Shipping, Customs & Import Document Translation
Goods enter the Eastern Province through three main gates: King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, King Fahd Causeway customs for trucks coming from and through Bahrain, and the Jubail ports serving industry. At each gate the paperwork is examined before the cargo. A certificate of origin in a language the officer cannot read, or a commercial invoice that does not match the packing list, can mean days of waiting. At Almadani Translation’s Al Khobar branch we provide shipping document translation for customs and import files, certified, stamped and signed, with a second translator matching figures and quantities across documents.
Orders open 24/7
Who we translate shipping documents for
- Importers and traders in Dammam and Khobar buying from China, Turkey, India, Europe and beyond
- Customs brokers who need a fast translation of a missing document in a client file
- Freight and logistics companies around the port and logistics zone
- Factories in the Dammam and Jubail industrial cities importing raw materials, spare parts and equipment
- Exporters who need documents in the destination country’s language
- Road hauliers running between the Kingdom, Bahrain and the Gulf
We translate documents only; we do not provide customs clearance or represent clients before customs.
Documents we translate
| Document | What we watch |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Quantities, the prices stated on the invoice and delivery terms as in the original |
| Packing list | Weights, dimensions and package counts consistent with the invoice |
| Certificate of origin | Country, exporter, issuing body and its stamps |
| Bill of lading | Shipper, consignee, ports of loading and discharge, container numbers |
| Conformity certificates and test reports | Standard and specification numbers as stated |
| Health and phytosanitary certificates | For food and agricultural goods, with exact scientific names |
| Halal certificates | Certifying body, scope and validity date |
| Marine insurance policies | Cover, exclusions and policy numbers |
| Letters of credit | Terms, required documents and deadlines |
| Product catalogues and ingredient lists | Technical specifications and ingredients |
Where shipments get stuck because of translation
Mismatches between documents
The invoice shows one package count, the packing list another, and a translation repeats the error without flagging it. We translate the original faithfully, but if the reviewer notices a discrepancy between two documents in the same order, we point it out before delivery so you can check it with the supplier.
Description of goods
An exact description affects customs classification. We translate the description as written, without generalising or shortening it, and leave classification to clearance specialists.
Scientific and technical names
Food and cosmetic ingredients, chemicals and spare parts have precise names that allow no approximation.
Stamps and attestations
A certificate of origin attested by a chamber of commerce or an embassy carries stamps that must be noted in the translation.
Supplier languages
We regularly receive shipping documents in Chinese, Turkish, Italian, German, French, Korean and Spanish as well as English. We translate from and into any language, including African languages, for importers of coffee, sesame and agricultural produce from East and West Africa.
Turnaround: the cargo is at the port
Documents for a held shipment cannot wait. We deliver short documents the same day or at the time confirmed with your quote, with an extra fee for urgent work. Send the documents on WhatsApp at any time and we start as soon as you confirm. Urgent translation
How to order
- Send the full set of shipment documents to WhatsApp +966 56 944 2222, including those that need no translation, so the reviewer can cross-check.
- Specify which documents need translating, the language and the receiving authority.
- Approve the cost and delivery time.
- Receive the translation electronically to upload or forward to your broker, with stamped printed copies delivered or collected from the Al Khobar branch.
Al Khobar branch
SQ Towers, Cooperation Council Road, Al Khuzama, Al Khobar, Sunday to Thursday, 10:00 to 16:00. We serve Dammam, Al Khobar and Dhahran and do not have an office in Dammam, so most importers and brokers send their documents on WhatsApp. Contact us
Why Almadani Translation
- Since 1982, license No. 64, more than 20,000 clients
- Second-translator review that cross-checks figures between documents
- Stamped, signed translations, with a non-disclosure agreement on request
- Listed on the translator lists of the British Embassy and the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh (acceptance is decided by the receiving authority)
Shipping document translation FAQ
Do you clear shipments through customs?
No. We are a certified translation office and translate documents only; clearance is handled by your customs broker.
My supplier sent the invoice in Chinese. Can you translate it?
Yes, from Chinese and other languages into Arabic or English.
Will you correct errors in the supplier’s documents?
We do not change the original; the translation reflects what it says. If we spot a discrepancy between documents, we tell you so you can ask the supplier for a correction.
The shipment is at the port now. When will I get the translation?
Send the documents immediately and we will confirm the delivery time with your quote.
Related services
Shipment papers that are clear before they reach the officer. Send them now on WhatsApp