The Saudi Arabia market for Indian leather footwear
Safety footwear for construction and oil and gas sells in Saudi Arabia and the UAE; SASO conformity via SABER may apply to PPE.
Indian community in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 2,750,551 (NRI 2,747,551 + PIO 3,000) — largest NRI population worldwide.
Leather Footwear specification for Saudi Arabia orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Construction | Cemented, Blake-stitched, Goodyear-welted, strobel, injection-moulded (safety) (typical) |
| Upper | Full-grain cow/buff, calf, nubuck, suede, goat (typical) |
| Sole | Leather, rubber, TPR, PU, EVA (typical) |
| Sizes | EU 39-47 men, 35-42 women; UK/US equivalents (typical) |
| Restricted substances | Cr VI not detected (< 3 mg/kg); azo-free; PCP-free (typical buyer spec) |
| Safety | EN ISO 20345 S1/S3 or ASTM F2413 for safety shoes (typical) |
Final values are agreed per contract, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Shipping leather footwear 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 leather footwear is mainly produced or harvested Year-round; raw hides seasonal (post-Eid/ winter); Year-round; AW samples Jan-Mar, SS Jul-Sep (ASSUMPTION). 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' ~3,500-5,000 pairs, 40' HC ~7,000-10,000 pairs (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 | Indian/South Asian grocery chains, textile & garment wholesalers, government & mega-project contractors (construction materials |
| Jeddah | Jeddah Islamic Port (Red Sea); King Abdullah Port (Rabigh, ~100 km N) · King Abdulaziz Int | Red Sea importers/distributors, textile (ihram/garments), rice/spice importers |
| Mecca | Inland (~80 km); Jeddah Islamic Port · King Abdulaziz International Jeddah (JED) | ihram/prayer textiles, dates/food retail, pilgrim hotels & catering (rice |
| Medina | Inland; Yanbu Commercial Port (~220 km W) / Jeddah Islamic Port · Prince Mohammad bin Abdu | prayer textiles, pilgrim hotels & catering, date packers (packaging) |
| Khobar | King Abdulaziz Port Dammam (adjacent) · King Fahd International Dammam (DMM) | expatriate retail & HORECA, Aramco-contractor supply, Indian grocery |
Frequently asked questions
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 leather footwear from India?
Usually HS 6403. Saudi Arabia applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
What is Goodyear welting?
A construction where the upper, insole and a leather welt are stitched together and the sole is stitched to the welt. Shoes made this way are durable and can be resoled.
Can you test for chromium VI?
Yes. Each production can be tested at accredited labs against the EU limit of 3 mg/kg.
What's the minimum order?
Around 300-600 pairs per style, spread across sizes, depending on the factory.
Related guides
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