The biggest“pitfall”in Middle Eastern project logistics isn’t“high freight costs”—it’s hidden costs from local regulations, like Saudi Arabia’s“Saudization”(local worker quota requirements).  

“Saudization”mandates that a certain percentage of project workers must be Saudi nationals. A Chinese enterprise once miscalculated costs by using“domestic worker salaries”(CNY 8,000/month) for Saudi workers—only to find Saudi workers earn CNY 15,000/month and require“2 days off per week + religious holidays.”This caused a 30% cost overrun.  

Many enterprises make the mistake of applying domestic experience to overseas rules. Domestic workers can work“two shifts,”but Saudi workers cannot; domestic workers accept“room and board,”but Saudi workers require“separate dorms + transportation allowances.”These“detail gaps”become cost overruns.  

Our advice: Consult a forwarder or local agency before starting the project—understand local labor policies (e.g., Saudization, UAE visa rules) and adjust your budget early. Regulations aren’t“obstacles”—they’re“points to address in advance.