Furnishing Your Apartment in Turkey: Ship Your Furniture from Saudi Arabia or Buy There? | 0551247117

You’ve bought an apartment in Istanbul, Trabzon or Bursa, or you are preparing to move to Turkey, and you are asking: do I ship my furniture from Saudi Arabia or buy there? It matters more than it seems, because shipping to Turkey is usually by sea and takes weeks, a container isn’t cheap, and Turkey’s furniture market is large and varied. In this guide we give you a formula to decide, a table for each type of furniture, Turkey-specific points such as electricity and plugs, when a full container is worth it, and the documents and timing.

The deciding formula

Compare three numbers for each piece or for the furniture as a whole: its shipping cost, the price of a replacement in Turkey, and the value that can’t be replaced. The practical rule: if the shipping cost exceeds 60% of the replacement price, buying locally is usually cheaper, except for items with personal value. The full explanation is in ship your furniture or buy new.

Turkey-specific considerations

• Electricity and plugs: Turkey runs at about 230 V and 50 Hz, with European two-round-pin plugs, while the three-pin plug is common in Saudi Arabia. You will need plug adapters, and check the rating plate of motor-driven appliances because of the frequency difference.
• Mobile phones: phones brought from abroad need to be registered in Turkey, for a fee, to keep working on local networks after a period. Check the current procedure before travelling.
• Turkish apartments: many come with a partly fitted kitchen, and spaces may differ from Saudi apartments, so measure before shipping.
• Climate: winter in northern Turkey is cold and damp, so protect wood carefully on the sea voyage.

When is a full container worth it?

Between the two is shared sea freight by the cubic meter, for quantities between personal belongings and a full container.

Timing and port

Shipping to Turkey is usually by sea, via Jeddah or Dammam, and the timing is measured in weeks between sailing, clearance and inland transport. Choosing the arrival port closest to your city saves a long inland trip — see three Turkish ports: which saves you more.

Documents

• Your passport, and proof of residence or property ownership in Turkey depending on your case.
• A detailed, numbered packing list.
• Invoices for recent appliances.
• An authorisation for the broker in Turkey.

For the destination page see shipping to Turkey.

Frequently asked questions