In short:
- A bill of lading proves the carrier received the goods and names the shipper, consignee and cargo.
- ZATCA’s customs procedures guide states that the importer must translate foreign invoices and documents into Arabic.
- It is best to translate the B/L together with the commercial invoice and packing list so terms and figures match.
- We take shipping documents on WhatsApp 24/7. Urgent service is available for an extra fee.
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam is one of the Kingdom’s largest Gulf ports, handling cargo for thousands of businesses in Dammam, Al Khobar, Jubail and Al Ahsa. Every shipment’s paper trail starts with one key document: the bill of lading. When it and its supporting documents are in a foreign language, they may need an Arabic translation as part of clearance.
This article covers what a bill of lading is, which fields need special care in a bill of lading translation, and how to coordinate with your customs broker so a document does not hold up your container.
What is a bill of lading?
A bill of lading (B/L) is issued by the ocean carrier or its agent when it takes goods for shipment. It does three jobs at once:
- A receipt confirming the carrier received the goods in the stated condition and quantity.
- Evidence of the contract of carriage between shipper and carrier.
- A document of title. Many types are used to collect the goods at the destination port and can be transferred by endorsement.
There are several types, including original ocean bills, telex releases and house bills issued by freight forwarders. The type affects how you collect the cargo, but the translation task is the same: an exact rendering of everything on the document.
Key fields and what needs care
The parties
- Shipper: the exporter or seller.
- Consignee: the importer, or “to order” of a bank under a letter of credit.
- Notify party: whoever the carrier informs on arrival.
Company names stay in Latin script, with the Saudi importer’s Arabic name added exactly as on its Commercial Registration if requested. Any difference in the importer’s name between the B/L and the CR is worth resolving before arrival.
Voyage details
Vessel name, voyage number, port of loading, port of discharge and shipping date are reproduced exactly. Vessel names are never translated.
Description of goods
This is the most sensitive part. The description on the B/L should match the commercial invoice and packing list. If the invoice says “industrial pump spare parts” and the B/L says “metal parts”, translation cannot fix the discrepancy; it reproduces it faithfully, and customs may ask about it.
Marks, numbers and weights
Marks and numbers, package counts, gross and net weights, volume, container and seal numbers. We check these twice, because one wrong digit can lead to questions at inspection.
What the customs guide says
The commercial import procedures guide published by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) states that the importer must translate foreign invoices and documents into Arabic. Core documents for an import declaration include the commercial invoice, the bill of lading and the certificate of origin, plus any permits specific to the goods.
Day to day, your customs broker is the best person to tell you which documents your particular shipment needs translated before the declaration goes onto the FASAH platform. Speak to them first, then send us what they specify.
Why translate the B/L with the invoice and packing list?
Customs officers read the documents together. If each is translated in a different place, one item can appear under three different Arabic names. When we translate the full set through our shipping and customs document translation service:
- Item names are consistent across invoice, packing list and B/L.
- Quantities, weights and values are cross-checked.
- We flag discrepancies in the originals so you can fix them with your supplier before arrival.
- A second translator checks every file before it is stamped.
Timing matters
Every extra day a container sits at the port may mean storage charges. Send documents for translation as soon as your supplier sends them, not after the vessel arrives. If they reach you late, ask for urgent certified translation, which carries an extra fee shown in your quote.
Shipping documents often arrive at awkward hours because of time differences with suppliers in Asia and Europe, so WhatsApp is open for orders 24/7. You receive a quote and delivery time, then the stamped electronic copy. Printed copies are collected from our Al Khobar branch, Sunday to Thursday.
Step by step
- Ask your broker which documents need translating.
- Send the B/L, invoice, packing list and certificate of origin as clear PDFs on WhatsApp.
- Tell us your company’s Arabic name as on the CR and the expected arrival date.
- Approve the quote and delivery time.
- Forward the stamped e-copy to your broker.
Not everything is in English
We regularly receive invoices and certificates in Chinese, Turkish, Italian, German and Korean, and translate them straight into Arabic. Send the document as you received it. If you are also building a supplier file for a major buyer, see our article on Aramco vendor registration, or contact us with any question.
FAQ
Do you handle customs clearance?
No. We provide certified translation only. Clearance is the job of a licensed customs broker.
Is the electronic copy enough?
You receive a stamped electronic copy on WhatsApp, and many steps are now electronic. Ask your broker whether a printed copy is needed.
Do you translate from Chinese and Turkish?
Yes, and from virtually any language into Arabic.
Is our shipment data kept confidential?
Yes. We can sign a non-disclosure agreement for companies on request.
Note: Customs procedures and document requirements change. ZATCA and your customs broker are the reference. This article is general guidance only.
Written by the Almadani Translation Team · Information last reviewed: October 2026