International shipping is a complex matter, requiring numerous procedures, arrangements, and a thorough understanding of the country's laws. Therefore, many companies turn to professional international shipping companies to ship their cargo.
In the following lines, we'll explore international shipping companies and the best international shipping companies in the Arab world, highlighting the world's most important container shipping companies. As examples, we'll mention shipping companies in the UAE and the cheapest shipping companies in Saudi Arabia.
International shipping companies
International freight companies handle the import and export of other companies' goods by air, land, or ocean. They are careful to understand international shipping policies and laws and handle all paperwork, including customs clearance.
In order for international shipping companies to successfully carry out their mission, several basic steps must be followed, which are:
- Gathering Information: The first and most essential step in the shipping process is gathering all the information and documents related to the goods to be shipped.
- Customs clearance: Customs clearance is done by collecting the shipment documents, implementing international shipping procedures, and customs clearance fees.
- Shipment tracking: After customs clearance, the shipment must be tracked until it reaches its destination on time.
The best international shipping companies in the Arab world
International shipping companies are widespread and diverse within the Arab world, varying in quality, capabilities, and prices. Some of the best international shipping companies in the Arab world include:
1. Aramex
Aramex is one of the oldest and most powerful international shipping companies in the Arab world and the world. Established in 1982 in Jordan by Fadi Ghandour, it offers a wide range of services, most notably:
- Express International Shipping
- Express local shipping service
- Integrated logistics solutions
- Warehousing and Supply Chain Management
- Air, sea and land freight
- Shop & Ship Service
- Provides technology for tracking shipments
2. SMSA Express Company
A Saudi shipping company, founded in 1994, it has become one of the most important international shipping companies in the Arab world and the world, providing its services in more than 230 countries worldwide. Among the most prominent services it provides are:
- Logistics services for citizens in delivering parcels internationally and domestically.
- Land, air and sea freight.
- customs clearance.
- E-commerce solutions.
- Healthcare services.
- Private delivery channel.
- Mailroom management.
3. Salasah Company
she Saudi shipping companyIt is considered one of the best shipping companies in the Arab world, and is considered a project for technical services, logistics services, and graphic analysis. Its most prominent services include:
- Receive products from merchants.
- Storage services.
- Processing orders.
- Integrated shipping services.
- Return shipment management.
4. TNT Company
The best international express mail shipping company in the world and the Arab world, it's also one of the best e-commerce shipping companies, operating in more than 200 countries.
It is considered one of the largest transportation and shipping companies in the world. The company's headquarters are located in the Netherlands. TNT offers many services, including:
- My TNT service enables customers to easily import products from other countries.
- All the distinguished shipping services that meet all different needs.
- Land, sea or air freight service.
- Import and export service within the country.
- Import and export service from within the country to abroad and vice versa.
5. UPS
One of the world's most famous shipping companies, founded in 1907 in the United States, it began as a courier company and expanded and grew to become one of the world's most important shipping, parcel delivery, and supply chain management companies, in addition to being one of the best e-commerce shipping companies.
The most prominent services provided by UPS include the following:
- International shipping services.
- Shipment tracking service.
- Electronic invoicing system.
- Individual and small business shipping.
- Commercial shipping service for large and medium-sized companies.
- Consumer goods and retail services.
- Air and land freight.
6. FedEx
FedEx is at the top of the list of the best international shipping companies in the world and the Arab world. Founded in 1973 in the United States, it offers many distinguished services, including:
- Online shipping, invoice management and reporting service.
- International shipping and express shipping service.
- Scheduling and managing inquiries.
- Supply services for packing and shipping.
- Shipment tracking service.
7. DHL
It is a German company founded in 1969. It is the largest logistics company in the world that provides international shipping and express shipping services. It offers many services, including:
- My DHL service for tracking and managing individual shipments.
- Shipping parcels and documents.
- Freight forwarding service.
- Air, land and sea freight.
- Rail transport services in Europe and Asia.
- Same day shipping service
- Shipment tracking service.
The world's most important container shipping companies
These companies specialize in shipping and transporting containers via shipping lines. They are classified according to the size of the containers and the number of ships owned by the company. The most important container shipping companies in the world are as follows:
1. APM-Maersk Group
Founded in 1904 in Denmark, Maersk is one of the world's largest container shipping companies, owning over 705 container ships.
2. MSC Company
Founded in 1970, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is headquartered in Switzerland and is one of the largest shipping companies in the world, owning approximately 550 container ships.
3. COSCO Group
A Chinese state-owned company, known as China Ocean Shipping Company, owns 500 container ships and serves approximately 40 countries.
4. CMA-CGM Group
Founded in 1978, the French company offers services on more than 150 routes worldwide and owns more than 560 container ships.
5. Hapag-Lloyd
One of the most important and well-known international shipping companies, it was founded in 1970 through the merger of the American Hamburg Line and the German North Lloyd Line. The company owns more than 235 container ships.
6. Ocean-ONE Alliance
It is a Japanese alliance established in 2017. Its headquarters are in Singapore, and its primary goal is to enhance services in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The alliance owns 218 container ships.
7. Evergreen Marine Corporation
One of the world's largest shipping companies, founded in 1968, headquartered in Taiwan, with numerous offices worldwide, owns more than 95 container ships.
8. Hyundai Merchant Marine Company
An integrated logistics company based in South Korea, it is one of the world's largest shipping companies and plays a vital role in the development of the Korean economy. It owns approximately 72 container ships.
9. Yang Ming Marine Transport Company
It is one of the oldest shipping companies in the world, founded in 1972 in Taiwan. It provides shipping and transportation services in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australia, and owns 92 container ships.
10. Zim Integrated Shipping Services
It is an international shipping company established in 1945 and is considered one of the largest shipping companies in the world, owning approximately 80 container ships.
Shipping companies in the UAE
Shipping companies are widespread in the UAE and are divided into two types:
local shipping companies
1. Arabital Shipping Company
Founded in 1989, it is one of the oldest shipping and import companies in the UAE, offering a wide range of services, most notably:
- Shipping from within the UAE to outside it.
- Receiving shipments at its warehouses in various countries and then shipping them to the UAE.
- A member of the Dubai Import Authority.
2. Emirates Inflatable Boats Libra Est. Libra
It is a local company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Ras Al Khaimah. It is known for its reasonable prices and offers shipping services to and from the UAE, including the United States, Europe, and Arab countries.
Local branches of international companies
1. DHL
One of the world's leading international shipping companies, it offers a wide range of domestic and international services through its local branch in the UAE.
2. Aramex
One of the oldest international shipping companies offering its services in many Arab countries, it provides a wide range of services in the UAE, the most important of which are:
- Shop & Ship Service
- International shipping services.
- Customs clearance of goods.
- Shipment consolidation service for merchants.
3. FedEX UAE
One of the most famous international shipping companies in the UAE and the Arab world, it offers many distinguished and fast services, such as:
- International shipping to and from the UAE.
- Shipping from online sites.
4. Boxit4me
It offers a special service similar to Shop & Ship, where it collects and stores shipments for merchants in its warehouses in different countries.
The cheapest shipping company in Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become a leading country in the field of international shipping of various types (land, air, and sea). Therefore, there are a large number of competing shipping companies that offer the best deals. Some of the cheapest shipping companies in Saudi Arabia are:
1. Alma Express Company
Alma Express is considered one of the cheapest shipping companies in Saudi Arabia, and it offers:
Parcel shipping services within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company also offers tracking services worldwide. The company also offers special offers and discounts throughout the year.
2. Naqel Express Company
One of the cheapest air transport companies in Saudi Arabia, it was founded in 1993 and offers international and domestic freight and cargo transportation services.
3. Al Dhafer Wings Company
One of the cheapest air and sea transportation companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its headquarters is in Jeddah and it has several branches throughout the Kingdom, providing the best shipping and unloading services.
4. Zajil Company
The most popular and cheapest shipping company in Saudi Arabia, it has approximately 28 branches across the Kingdom. Founded in 1999, it offers a variety of safe freight transportation services within various Arab countries.
- DHL
- Aramex Saudi Arabia
- FedEx Express
- Sai Company
- FDS Company
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