Eastern Province at a glance
- Sea transit from India
- 6-10 days, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → DammamEstimate
Where basmati rice buyers are in Eastern Province
| City | Gateway | Matching buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Dammam | King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam (Arabian Gulf; largest Saudi Gulf-coast port) · King Fahd Inte | HORECA, Indian grocery/food distributors |
| Jubail | Jubail Commercial Port & King Fahd Industrial Port · King Fahd International Dammam (DMM) | industrial canteens/HORECA |
| Khobar | King Abdulaziz Port Dammam (adjacent) · King Fahd International Dammam (DMM) | expatriate retail & HORECA, Indian grocery |
Buyer sectors are our market assessment from city economic profiles; they show where demand is documented, not named customers.
Basmati Rice for Eastern Province: typical specification
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Average grain length (raw, 1121) | 8.30-8.40 mm (typical commercial); FSSAI basmati identity standard minimum 6.61 mm |
| Average grain length (1509 / Pusa / traditional) | 7.8-8.2 mm / 7.0-7.5 mm / 6.8-7.2 mm (typical) |
| Elongation ratio on cooking | about 2.0 or more for 1121 (typical); FSSAI minimum 1.7 |
| Moisture | ≤ 12.5-13% (typical) |
| Broken grains | ≤ 1-2% for premium grades; 5% for economy grades (typical) |
Agreed per contract and confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Wholesale and trade hubs in Eastern Province
Distribution points where imported goods are traded in the province:
- King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam Industrial City 1-3 (MODON), Dammam central vegetable market, Al Khobar souks, Jubail-Dammam corridor (Dammam)
- metro (Dammam-Khobar-Dhahran) 2,638,166 per Wikipedia 2022 table (Dammam)
- Jubail Industrial City (Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu), Jubail Commercial Port, Jubail 2 industrial expansion, PlasChem Park (Jubail)
- Al Khobar Corniche retail, Rakah / Thuqbah trading areas, Dammam-Khobar industrial belt (Khobar)
Clearing basmati rice into Saudi Arabia
| Requirement | Regulator | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Importer & product registration | SFDA | Ghad establishment registration (5 yrs) + product registration |
| Clearance documents | SFDA via FASAH | CoO, invoice (qty, expiry, batch), B/L, health cert, phytosanitary cert, halal cert, import permit (poultry/fish/eggs) |
| Arabic labelling | SFDA | SFDA.FD/GSO 9; GSO 150-1 expiry; SFDA.FD 2233 nutrition |
Saudi Arabia rules apply nationally; Eastern Province has no separate import regime for this product in our data. Confirm with your customs broker.
Frequently asked questions
Which cities in Eastern Province buy basmati rice from India?
Dammam (HORECA, Indian grocery/food distributors); Jubail (industrial canteens/HORECA); Khobar (expatriate retail & HORECA, Indian grocery).
Which port serves Eastern Province for shipments from India?
King Abdulaziz Port Dammam and Jubail Commercial Port & King Fahd Industrial Port, about 6-10 days at sea from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) (estimate). Inland delivery to other cities in the province is by road on DAP terms.
What does a buyer in Eastern Province need to import basmati rice?
Importer & product registration (SFDA); Clearance documents (SFDA via FASAH); Arabic labelling (SFDA). The importer of record handles clearance.
Can you deliver to more than one city in Eastern Province?
Yes. Split deliveries from one container are possible on DAP terms through partner forwarders, priced per drop.
What is the difference between 1121 steam, sella and raw basmati?
All three are the same variety processed differently: raw is milled directly, steam rice is steamed before milling, and sella is fully parboiled (soaked, steamed and dried), giving a firmer golden or creamy grain that suits Gulf cooking.
What grain length should I specify for 1121 basmati?
Buyers typically specify an average grain length of 8.30-8.40 mm for premium 1121; the FSSAI basmati identity standard sets a regulatory minimum of 6.61 mm for any basmati.
Related
Basmati Rice for Eastern Province: request a quote
Quantity, grade and delivery city are enough to start.