It doesn’t really matter if you are relocating, or you want to start your business overseas, it’s not that easy to transport things all the way there. For sure, countries in the Middle East such as Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and other have thriving economies, and they are welcoming foreign goods. But still, you need to know things about exporting goods to the Middle East before you try to do anything. There are plenty of different rules in America and around the Middle East. And you need to be aware of all of them. This is not something small that you are trying to accomplish. For this process, you need the most perfect plan ever. And remember that you have to get an accurate moving estimate. It is an overseas transport, and it can cost a lot.
You need to know the list of things that are allowed and forbidden when it comes to exporting goods to the Middle East
You should know that no matter to which country you want to export goods, they all have their own lists of rules. If you don’t check this out, then you made a terrible mistake before you even started anything. So, to avoid all kinds of problems and terrible situations, realize what you can export. Every country has products that are considered regulated. And normally, they are determined according to the type of a certain product. Also, the products are identified by HS/Commodity Codes. As for the goods that are not allowed, there are two categories. Prohibited goods, and exempted products. Exempted products normally don’t need any certification in addition to entering the country. But, on the other hand, prohibited goods are not allowed in the country, no matter what the circumstances are.
Since your main target for the goods is the Middle East, you should know which programs are for which country. For instance, when it comes to Saudi Arabia, it is SASO Certificate of Conformity. For Iraq is ICIGI, for Qatar is QGOSM, and for Kuwait is KUCAS. As for Lebanon that would be IRI, for Kurdistan is KSQCA, and for Syria is the Syrian product conformity assessment and verification of price and origin. However, it is very necessary to consult experts in this field before you decide what to do. Saudi Arabia is very different from America, and you need to know everything that you can.
It is very important that you have all the customs documents
When you are shipping goods to the Middle East, you need to know that you have all the customs documents. If you don’t have them, and you don’t have some special certifications, import and export won’t be even allowed. And what is also important is that all the customs documents need to go through multiple stages of validation. In situations like these, it is very good to have a customs broker. They can tell you if everything that you have is valid, or if you do have everything that you need. You need to avoid procrastination, and you must finish all the documents on time. If you don’t your entire plan will be useless.
When you are exporting goods to the Middle East, you need to be prepared for some problems as well
If exporting was that easy and came with no problems, everyone would do it all the time. You need to prepare yourself for some issues that can happen during this process. Of course, it is not guaranteed that it will happen. But it is better to be prepared, just in case. Since you are not from the Middle East, and you basically won’t know that much about the buyer to whom you are exporting goods, it can happen that that person is on a denied party list. There are certain individuals, companies, and organizations that are simply forbidden to do business with. When you are a Middle Eastern, you won’t have any problems with that. But as an American or Canadian if you try to export goods to these people, you will be prohibited, without a doubt.
To be certain that you will avoid this problem, you can ask Four Winds KSA if they are familiar with the list of prohibited buyers. They will be in charge of your goods from the US up to the Middle East. And they should be aware of these facts. Talk with them and discuss what your best options are.
Decide where you want to ship your goods
Even though all these countries around the Middle East are considered very similar, or even the same, it is not like that. In some countries, it is very difficult to ship anything, while in others it is very easy. If it is possible for you to choose the country to export the goods to, you should choose one of the easiest choices. For instance, in United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman it is fairly simple to ship whatever you need to ship. And not only that. When it comes to UAE, many people choose to do business with them because the tariffs are very low. With Oman, it is easier because they only require just a few documents.
Think about life in Saudi Arabia as well
Exporting goods to Saudi Arabia probably made you think about living there. And that is normal, you should consider it. Or at least get informed more. Many people realize moving there because of the amazing opportunities countries can offer you. The living standard is very high, and the costs of living are very low. Over there, you can easily have a decent life, and you can be very satisfied. Moving to a new city is good for you, that is for sure. But you must decide this on your own. Put together all the advantages and disadvantages, so you can make a final decision. Keep in mind that even though financially and economically you will be amazed, it won’t be the same with the weather. Even in the middle of the winter, you can experience extremely high temperatures. Preparing for something like that is a must.
If you believe that those temperatures are something that you can live with, then you should consider this option and opportunity even closer. Keep also in mind that if you need at any point to send some goods to the US, you can do it faster and easier from the Middle East. You can have many opportunities and adventures if you choose that you want to relocate all the way there. Discuss it with your family, and together make a decision. You don’t have to do it right away. This opportunity will be always open.
When you are exporting goods to the Middle East, you need to think about tariffs as well
Each country has its own customs, and they are all different. That is why choosing a place where you want to export your goods is very important. Some countries offer very low tariffs, while other countries have them very high. Normally it all depends on the value of the goods. The higher the value, the more expensive the tariff will be. And there is nothing to do in addition to changing that. When it comes to the countries in the Middle East, Iran has the highest tariffs that equal to 20.9. So, if it is possible that you avoid exporting to Iran, it will be better for you.
Also, keep in mind that there are countries that have a free trade agreement with the country from where you are shipping things. The United States of America has Jordan, Israel, Morocco, Bahrain, and Oman on this list. So, the best option is to ship your goods to one of those countries. If you have the means to do it, you are encouraged to do so.
Remember not to give up
As you know, exporting goods to the Middle East is not that easy. There are some obstacles that you need to overcome. But you can’t let that prevent you from accomplishing your dream and fulfilling your obligations. Contact movers that are responsible for this and prepare your shipment and documents. Do everything in order and make it easier on yourself. It will be tough, but in the end, it will be worth it. Be prepared in advance for everything and do what you need to do. Also, if one day you wish to relocate to the Middle East, you will have some connections and it will be easier.
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this article! It is the little changes that will make the most significant changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!