The Saudi Arabia market for Indian hotel & restaurant supplies
Hotel and catering expansion in Saudi Arabia and the UAE; HoReCa distributors consolidate Indian supply. India-UAE CEPA (in force 1 May 2022) gives preferential duty against a CEPA certificate of origin.
Indian community in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 2,750,551 (NRI 2,747,551 + PIO 3,000) — largest NRI population worldwide.
Hotel & Restaurant Supplies specification for Saudi Arabia orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel | 304 / 18-10 for cutlery and buffet; 201 for budget lines (typical) |
| Copperware | Hammered copper with stainless or tin lining for food contact (typical) |
| Gastronorm | GN 1/1 to 1/9, depths 20-200 mm per EN 631 (typical) |
| Ceramics | Stoneware/porcelain, lead- and cadmium-safe glazes (typical) |
| Chafing dishes | 6-9 L, fuel or electric, roll-top or lift-top (typical) |
Final values are agreed per contract and checked against the Saudi Arabia requirements below, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Import requirements in Saudi Arabia
| Requirement | Regulator | Document / registration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
General guidance as of November 2026. Confirm with your customs broker or the regulator before shipping. Final regulatory decisions require professional verification.
Shipping hotel & restaurant supplies to Saudi Arabia
Typical sea transit Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → Dammam: 6-10 days. Often via Jebel Ali transhipment; FASAH/SABER docs must be in place before arrival
Supply window: Indian hotel & restaurant supplies is mainly produced or harvested Year-round; Year-round; hotel pre-opening & renovation cycles. Allow 6-10 days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and Saudi Arabia customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' ~25-30 cbm, 40' HC ~60-68 cbm (volume-limited).
Quoted on FOB, FCA, CIF, DAP; CIF Dammam is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in Saudi Arabia
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | Inland; King Abdulaziz Port Dammam (east) / Jeddah Islamic Port (west); Riyadh Dry Port ra | government & mega-project contractors (construction materials, HORECA, textile & garment wholesalers |
| Jeddah | Jeddah Islamic Port (Red Sea); King Abdullah Port (Rabigh, ~100 km N) · King Abdulaziz Int | pilgrim HORECA & catering, Red Sea importers/distributors, pharma |
| Mecca | Inland (~80 km); Jeddah Islamic Port · King Abdulaziz International Jeddah (JED) | pilgrim hotels & catering (rice, pulses, spices |
| Medina | Inland; Yanbu Commercial Port (~220 km W) / Jeddah Islamic Port · Prince Mohammad bin Abdu | pilgrim hotels & catering, date packers (packaging), prayer textiles |
| Dammam | King Abdulaziz Port, Dammam (Arabian Gulf; largest Saudi Gulf-coast port) · King Fahd Inte | oil & gas contractors (industrial supplies, HORECA, valves |
| Jubail | Jubail Commercial Port & King Fahd Industrial Port · King Fahd International Dammam (DMM) | petrochemical plant contractors & MRO suppliers, industrial canteens/HORECA, industrial chemicals/catalysts |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import hotel & restaurant supplies into Saudi Arabia?
Key requirements: 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). Your customs broker confirms the full list for your HS line.
How long does shipping from India to Saudi Arabia take?
Typically 6-10 days port-to-port from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to Dammam, plus 5–10 days for stuffing, export clearance and destination clearance (estimates).
Does Saudi Arabia have a trade agreement with India?
No bilateral FTA. India–GCC FTA: terms of reference finalised, negotiations ongoing [S7]. Saudi applies GCC common external tariff (5% most goods) A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
Which HS code applies to hotel & restaurant supplies from India?
Usually HS 732393. Saudi Arabia applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
Is copper serveware safe for food?
Only when lined with stainless steel or tin on food-contact surfaces. Unlined copper is decorative.
Can you supply a complete hotel F&B package?
Yes. Buffet ware, serveware, cutlery, crockery and glassware from different clusters, consolidated into one shipment.
Do you meet gastronorm sizes?
Yes, GN pans in standard EN 631 sizes and depths.
Related guides
Request a quote: hotel & restaurant supplies to Saudi Arabia
Tell us grade, quantity and your port in Saudi Arabia. We quote CIF/CFR with the destination documents listed above.