USA → Saudi Arabia
Export Horses from the USA to Saudi Arabia
Racing, endurance and breeding stock into the Kingdom, where demand has grown faster than any other market we serve.
- Arrives
- RUH
- Departs
- LAX / DFW
- Flight time
- ~19–21 hours via a Gulf or European hub
- Plan ahead
- 60–120 days
Riyadh King Khalid Intl
Or whichever US gateway suits the animals
Saudi Arabia has grown faster than any other market we serve over the last two years, driven by the Saudi Cup — the world's richest horse race — and a rapidly expanding base of private owners, endurance riders and breeding operations across the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture verifies every health certificate independently before an import permit is issued, so the paperwork has to be right the first time. We build the schedule around that check rather than around the flight.
Regulatory
What a Saudi Arabia export requires
These are the constraints that shape the timeline. The binding requirements are whatever Saudi Arabia has in force on your day of export — we confirm the current position as the first step of every quote.
Certificate verified through VEHCS
Horses travel with an original, printed APHIS-endorsed health certificate. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) independently verifies that certificate inside APHIS's Veterinary Export Health Certification System before issuing the import permit — an extra confirmation step most of our other lanes don't have.
Import permit first
The importer's permit has to be in hand, verified against the endorsed certificate, before the horse can be scheduled to fly. We check current status before quoting, the same way we do for any lane where eligibility isn't static.
Pre-export isolation and testing
Animals are held at a USDA-approved facility while a USDA-accredited veterinarian completes the required panel and prepares the International Health Certificate for USDA APHIS endorsement.
Air stables and handling
Horses travel on the main deck in air stables, with a groom flying the full sector. We brief the receiving agent in Riyadh in advance so the ground handoff is arranged before the aircraft lands.
Official source
USDA APHIS publishes the International Regulations for Animal Exports (IRegs) — the U.S. government’s understanding of Saudi Arabia's current import requirements.
By species
What we handle into Saudi Arabia
Horses
Racing, breeding and competition horses moved door to door — barn in the United States to barn in Asia-Pacific or the Gulf.
Breeding Livestock
Cattle, swine, sheep, goats and poultry genetics moved as single consignments or as a recurring program.
Exotic & Zoo Animals
Zoo collections, wildlife parks and private exotic consignments — including CITES-listed species — moved with the permitting handled.
FAQ
Exporting to Saudi Arabia: common questions
Can you export horses from the USA to Saudi Arabia?
Yes — we have direct experience and working relationships in the Kingdom. We confirm current protocol status for your specific horse before anything is scheduled.
How much does it cost to ship a horse to Riyadh?
Ask us for a written figure against your specific horse and date. Pricing here depends more than usual on current routing and permit timing, so we don't publish a general range the way we do for our longer-established Asia-Pacific lanes.
Is there a nonstop flight to Riyadh?
No — Riyadh typically routes via a Gulf or European hub. We plan the transit stop as part of the welfare plan, the same way we do for Southeast Asia lanes without nonstop service.
Why has Saudi demand grown so much?
The Saudi Cup has pulled international racing investment into the Kingdom, and that demand has extended into endurance riding and private ownership well beyond the racetrack. It's the fastest-growing market we currently serve.
Does someone travel with the horse?
Yes. A professional groom flies with the horse on every international shipment we handle, keeping it hydrated and with forage available, and manages the offload at the destination.
Do you have people on the ground in Saudi Arabia?
We work with agents in the Kingdom who handle the destination side — customs presentation and the handoff to the importer or racing yard. We stay involved through arrival.
Other lanes
More destinations we run
UAE
Export Horses from the USA to the UAE
Qatar
Export Horses from the USA to Qatar
Hong Kong
Export Horses from the USA to Hong Kong
Moving animals to Saudi Arabia?
Send us the species, the number of animals, the origin and your target date. We confirm whether the protocol is currently open and come back with a written quote at no charge. If we can't do the shipment, we'll email you and say why.