and you want GCC treatment in the UAE.
- Pickup. The shipper or its trucker collects the empty, stuffs it and delivers it to the SGP container terminal before the carrier's cut-off.
The UAE import side
We file the import declaration with Dubai Customs before the vessel arrives. Dubai Customs asks for the commercial invoice, the packing list, the certificate of origin and a permit from the relevant authority for restricted goods, and the carrier releases the cargo against the bill of lading. Customs duty in Dubai is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%. A VAT-registered importer accounts for it on its VAT return under the reverse charge; anyone else pays it before the goods are released.
Saudi-made goods are a different case. Under the GCC Customs Union, goods produced in any member state are treated as national goods in all member states, so they do not pay the 5% duty when the certificate of origin proves where they were made. The UAE government portal, in its section on Sharjah customs, gives the test as at least 40% of the raw materials coming from the GCC. Foreign goods that already paid duty at their first GCC point of entry are not charged again if the payment is proven. Neither rule removes the 5% import VAT.
- Send us the shipper's details in Dammam, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space from Dammam and send the booking and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker stuffs the container and delivers it to the SGP container terminal.
- The shipper or its Saudi agent files the export declaration on Fasah.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
- We file the UAE declaration with Dubai Customs before the vessel arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order from the carrier.
- We truck the container to your site and return the empty to the depot the line names within free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Dammam to Jebel Ali/Khalifa/Sharjah and our real transit days in this direction]
Free time and demurrage at Dammam
Shipping lines give free days for their containers. After that, demurrage runs while the full container stays in the port, and detention while you keep it outside. Free days and daily rates differ by carrier and container type, so read them on your quote and arrival notice. If the container goes on by rail to Riyadh, check how free time is counted for the inland leg.
The cheapest way to avoid these charges is to have the Fasah declaration, SABER certificate and permits ready before the vessel berths. Our article on demurrage and detention explains how the charges build up.
Checklist before you ship to Dammam
- HS code confirmed for every item.
- SABER status checked, product certificate in place and shipment certificate requested.
- Permits and product registrations approved before sailing.
- Certificate of origin issued, and origin rules checked if you claim the GCC exemption.
- Invoice, packing list and bill of lading show the same weights, piece counts and consignee.
- Saudi consignee or broker ready to file on Fasah at least 48 hours before arrival.
- Inland plan agreed: truck in the Eastern Province, rail or truck to Riyadh.
- Free time agreed with the carrier.
- For DG: SDS, DG declaration, packaging, labels and carrier acceptance.
- Cargo insurance arranged.
Common mistakes when shipping to Dammam
- Late SABER certificates. Regulated goods without a shipment certificate are held at the port.
- Filing Fasah after the vessel arrives. Free time runs while the paperwork catches up.
- Assuming goods from Dubai are duty-free. Only goods that meet GCC origin rules are.
- Not deciding where a Riyadh container clears. Dammam or the dry port changes the paperwork.
- Shipping a few pallets as LCL without pricing a groupage truck.
- Routing west coast cargo through Dammam. Jeddah consignees face a long inland leg.
Dammam, Jeddah or road: which fits your cargo?
From Dubai you have three realistic ways into Saudi Arabia. The final delivery address and the cargo decide which one wins.
| Your situation | Best starting option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Full containers for Dammam, Al Khobar or Jubail | Sea to Dammam | Short sea leg, short delivery |
| Regular container flow to Riyadh | Sea to Dammam, then rail or truck | Rail link to the Riyadh dry port |
| A few pallets for the Eastern Province or Riyadh | Road groupage via Ghuwaifat and Al Batha | One move door to door, no port handling |
| Cargo for Jeddah, Makkah or Madinah | Sea to Jeddah, or a truck across the country | Dammam would leave a long inland leg |
| Oversized piece for an Eastern Province site | Breakbulk or flat rack to Dammam, or a low-bed truck | Depends on dimensions and road permits |
| Urgent small shipment | Air to King Fahd International Airport | Faster than sea or road |
The Saudi customs rules are the same whichever way you choose: Fasah, SABER where needed, duty and 15% VAT. What changes is the transport cost, the number of handling points and the time. We can price two routings side by side so you compare the total cost to the door.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official name of Dammam port?
The official name is King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam. It is owned by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), and its UN/LOCODE is SADMM.
Who operates the container terminals at Dammam?
Saudi Global Ports (SGP) is the sole container terminal operator at King Abdulaziz Port under a build-operate-transfer agreement signed in 2020.
How many berths does Dammam port have?
Saudipedia lists 43 berths and a handling capacity of 105 million tonnes. The Logistics Cluster berthing table lists 31 conventional berths, 4 container berths (23 to 26) and 4 grain silo berths.
Is Dammam port connected to Riyadh by rail?
Yes. A freight railway of about 556 km runs from the port to the dry port in Riyadh, and berths 4 to 13 are rail-connected for general cargo.
What documents do I need to import through Dammam?
ZATCA requires a commercial invoice, a bill of lading and a certificate of origin, plus a packing list in practice. Regulated products need SABER certificates, and restricted goods need permits. The declaration is filed on Fasah at least 48 hours before arrival.
What is the import duty at Dammam port?
Most goods from outside the GCC pay at least 5% duty on CIF value under the GCC common external tariff, plus 15% import VAT. GCC-origin goods that meet Saudi origin rules are exempt from duty but still pay VAT.
Should I ship from Dubai to Dammam by sea or by truck?
Full containers and heavy cargo usually suit the short sea leg from Jebel Ali. Part loads and urgent cargo for the Eastern Province often suit a truck across the Ghuwaifat-Batha border. We price both.
Can Dammam port handle large container ships?
Yes. The published maximum depth for container ships is 16.0 m, and in 2019 the port received the COSCO Solar, a ship that carries more than 21,000 containers.
Can you handle shipping from Dammam to Dubai?
Yes. The shipper or its Saudi agent files the export declaration on Fasah. We book the space, file the Dubai Customs declaration, arrange payment of the 5% duty where due and the 5% import VAT, and deliver from Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah. Saudi-made goods with a valid certificate of origin count as GCC national goods and do not pay the duty.
Get a quote for Dammam port shipping
Send us your cargo details and we will come back with a routing and a price for shipping to Dammam. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a project, DG or SABER question first. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- Saudipedia: King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam (area, berths, terminals, capacity, rail, history, records, SGP concession)
- PSA: Dammam-Riyadh ecosystem (SGP sole operator, 2022 volume, Riyadh Dry Port concession)
- Wikipedia: King Abdul Aziz Port (UN/LOCODE, rail line, rail-connected berths, main imports and exports)
- Logistics Cluster (WFP): King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam (berths, equipment, reefer points, 2021 handling figures, SGP agreement date)
- Findaport: Port of Dammam (maximum depths by vessel type, airport distance, floating dock)
- ZATCA: Import instructions (documents, Fasah, 48-hour rule)
- ZATCA: Guideline on imports and exports under VAT provisions
- SABER platform (SASO): certificate fees and validity
- Intertek: Overview of the SABER system
- US International Trade Administration: Saudi Arabia import tariffs
- EY: Saudi Arabia clarifies GCC origin of goods
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration
- UAE Government portal: Customs duty (5% of CIF in Dubai, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%; GCC-origin goods and the 40% test)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT Taxable Person Guide, chapter 9 Import of goods (5% rate, reverse charge, payment before release)
- UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security: Customs Union for GCC States (national goods, duty paid at first point of entry)
- Fasah: Customs broker service (export declarations, manifest data, fee payment)
- ZATCA: Export instructions (documents, prohibited and restricted exports)
- Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources: Certificate of origin service
Reviewed: 10 November 2026