Importing flat glass into the Gulf during the Hormuz crisis: which ports, which surcharges, and SABER

Since March 2026, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been heavily disrupted. Jebel Ali is still operating, but containers bound for ports inside the Gulf now carry war-risk surcharges, longer and less reliable transit times, and last-minute schedule changes. Here is how Gulf glass importers can keep their projects supplied.

What is happening right now

Only a small fraction of the usual ships cross the strait each day. Shipping lines have added several layers of charges on top of the base freight: war-risk surcharge, emergency conflict surcharge, emergency fuel surcharge and, at certain periods, a peak-season surcharge. Depending on the line and the week, these extras range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per container, and sometimes cost more than the freight itself.

Which port to choose now

The simplest way to cut the risk is to discharge your container at a port outside the strait, then finish the journey by road. For a glass container, a few hours of trucking usually costs far less than the surcharges and the waiting.

• Saudi Arabia: Jeddah, on the Red Sea, is outside the strait. It serves the west of the Kingdom directly and Riyadh by road. Dammam remains exposed to the crisis.
• United Arab Emirates: Khor Fakkan and Fujairah, on the east coast, are outside the strait. Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are then a few hours away by truck.
• Oman: Sohar and Salalah are outside the strait, with road links to the UAE.
• Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain: deliveries still depend on the strait or on long road legs. Ask us for a quote with every surcharge shown separately before you commit.

Saudi Arabia: SABER for every shipment

Every shipment to Saudi Arabia needs a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) issued on the SABER platform, and since January 2026 SABER uses the 12-digit HS code aligned with Saudi customs. Check with your clearing agent whether your glass references also need a Product Certificate (PCoC). We send you the technical data sheets and documents needed before the container leaves.

How we quote during the crisis

• Clear CIF price: glass, base freight and each surcharge are shown on separate lines, so you can compare.
• Choice of port: we can quote the same container for two ports, for example Jebel Ali and Khor Fakkan, or Dammam and Jeddah.
• Mixed container: float, laminated, Low-E and mirrors in the same 20′ container, so the freight is shared across all your references.
• Short validity: surcharges change quickly, so our freight prices are valid for a short period. Confirm early to lock them.

Our advice for the coming months

1. Plan your needs for the next three months and order earlier than usual: book two to three weeks ahead.
2. Choose a discharge port outside the strait whenever your site allows it.
3. Keep a budget margin of 10 to 15 % on freight in your own selling prices.
4. Prepare your SABER and customs documents before shipment, not after arrival.

Sources: Freightos, 6 October 2026 · Maersk · SABER