For UAE & Saudi Arabia importers and wholesalers
SPC & Vinyl Flooring for the Gulf — Factory Direct to Jebel Ali and Jeddah
Nearly all SPC flooring sold in the UAE and Saudi Arabia is manufactured in China - the Gulf cluster of importers and wholesalers buys it by the container and resells to villas, retail chains and fit-out contractors. We are the Changzhou factory on the other side of that trade: container-direct pricing, Gulf-grade specifications, and the documents your customs process needs.
Why SPC keeps winning Gulf renovation business
The villa refit cycle is constant
Gulf residential leases run 2-3 years, and landlords refit between tenants on a budget and a deadline. A floating click floor that installs in days - with no demolition - is the product that fits that cycle.
It goes straight over the existing tile
Gulf villas are tiled wall to wall. SPC installs directly over sound, level tile with a 1.5 mm IXPE underlay: no stripping, no dust, no adhesive, days instead of weeks. This one capability closes renovation deals tile can never win.
Built for AC interiors and sand
Waterproof rigid core for kitchens, maid's rooms and ground floors; a 0.5 mm wear layer takes sand dragged in on sandals and daily family traffic; the surface cleans with a damp mop - no polishing crews.
Large formats and herringbone looks
Wide 1525×230 mm planks and herringbone-look decors match what UAE villa buyers and hotel fit-outs are asking for now - all photographed as real boards, never renders.
Import facts at a glance
- HS code
- 3918.10 (floor coverings of plastics / vinyl, SPC)
- Duty
- GCC common external tariff, typically 5% - confirm the 12-digit code with your broker
- VAT
- UAE 5% · Saudi Arabia 15% (levied at customs)
- Saudi clearance
- SABER mandatory: annual Product CoC + per-shipment CoC; importer registers, we supply test reports
- UAE clearance
- Conformity per ECAS where applicable - confirm with your broker
- Transit
- Shanghai → Jebel Ali ≈ 18-24 days · → Jeddah ≈ 22-28 days
- Incoterms
- FOB Shanghai standard; CIF Jebel Ali / Jeddah / Dammam quoted on request
Trade terms
- Product lines
- SPC rigid core, laminate (F/Classic/M series), skirting, underlay
- Thickness
- SPC 3.5 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 mm - laminate 8 / 10 / 12 mm
- Wear layer
- 0.3 / 0.5 / 0.55 mm (0.5 mm recommended for Gulf sand & traffic)
- Plank sizes
- 1220×182 mm and large-format 1525×230 mm
- Click system
- Unilin / Valinge
- Underlay
- Pre-attached IXPE 1.0 / 1.5 mm optional
- Waterproof
- 100% waterproof through the SPC core
- Certifications
- CE (EN 14041), FloorScore, ISO 9001, ISO 14001
- Warranty
- Up to 15 years residential
- MOQ
- 500 sqm per design, mixed designs per container
- Quotes within 12 hours; lead time 25-35 days from deposit
- Free samples in 5 working days - courier refunded on the first container order
- OEM/ODM: custom decors, embossing, branded cartons and labels
- In-line QC to AQL 2.5 with per-batch reports; SGS/TUV/Intertek inspection welcome
- Documents: commercial invoice, packing list, B/L, certificate of origin, test reports
What Gulf buyers actually load
The volume specification for villa programs is 5 mm core with a 0.5 mm wear layer and pre-attached 1.0 mm IXPE - enough rigidity over tiled subfloors, enough surface for sand and family traffic. Retail chains and hospitality fit-outs step up to 6 mm with 0.5 mm, or 0.55 mm for mall and F&B floors. Decor-wise, light oaks, warm greiges and large-format planks move fastest in the UAE, with herringbone-look decors as the premium line; Saudi programs lean warmer honey and classic oak tones.
Note on naming: in Gulf trade, “parquet flooring” usually means wood-look laminate planks, not real parquet blocks. We supply both - see the parquet flooring page for that market’s naming, and the design library to pick decors - every design has its own page with the factory code you quote against.
Running the numbers before you commit? The landed cost calculator gives FOB + freight + duty per m² with real container loading data, editable for your broker’s numbers.
UAE & Saudi Arabia flooring import FAQ
What is the import duty and VAT on SPC flooring in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Vinyl and SPC flooring classifies under HS 3918.10 and typically clears at the GCC common external tariff of 5%. On top of that, the UAE adds 5% VAT and Saudi Arabia adds 15% VAT at customs. Ask your customs broker to confirm the exact 12-digit code for your spec - it determines both the duty line and the paperwork.
Do I need SABER certification to clear flooring in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. SABER is mandatory for all imports into Saudi Arabia: an annual Product Certificate of Conformity (testing against SASO requirements through an approved body such as SGS, Intertek or TUV) plus a Shipment Certificate of Conformity for every consignment. Your licensed Saudi importer manages the SABER registration; we supply the underlying test reports (CE, FloorScore, ISO) and shipping documents your process needs.
How long does shipping take from China to the Gulf?
Production is 25-35 days from deposit. Ocean transit is roughly 18-24 days to Jebel Ali and 22-28 days to Jeddah, depending on the carrier and routing. Plan on about 6-8 weeks from deposit to arrival for a standard container program.
Can SPC flooring be installed over the existing ceramic tile in a villa?
Yes - and it is the single biggest selling point in Gulf renovations. The tile must be sound, level and well bonded; a 1.5 mm IXPE underlay smooths minor unevenness; door heights and thresholds are adjusted. No demolition, no adhesive, no grout, no dust - a typical villa floor is refitted in days, which is exactly what landlords between tenants want.
What is the MOQ and can we mix designs in one container?
MOQ is 500 sqm per design, and you can mix designs freely in one 20GP or 40HQ container - most Gulf buyers take 4-6 decors per container plus color-matched skirting. Free samples (cut pieces or full planks up to 300 mm) ship in 5 working days before you commit.
Get a Gulf quotation this week
Send your design list and destination port - FOB or CIF quote within 12 hours, samples within 5 working days.