Introduction: If You Own a Building or Villa Compound, This Article Will Change Your Life Imagine you bought a plot and built a four-story apartment building with four apartments per floor, totaling 16 apartments. Each apartment needs: 6 interior doors, 1 main door, 5 windows, a full kitchen, 2 bathroom sets, floor ceramics, and lighting. Get local quotes from suppliers in Riyadh or Jeddah, and you'll be shocked by the numbers: solid wood doors cost 900 to 2,500 SAR, full kitchens 12,000 to 35,000 SAR, ceramic tiles between 45 and 120 SAR per square meter. The final total for interior finishing alone may exceed 650,000 SAR. Now imagine the same quantities with the same quality (sometimes better) at roughly half the cost. This is not a dream. It's what many large property owners in Saudi Arabia have been doing for years: direct importing from Chinese factories. In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through step by step from the moment you measure the first door to the moment the last kitchen is installed, so that even if you know nothing about importing, you'll be able to execute the process with confidence after reading this article. First: Who Is This Article For? Importing from China becomes economically viable when quantities are large, because container, shipping, and customs clearance costs are largely fixed whether you ship 20 doors or 200 doors. This article is specifically aimed at: Owners of one or more residential buildings (4+ apartments). Owners of villa compounds or groups of villas for sale or rent. Owners of entire commercial buildings needing full finishing. Owners of furnished housing or apartment hotels. Contractors executing small projects for multiple clients. Investors renovating large buildings for re-rental. Owners of mega-villas (over 600 square meters) with numerous doors and windows. However, if you only want to finish a single apartment or a small-to-medium villa, direct importing may not be viable due to fixed costs. It's preferable to share a container with another owner or buy locally. Second: How Much Will You Actually Save? Real 2026 Market Numbers Let's put real numbers in front of you to understand the scale of savings. Here's an average comparison between local Saudi prices and total Chinese prices (including shipping, customs, and site delivery): Interior Wooden Doors Local price: 900 to 1,800 SAR for solid wood door. Chinese price (all-inclusive): 350 to 700 SAR per door. Savings: 50 to 60%. Armored Main Doors Local price: 2,500 to 6,000 SAR. Chinese price (all-inclusive): 900 to 2,200 SAR. Savings: about 60%. Aluminum Windows (Double Tempered) Local price: 450 to 900 SAR per square meter. Chinese price: 200 to 400 SAR per square meter. Savings: 50%. Full Kitchens Local price for mid-range kitchen: 15,000 to 35,000 SAR. Chinese price: 6,500 to 14,000 SAR. Savings: about 55%. Ceramics and Marble Local price: 45 to 120 SAR per meter. Chinese price: 25 to 60 SAR per meter. Savings: 40 to 50%. Bathroom Sets Local price: 1,200 to 3,500 SAR for full set. Chinese price: 450 to 1,400 SAR. Savings: 55%. Note these percentages are approximate and depend on product type and chosen quality. For a medium-sized building project (16 apartments), net savings may exceed 280,000 SAR. This amount equals the cost of an entire additional apartment. Third: What Is Typically Imported from China? Not everything is suitable for importing. Some products have a very large price difference, while others don't justify the hassle of importing. Here's a list of the most imported items by property owners from China: Doors Interior wooden doors of all types: solid wood, engineered wood, HDF, MDF veneered with natural wood finish. Armored security main doors. Sliding doors for bathrooms or closets. French glass doors. Windows Double-glazed aluminum windows with thermal and sound insulation. Insulated UPVC plastic windows. Sliding, hinged, and tilt-turn windows. Kitchens Complete kitchen cabinets with drawers and shelves (Flat Pack ready for assembly). Marble or engineered quartz countertops. Stainless steel sinks. Pulls and accessories. Bathrooms Complete bathroom sets: toilet, basin, mixers, mirror, storage unit. Glass shower cabins. Bathtubs and jacuzzis. Floors and Walls Ceramics and porcelain in all sizes. Natural and engineered marble. Wood flooring (Laminate and SPC). Accessories and Lighting LED lighting of all types (spots, chandeliers, outdoor lighting). Door and cabinet handles. Door hinges and smart locks. Fourth: The Critical First Step: Taking Correct Measurements This is the most important step in the entire project, because a small measurement error can cost you an entire shipment that cannot be installed. Here's the correct method: How to Measure a Door? Measure door opening height from three points: right, middle, left (the floor may not be level). Measure door opening width from three points: top, middle, bottom. Measure wall depth (wall thickness) where the door frame will fit. Take the smallest measurement in each dimension. Leave a 1 cm margin less than the smallest measurement for easy installation. Standard Chinese door size: 2m x 85cm x 4cm thickness. If your openings differ significantly, you can choose: custom manufacture to your sizes (increases cost by 30-40%). Or modify openings to match standard Chinese sizes (much more economical). How to Measure a Window? Same principle as doors (height and width from three points). Specify opening type: sliding, hinged, fixed, tilt-turn. Specify opening direction (right/left) for hinged windows. Measure window height from floor to determine installation position. How to Measure a Kitchen? Draw a top-view plan of the kitchen to scale. Attach to the drawing: water pipe locations, stove opening, sink location, hood location, electrical outlet positions. Measure ceiling height. Choose suitable counter height (typically 85-90 cm). Best to have a specialized carpenter measure the kitchen for you, because a 2 cm error in kitchens is disastrous. Golden Tip Hire a local contractor or carpenter at project start to take all measurements into an organized Excel file. Pay them 1,500 to 3,000 SAR for precise measurements of an entire building. This money saves you hundreds of thousands later. Fifth: How to Find the Right Factory in China? This is where many people get lost. There are millions of factories in China, and the difference between an excellent factory and a bad one can destroy your project. Here are the official platforms to buy from: 1. Alibaba.com The largest B2B (wholesale) platform in the world. It includes over 150 million products from 200,000 Chinese factories. It has a buyer protection system called "Trade Assurance" that protects your money if fraud occurs. Always look for suppliers with: "Verified Supplier" badge (verified factory). "Gold Supplier" badge for at least 5 years. Ratings no less than 4.5 out of 5. Large number of reviews and transactions. 2. Made-in-China.com Official Chinese platform focusing on actual factories rather than traders. Good for finding specialized building materials factories. 3. Global Sources Hong Kong-based platform. Highly trusted. Features periodic online trade shows. 4. Actual Wholesale Markets in China If your project is massive (more than 3 containers), it's worth traveling yourself: Foshan city near Guangzhou: global capital of door, kitchen, and ceramics manufacturing. Contains "China Ceramics City," the largest ceramic exhibition in the world. Guangzhou city: for furniture and household items. Yiwu city: for accessories and small products. 5. Famous Trusted Chinese Factory Brands For doors: Oppolia, Tata Wood Doors, Mexin Door, Skyland Door. For kitchens: Oppein, Golden Home, ZBOM. For ceramics: Nanhai Dongpeng, Marco Polo, Guangdong Monalisa. These are well-known companies but 15 to 25% more expensive than less-famous factories with the same quality. Steps to Contact Factories Contact at least 5 to 10 factories for the same product. Send each factory: precise measurements, required quantities, material (e.g., solid oak wood), required color and finish. Request a "Proforma Invoice" from each. Request sample catalog and photos. Compare prices and specifications. Request a sample from your chosen factory (sample cost 100 to 300 USD, often deducted from the main order value). Sixth: Negotiation and Safe Payment Terms Shipping Terms You Must Know (Incoterms) EXW (Ex Works): You pick up goods from factory door in China and bear everything after that. Cheapest but hardest. FOB (Free on Board): Factory delivers to Chinese port and loads onto ship. Most famous and balanced. CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): Factory bears sea freight and insurance cost until Jeddah or Dammam port. Slightly easier and more expensive. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): Factory or agent bears everything until delivery to warehouse door. Easiest and most expensive. Suitable for beginners. Safe Payment Terms Golden rule: never pay 100% before production, no matter how trusted the factory. Common safe terms: 30% deposit upon contract signing and production start. 70% before shipping after inspecting goods at factory. For very large orders (over $100,000), preferably open a Letter of Credit through a local bank. Transfer Methods Direct bank transfer (T/T Wire Transfer): most famous and cheapest fees. Letter of Credit (L/C): for massive orders, safer but higher fees. Alibaba Trade Assurance: best for beginners, platform holds funds until goods received. Seventh: Mandatory SABER System for Importing to Saudi Arabia SABER platform (saber.sa) is the mandatory Saudi electronic platform for registering imported products before entry. Without a SABER certificate, your shipment won't leave customs, and will be returned to China at your expense. What's Required in SABER? Product Conformity Certificate (Product CoC): Issued once for the product and remains valid annually. Costs 500 to 1,000 SAR per product. Shipment Conformity Certificate (Shipment CoC): Issued for each shipment. Costs 350 to 600 SAR. Steps to Register on SABER Enter saber.sa website. Create a business account using your commercial registration. Enter Harmonized System Code (HS Code) for each product. The system automatically determines if your product is subject to technical regulations. Choose an approved conformity assessment body (such as FAHES, SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas). Upload required documents: commercial invoice, product photos, test reports from approved Chinese laboratories, product technical file. Pay fees electronically. Receive certificate within 3 to 10 working days. Important Tip for Doors, Kitchens, and Windows These products are considered "building and finishing materials" and are usually subject to technical regulations in SABER. Ask the conformity assessment body to perform inspection in China before shipping to avoid arrival problems. Don't start shipping before receiving the Shipment Conformity Certificate. Eighth: Sea Freight Step by Step Types of Sea Freight FCL (Full Container Load): You own the entire container. Most economical for large property owners. Sizes: 20-foot container (33 cubic meters, carries approximately 50 doors and 20 medium kitchen sets). 40-foot container (67 cubic meters, carries approximately 100 doors and kitchens for 40 apartments). LCL (Less than Container Load): Share container with others and pay only for your volume. Suitable for small orders or if your shipment is less than 15 cubic meters. Sea Freight Prices (April 2026) 20-foot container from Shenzhen to Jeddah: approximately $1,700 to $2,100 (6,375 to 7,875 SAR). 40-foot container from Shenzhen to Jeddah: approximately $1,900 to $2,800 (7,125 to 10,500 SAR). LCL: approximately $20 per cubic meter. Dammam port is about $100 to $300 more expensive than Jeddah port. Prices are affected by geopolitical events (such as Strait of Hormuz tensions), so request updated quotes when booking. Shipping Duration From Chinese ports to Jeddah Islamic Port: 22 to 35 days. From Chinese ports to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam: 25 to 40 days. During peak seasons (before Chinese New Year), it may extend to 45 days. Choosing the Saudi Port If your properties are in Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Taif, Abha: choose Jeddah Islamic Port. If they're in Dammam, Khobar, Jubail, Ahsa: choose King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam. Essential Shipping Documents Bill of Lading (B/L): most important document, proves your ownership of goods. Commercial Invoice: with goods details and prices. Packing List: specifies contents of each box. Certificate of Origin: proves goods are from China. SABER certificates (Product CoC + Shipment CoC). Insurance Policy: highly recommended. Ninth: Saudi Customs and FASAH Platform Why Does Customs Impose These Fees? Customs duties are not unfair to the importer but have three main objectives: protect local Saudi industry from unfair competition. Source of state income. Verify product quality and safety before entering Saudi market. Customs Duty Rates on Finishing Materials Wooden doors (HS Code 4418): mostly 5%. Aluminum windows (HS Code 7610): 5%. Kitchen cabinets (HS Code 9403): 5 to 15%. Ceramics and porcelain (HS Code 6907-6908): 12 to 15%. Natural marble (HS Code 6802): 5%. Bathroom sets (HS Code 6910): 5%. Lighting (HS Code 9405): 5%. Value Added Tax (VAT) 15% on total shipment value (goods value + shipping + insurance + customs duties). This tax must be paid. Practical Fee Calculation Example Value of doors on Chinese purchase invoice: 50,000 SAR. Sea freight and insurance cost: 8,000 SAR. Customs value (CIF): 58,000 SAR. Customs duties (5%): 2,900 SAR. Total before tax: 60,900 SAR. VAT (15%): 9,135 SAR. Customs declaration fees: 20 SAR. Final total to pay customs: 12,055 SAR. Addition to original value: approximately 24%. FASAH Platform (fasah.sa) It's the unified electronic window for customs clearance in Saudi Arabia. Submit customs declaration at least 48 hours before shipment arrival. Pay fees electronically. Link documents digitally. Types of Customs Tracks Green track: direct clearance without inspection (for trusted importers). Yellow track: additional document inspection. Red track: physical inspection of goods. Do You Need a Customs Broker? Legally: you can clear yourself through FASAH platform. Practically: using a customs broker saves time, effort, and errors. Cost: 500 to 2,000 SAR per container. This amount is worth it for speed and avoiding fines. Tenth: From Port to Property Site After customs clearance, you need to transport goods to your project site: If your properties are in the same city as the port (Jeddah or Dammam): local transport cost 500 to 1,200 SAR. Transport from Jeddah port to Riyadh: 1,500 to 2,500 SAR per truck. Transport from Jeddah port to Mecca: 400 to 700 SAR. Transport from Jeddah port to Medina: 800 to 1,400 SAR. Transport from Dammam port to Riyadh: 1,200 to 2,000 SAR. Best to specify an appropriately-sized truck (Dyna for 20-foot container, trailer for 40-foot container). Ensure the transporter uses good securing because movement during transport can break glass and ceramics. Eleventh: Local Installation and Project Completion Goods arrived at property site. Now you need local craftsmen for installation: Door Carpenter Installs 5 to 10 doors per day. Cost: 100 to 200 SAR per interior door. 300 to 500 SAR per armored main door. Make sure it's a carpenter experienced with imported doors, because some Chinese doors need minor adjustments. Aluminum Technician Installs 4 to 8 windows per day. Cost: 80 to 150 SAR per window. Ensure they use water-resistant silicone suitable for Saudi weather conditions (Outdoor Grade). Kitchen Installer Installs a full kitchen in 1 to 2 days. Cost: 800 to 2,000 SAR per full kitchen. Chinese kitchens usually come Flat Pack (dismantled in boxes), so the installer must have experience assembling them. Ceramics Master Installs approximately 15 to 25 square meters daily. Cost: 25 to 45 SAR per square meter (including mortar). Golden Tip Contact craftsmen at least two weeks before shipment arrival and show them samples or catalogs. Some won't accept Chinese products if they don't have prior experience with them. Best to try them on a small item first before entrusting the entire project. Twelfth: Common Mistakes to Avoid First mistake: Paying 100% upfront to the factory. Solution: never pay more than 30% as a first deposit. Second mistake: Not requesting a sample before the big order. Solution: request a sample even if it costs 500 SAR. Third mistake: Taking measurements quickly without precision. Solution: dedicate an entire day to taking all measurements and double-checking them. Fourth mistake: Relying on just one factory. Solution: distribute types between at least two factories (especially for large orders) to reduce risks. Fifth mistake: Neglecting shipment insurance. Solution: insurance costs 0.3 to 0.5% of goods value but protects you from massive losses in case of maritime accident. Sixth mistake: Not registering the product in SABER before shipping. Solution: extract the Product Conformity Certificate first, then start manufacturing. Seventh mistake: Being tempted by very cheap prices. Solution: if the price is more than 40% below average, there's usually fraud in material or thickness. Quality has a price. Eighth mistake: Not signing a detailed contract with the factory. Solution: the contract must specify: precise specifications, measurements, colors, packaging, delivery time, penalties for delay, payment terms. Thirteenth: Using Import Offices and Local Intermediaries If this is your first import experience, dealing with a specialized import office may save you many mistakes. The office does: visits the factory and verifies its legitimacy. Inspects goods quality at the factory before shipping (Pre-Shipment Inspection). Translation and communication with the factory. Arranges shipping and insurance. Customs clearance in Saudi Arabia. Famous Offices ShipTao: famous office in China serving the Saudi market. Waseetcn (Middle of China): specialized Saudi company. FAHES: approved body for Saudi conformity certificates. Brevo International Shipping: Saudi office. Nassers: Saudi office specialized in importing. Office Service Costs Middleman commission in China: 3 to 8% of goods value. Pre-shipment inspection: $300 to $800 per visit. Door-to-door service (DDP): adds approximately 15 to 25% to total price. Is the Middleman Worth It? For first experience: yes, without hesitation. Even if you pay 25,000 SAR to the middleman, you'll save hundreds of thousands. From the second experience onwards: you can gradually dispense with them in some steps. Fourteenth: Final Summary of the Process from Start to Finish Let's review the complete scenario with real numbers for a 16-apartment building: First month: take measurements and prepare materials list (1,500-3,000 SAR for engineer/carpenter). Contact factories via Alibaba (20-30 factories). Receive preliminary price quotes. Request samples from top 3 factories ($1,000). Register activity on SABER and FASAH. Second month: choose final factory and sign contract. Pay 30% deposit. Start manufacturing in China (45-60 days). Extract Product Conformity Certificates from SABER. Third and fourth months: manufacturing completion. Pre-shipment inspection. Pay remaining 70%. Extract Shipment Conformity Certificate. Sea freight (25-35 days). Fifth month: shipment arrives at Jeddah port. Customs clearance via FASAH. Pay customs duties and tax. Transport goods to site. Start installation with local craftsmen. Final delivery. Final Comparison (16-apartment building) Option One: fully local purchase. Total cost: approximately 650,000 SAR. Option Two: importing from China. Goods cost FOB: 280,000 SAR. Shipping and insurance: 12,000 SAR. Customs and tax (~24%): 70,080 SAR. SABER: 10,000 SAR. Local transport: 3,000 SAR. Chinese middleman: 18,000 SAR. Local installation: 65,000 SAR. Total cost: approximately 458,000 SAR. Net savings: approximately 192,000 SAR (29.5%). In larger projects (villa compounds), savings percentage may reach 40% due to economies of scale. Frequently Asked Questions Do I need a commercial registration to import for my personal buildings? Yes, for commercial quantities (one container or more) commercial registration is mandatory. Even if properties are in your personal name, extracting a commercial registration with activity "trading building materials" costing 200 to 400 SAR annually solves all issues. What if goods arrive defective or broken? If you have marine insurance: file a claim with the insurance company. If the defect is from the factory: benefit from Alibaba Trade Assurance or quality clause in the contract. Therefore, film goods immediately upon container opening with detailed video. Do Chinese goods last like local ones? Good Chinese factories produce with quality equivalent to European and sometimes better. The important thing is choosing the right factory and correct specifications. 70% of products in the Saudi market are originally Chinese anyway, but come through intermediaries who raise the price by 200% or more. What about product warranty? Most large Chinese factories offer warranty for 1 to 5 years on manufacturing defects. Make sure to document the warranty in the contract. Can I import less than a full container? Yes, through LCL (shared shipping) service. But the relative cost per cubic meter is higher. It's better for small buildings to share a container with another property owner in the same city. What's the fastest way to learn more? Attend the annual "Big 5 Saudi" exhibition in Riyadh, featuring Chinese and Saudi companies displaying their products. Or travel for a week to Canton Fair in Guangzhou (the world's largest trade show, held twice yearly). Conclusion: Smart Investment Starts with Knowledge The difference between a successful property owner and an ordinary one isn't capital, but investment intelligence. Every riyal you save in finishing your buildings is a riyal that goes directly to your net profit. Importing from China is not as complicated as some imagine, but a clear path with defined steps, and millions of traders worldwide do it daily. Start with a small project: for example, importing doors only for one of your buildings, and learn from the experience. After three or four projects, you'll become professional, and perhaps transform into a supplier for others. At Raghdan Real Estate Platform , we are committed to providing everything that enhances property owners' ability to improve their returns and reduce their burdens. We provide a comprehensive Saudi market guide, integrated property management tools, and real estate services through 15,000 licensed brokers. Before starting your next finishing project, take the time to study the options, compare, negotiate, then execute with confidence. Real estate success isn't luck, but studied decisions taken step by step.

Tags: Importing from China, Wooden doors, Aluminum windows, Imported kitchens, Ceramics, SABER platform, FASAH platform, Customs duties, Sea freight, Jeddah Islamic Port, Property owners, Building finishing, Construction cost savings, Foshan, Guangzhou