Middle East freight intelligence

A dedicated view of the China → GCC corridor, covering routes, ports and customs profiles for the six Gulf Cooperation Council states.

TL;DR: The GCC is 6 countries with a 15.75-point landed-cost spread — from Qatar/Kuwait’s ×1.05 (0% VAT + 5% duty) to Saudi Arabia’s ×1.2075 (15% VAT + 5% duty) — so the same $10,000 CIF shipment lands between $10,500 and $12,075 depending only on destination. That destination multiplier, not freight, is the biggest single cost lever: Saudi’s ×1.2075 adds $2,075 versus $1,025 in the UAE’s ×1.1025 — a $1,050 swing on the same load. Corridor freight brackets are 20ft FCL $1,500–$6,200, LCL $20–$180/CBM, and air $4.3–$11.0/kg at 3–7 days, with sea at 14–30 days — use the multiplier first, then the mode.