What is the most cost-effective way to ship to the Middle East?

Ocean freight is generally the most cost-effective method for non-urgent cargo. For oversized machinery, breakbulk or RoRo can lower handling costs compared to air freight.

Do you handle heavy equipment and project cargo to the Gulf region?

Yes. We ship cranes, bulldozers, drilling rigs, turbines, and other industrial machinery using breakbulk, RoRo, and container solutions, with export packing and inland heavy-haul support.

Which documents are required for customs clearance?

Common requirements include a commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading, and certificate of origin. Certain goods may require technical specs and HS codes.

Can you arrange inland transport from Middle East ports?

Yes. We coordinate lowboy trailers, permits, and escorts for oversized loads from ports such as Hamad Port to project sites across the region.

Do you offer cargo insurance and export packing?

Yes. We provide cargo insurance and professional export packing (crating, blocking and bracing, weatherproofing) to protect shipments during long-haul transit.

Shipping To The Middle East From The US

Name: Shipping to the Middle East
Brand: Texas International Freight
Price: 1 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (47 reviews)

Shipping to the Middle East From the US

Texas International Freight ships heavy machinery, oil and gas equipment, and breakbulk cargo from Houston and across the US to the Middle East. The region’s oil, gas, construction, and infrastructure projects pull in US-built equipment, and we move it by ocean and air to the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean. Which country, which port, and which mode depends on your cargo and your deadline.

We handle the export filing, coordinate destination customs, and arrange inland delivery. Below are the routes, the GCC customs rules, the documents, and direct guides to each country we serve.

Ocean and Air Routes to the Middle East

The main Gulf gateways are Jebel Ali in Dubai, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Jeddah Islamic Port in Saudi Arabia, Hamad Port in Qatar, Shuwaikh and Shuaiba in Kuwait, and Sohar and Salalah in Oman. For the eastern Mediterranean, cargo routes through Turkish, Egyptian, and Israeli ports.

Cargo from the US Gulf and East Coast to the Arabian Gulf transits the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Red Sea security disruptions since 2023 have led some carriers to reroute around southern Africa, which can add one to two weeks, so we book the carrier and routing that fit your schedule. Ocean transit commonly runs 30 to 45 days port to port.

Air freight through hubs such as Dubai (DXB and DWC), Doha, and Riyadh moves urgent oilfield and power-generation parts in a few days. For full project moves, air charter and vessel charter keep the shipment on one plan.

The GCC Customs Union

Six Gulf states, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, form the Gulf Cooperation Council, which runs a customs union with a common external tariff of 5% on most goods. Cargo cleared at the first GCC port of entry moves between member states without paying duty again. VAT applies on top, at 5% in most GCC states and 15% in Saudi Arabia.

Conformity rules vary by country. Saudi Arabia requires SASO registration and a SABER Certificate of Conformity, and the UAE uses the ECAS scheme for regulated goods. We confirm the requirements for your commodity before loading.

Documents Required

Commercial invoice

Packing list

Bill of lading or air waybill

Certificate of origin, often attested by a US Chamber of Commerce and, for some states, legalized through the destination’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Correct HS codes for duty assessment

Conformity certificates such as Saudi SABER or UAE ECAS for regulated goods

Why Texas International Freight

We move the heavy and oversized cargo that standard carriers cannot touch: oil and gas equipment, construction and mining machinery, transformers, and breakbulk project loads. We book vessel and aircraft space, prepare your AES filing and certificate of origin, screen shipments against OFAC and BIS controls, and coordinate destination customs through project logistics, backed by a 4.7 rating across 47 Google reviews.

Send us the dimensions, weight, and delivery point, and we return a routing and a quote. Call +1 877-489-9184, email ship@txintlfreight.com, or request a freight quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Middle East ports do you ship to?

Gulf gateways include Jebel Ali in Dubai, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Jeddah Islamic Port in Saudi Arabia, Hamad Port in Qatar, Shuwaikh and Shuaiba in Kuwait, and Sohar and Salalah in Oman. Eastern Mediterranean cargo routes through Turkish, Egyptian, and Israeli ports. We match the port to your destination.

How long does ocean freight to the Gulf take?

Commonly 30 to 45 days port to port from the US, transiting the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Red Sea disruptions since 2023 have pushed some carriers around southern Africa, which can add one to two weeks. Air freight moves urgent parts in a few days.

How does GCC customs work?

The six GCC states share a customs union with a 5% common external tariff on most goods, so cargo cleared at the first GCC port of entry moves between members without paying duty again. VAT applies on top, at 5% in most states and 15% in Saudi Arabia.

What documents do Middle East shipments need?

A commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and certificate of origin, often attested by a US Chamber of Commerce and, for some states, legalized through the destination’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regulated goods need conformity certificates such as Saudi SABER or UAE ECAS.

Can you ship oversized oil and gas equipment to the Middle East?

Yes. Oversized modules, rigs, cranes, and transformers move as breakbulk or on flat rack and Ro-Ro, with charter for full projects. We handle export packing, heavy haul to port, documentation, and compliance screening.