Top global shipping companies inside and outside Saudi Arabia in 2025

The process of shipping goods globally for commercial activities operating in Saudi Arabia represents a major challenge in terms of strategically moving goods from one point to another internationally, as well as dealing with the regulations and laws of each country, in addition to other challenges that require choosing the best international shipping companies that can overcome various challenges and safely ship the goods of commercial activities and deliver them on time.

However, what is meant by the term international shipping, what things must be considered before embarking on it, and what are the best international companies inside and outside Saudi Arabia?

All this and more will be discussed in the following lines. Let's start with the definition:

What is meant by the term international shipping?

International shipping is the process by which goods are shipped and delivered to and from different countries using conventional means of transportation, whether land, sea, or air.

We would like to point out that the international shipping process may include some complexities as it is subject to many rules and regulations for importing or exporting goods and passing them across international borders. This is because each country has its own rules and laws that are applied to shipping offices and govern the shipping process to and from it. Some countries also have strict policies that restrict or prohibit the shipment of certain goods.

Because the matter is more complicated and requires professionalism in handling, many commercial activities resort to relying on a shipping office or international shipping companies to ship their products internationally instead of relying on themselves to carry out this process, which contributes to reducing effort and cost, and shipping and delivering products with high quality and as quickly as possible.

There are considerations that must be taken into account before embarking on international shipping of products, which we review below:

What considerations should be taken into account before engaging in international shipping?

In general, there are some important considerations that you must know before shipping your products internationally through global shipping companies. Among these considerations are:

1. Adherence to the rules and regulations of each country:

Before embarking on international shipping, you must have a good understanding of the rules and regulations of the countries you wish to ship to, to avoid violating laws and regulations. Ask yourself about the specifications of the products you want to ship, whether they need special care during transportation, whether they can withstand long distances, and other important questions.

Also ask yourself whether you have the ability to carry out international shipping operations on your own, or whether you will rely on a global shipping company to help you expand the scope of your commercial activity and strategically lead it toward success and growth.

2. Correct understanding of some terms and extraction of international shipping documents:

You must look at the most prominent terms related to the shipping process in general, and international shipping in particular, and understand them well so that you can talk to different global shipping companies and understand the advantages they offer, which enables you to choose the best among them.

In addition, having knowledge and a correct understanding of the various terms will greatly benefit you in managing and following up on your shipping process and knowing the parties involved in completing the process and the stages the shipments will go through until they are delivered to the final consumer.

Here are some important terms related to international shipping:

• Air Waybill (AWB): This is the contract concluded between the shipping company and the merchant to guarantee all rights, and shipping bills of lading are an essential document of great importance in the customs clearance process.

• Global Trade Item Number (GTIN): This is a code given to each of your products within the shipments, allowing their specifications and classification to be known and recorded in the commercial invoice.

• Commercial Invoice: This term refers to the customs document that contains information relevant to your products, which is used when calculating fees and taxes on shipments.

• Certificate of Origin: This is an official document issued to determine the country of origin of the shipment. Watch the video below to learn how to issue a Certificate of Origin

• Customs Declaration: This term refers to the form that provides information on the quantity, nature, and value of the goods shipped. This document is submitted during the customs clearance process, and it also works to monitor exports or imports. You can view all required customs documents and how to extract or inquire about them through the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority website.

3. Determining international demand for the products offered:

Before considering using the international shipping service, extensive research must be conducted to determine whether there is actual demand for your products internationally. If what you offer is in demand by consumers globally, then this is a clear indicator of the necessity to target these markets and then choose the best global shipping companies to help you ship your products internationally and gain more customers.

4. Keeping the cost of international shipping low:

You must keep the costs involved when providing international shipping service to your customers low and work to reduce them by searching for the best global shipping companies suitable for your needs, which allow you to lower the shipping cost for your customers by offering special prices for the international shipping service with high quality service. You should know that the more shipments you have, the better the opportunity for lower prices and thus lower shipping costs for consumers.

Oto shipping portal helps you with this by allowing you to ship internationally at reduced prices that have been pre-negotiated with shipping companies without the need for any contracts with shipping companies. All you have to do is create a free account on the Oto shipping portal and then ship your products directly.

👇 You will find Oto's pricing calculator at the end of the article, which you can use to calculate international shipping prices before you start 👇

5. Choosing the appropriate international shipping pricing strategy for your business:

Choosing the appropriate international shipping pricing strategy for your business and customers is one of the important things that must be taken into account before embarking on shipping your products internationally. You should know that there are key factors that control your choice of the appropriate pricing strategy, which are: the nature of consumers, budget, profit margins, product specifications, the chosen shipping company, in addition to a variety of other factors.

There are various pricing strategies you can rely on to ship your products internationally, including, for example:

• Fixed shipping pricing strategy: This means setting a fixed shipping fee for customers regardless of the product value.

• Dynamic pricing strategy: This is a more flexible strategy, which means determining the shipping cost based on the geographical region, shipment weight, transportation method used, and total orders.

• Free shipping strategy: This means shipping products to customers for free at no cost, with the aim of enhancing their loyalty and encouraging repeat purchases.

6. Protecting sensitive products from damage:

If you want to ship sensitive products internationally, you should protect them from damage by packaging and wrapping them in a scientific manner that ensures they are protected from breakage during transportation.

Therefore, high-quality packaging materials must be chosen to protect these products and ensure their delivery to the final consumer with the best possible quality. It is worth noting that you can carry out this process yourself, or rely on Third Party Logistics (3PL) shipping companies.

7. Choosing the appropriate international shipping company:

Before embarking on targeting international markets and shipping your products to them, you must choose the best international shipping company that you will contract with to ship products internationally. In order to choose the best global shipping company for you and your customers, you must take into account some factors, including:

• Experience.

• Shipping cost.

• Delivery speed.

• Shipment tracking.

• Shipment insurance.

In addition to other factors that play a crucial role in choosing the most appropriate shipping company that will meet your needs and customer expectations.

8. Speed of shipment delivery:

The speed of shipment delivery depends on the shipping strategy used in the delivery process, the chosen shipping company, and the nature of the customers. In terms of speed, there are two strategies: express shipping and slow shipping, detailed as follows:

• Express shipping: This is a strategy that ensures products are delivered to consumers as quickly as possible, depending on the services provided by the contracted shipping company. This strategy includes same-day shipping, next-day shipping, and shipping within a maximum of two or three working days.

• Standard shipping: This is a strategy in which shipments are delivered within a week or may take up to a maximum of 4 weeks.

These are some of the important considerations that must be taken into account before embarking on international shipping of your products. Regarding international shipping companies, we have compiled a list of some of the most prominent shipping company names for you.

List of the best global shipping companies inside and outside Saudi Arabia

Oto provides the ability to link and ship products internationally with more than 200 of the best global and local shipping companies operating inside and outside Saudi Arabia. Below we review some international shipping companies, but first, it must be noted that this list does not represent any classification, but is merely examples and recommendations if you are looking for the best shipping company in Saudi Arabia:

• DHL Company

DHL, the German shipping and delivery company, is one of the oldest and largest delivery companies in the world. The company was founded in 1969 and currently operates in more than 220 countries and territories around the world. The company offers its services to various sectors such as e-commerce, air, land, and sea freight. DHL has won several international awards in appreciation of its distinctive services.

• Fedex Company

FedEx was founded in 1971 in the United States of America and is one of the most important shipping and delivery companies in the world. The company has branches in more than 220 countries around the world. FedEx offers its services to various sectors such as e-commerce, companies, and individuals. Its services are characterized by accuracy and speed as it always strives to deliver parcels in the shortest possible time.

• Aramex Company

Aramex, the global shipping and logistics company, was founded in the United Arab Emirates in 1982. It has grown to become one of the largest shipping companies globally, with Aramex currently having more than 600 branches in more than 50 countries. The company offers its services to various sectors such as e-commerce, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals, in addition to integrated logistics services for international companies.

• Zajel Company

Zajel is one of the most important delivery and shipping companies in the Middle East, founded in 1990 in the United Arab Emirates. The company has branches and commercial offices in more than 15 Arab and foreign countries. Zajel offers its services to the e-commerce, retail, and major corporate sectors. The company's services are characterized by speed and accuracy, as parcels are delivered in the shortest possible time.

• Ajwa Afaq Company

Ajwa Afaq Saudi Company is one of the most prominent transportation and shipping companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 1985, and its activity expanded to include land, sea, and air freight services inside and outside the Kingdom. The company seeks to provide the highest levels of service to its customers through the use of the latest transportation technologies and monitoring and tracking systems to ensure shipments arrive on time.

• Kwick Box Company

Kwick Box is one of the newest global shipping companies specializing in express parcel delivery services. It was founded in 2019 in the United States of America, and it uses the latest technologies and delivery methods using drones to ensure parcels are delivered as quickly as possible. This has helped the company expand rapidly, as it now has branches in more than 30 countries around the world.

• UPS Company

United Parcel Service (UPS) was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in the United States of America. It is one of the oldest and largest land, sea, and air freight and delivery companies in the world. The company has branches and offices in more than 220 countries and territories around the world. UPS provides many leading logistics services to various sectors, and the company has achieved remarkable growth in recent years.

• TNT Company

TNT was founded in 1998 in the Netherlands, and is one of the oldest shipping companies in the world. It has expanded significantly over the past decades to become one of the most prominent delivery companies globally. TNT now has more than 75,000 employees and operates in over 200 countries around the world. The company offers its services to the e-commerce, air, and land freight sectors, in addition to logistics services for companies.

• Samsa Shipping Company

Samsa International Shipping Company was founded in 1994 in Sweden, and quickly expanded to become one of the most prominent delivery companies in Europe. Samsa currently has more than 250 branches in more than 60 countries around the world. The company offers its services to multiple sectors such as e-commerce and internationally operating companies. Samsa is also known for its accuracy and speed in delivering parcels to its customers around the world.

• Alam Al Kawn Company

Alam Al Kawn Saudi Company is one of the most prominent local shipping and delivery companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 2020, and its focus on sustainable growth and the use of the latest information and communication technologies helped it develop its services and expand rapidly to become the first choice for many companies and individuals to meet their needs for fast and accurate shipping services within the Kingdom. The company works to strengthen its position as a major player in the local shipping sector.

You can create your free account in Oto and go to the shipping partners page and use the filter on the page to view the international and local shipping companies that provide international shipping services in Saudi Arabia, as shown in the image below 👇

Conclusion

Moving from local to international and opening and targeting multiple markets requires you to conduct good research and have a good understanding of your needs and requirements, and you must also pay attention to all aspects that will help you overcome the various challenges related to taking this step.

The most important of these aspects is choosing the best transportation companies in Saudi Arabia, which will contribute to leading the commercial activity towards permanent success and achieving growth by providing a unique and distinctive shipping experience that enhances the loyalty of your customers and encourages them to repeat the purchase process from you multiple times.