International Parcel Delivery | Blog

Shipping from Canada to Saudi Arabia: 2026 Logistics Guide

Written by Timothy Byrnes | October 21, 2017

As Canada's second-largest export market in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia represents a high-growth corridor for Canadian medical supplies, machinery, and educational resources. This 2026 guide breaks down Saudi Vision 2030 logistics requirements, SABER certification, and the most cost-effective routes to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

2026 Shipping Insights: Canada to KSA

Note to individuals shipping small personal packages: We recommend Canada post for shipments up to around 5 kilograms. Contact our team for commercial shipments and heavy weight consignments. 

Mode Best For Est. CAD Cost Transit Time
Canada Post (Surface) Personal Items less than 2 kilograms $35 - $60 8–12 Weeks
Xpresspost Intl. Documents/Small Boxes ~$240 2–3 Weeks
Jet Priority Air Commercial/Pallets Quote Based 4–7 Days

*Prices include current 2026 fuel surcharges. Remote areas in Neom or AlUla may incur surcharges.

⚠️ Mandatory: Saudi National Address

Since the full implementation of Saudi Vision 2030 logistics reforms, all shipments require a 6-part National Address. Commercial carriers can no longer deliver to P.O. Boxes.

  • Building Number
  • Street Name
  • District
  • City Name
  • Postal Code
  • Additional Number

SABER Certification & SFDA Regulations

For businesses importing consumer goods, registration on the SABER Platform is mandatory to obtain Certificates of Conformity. This is especially critical for:

Vitamins & Supplements

Limit of 30 lbs per month per individual. Quantities exceeding this require SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) approval.

Cold Chain Logistics

We provide Dry Ice (UN1845) solutions for biomedical and life-science exports from Montreal to Riyadh.

Need a SABER-compliant commercial quote?

Request a 2026 Spot Quote

Import Taxes and Duty in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Customs utilizes CIF Value (Cost + Insurance + Freight) for tax assessment. Understanding the thresholds is key to managing landing costs.

  • De Minimis Threshold: Goods under US$266 typically enter duty-free for personal use (B2C).
  • VAT (Value Added Tax): A standard 15% VAT applies to all imports regardless of value.
  • Average Duty Rate: Generally 5% for items exceeding the threshold.
  • Commercial Shipments (B2B): Require a Commercial Registration (CR) and an accurate invoice in Arabic/English.

Shipping Education Supplies to International Schools

Jet Worldwide specializes in consolidating textbook orders and educational technology for Canadian International Schools in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al Khobar. We offer door-to-school delivery with full customs management.

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