10 Best Cash On Delivery Courier Service Companies in Saudi Arabia

Overview

The massive growth of eCommerce is upending businesses globally, and for the past few years, it has been booming in Saudi Arabia. For decades, the Middle East has had a troublesome relationship with eCommerce.

This is credited to the lack of a formal street address system, a preference for face-to-face retail interactions, and apprehensiveness about using e-payment gateways. 

A low preference for credit/debit cards, e-wallets, or other online payment systems has made Saudi Arabian consumers rely on COD or cash on delivery.

Studies show that 64% of online consumers opted for cash on delivery and 46% preferred credit card payments. Debit Cards, gift cards, and other digital payment methods are lesser adapted payment choices.

Since Saudi Arabia, like most other GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council) was slow in the eCommerce uptake, most of its population falls into the first-time shopper category.

This means they critically lack purchasing confidence and would question their choice several times before making a final decision.

As first-time shoppers, they are also wary of the product quality while purchasing from an online marketplace. These factors make Cash-on-delivery the most favored payment option in Saudi Arabia.

While COD payment is an excellent way of building customer loyalty, it is a notorious cause of high delivery exceptions or failed deliveries. NDRs (Non-Delivery Reports) can seriously hurt any eCommerce business's overall delivery success rate.

Luckily, most of these COD challenges can be solved with processes like proper returns management and COD Reconciliation. Of course, finding yourself the best cash-on-delivery (COD) courier service provider company will help sort out these issues. 

To make your search easier, we have curated a list of the top COD courier services in Saudi Arabia.

The following courier companies command a team of well-trained professionals to handle failed COD orders and provide quick resolutions to orders stuck in transit.

Top 10 Best Cash On Delivery (COD) Courier Service Provider Companies in Saudi Arabia [2024 Updated List]

1) Esnad Express 

Esnad Express is a technology-driven courier service company based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

They offer time-bound pickup and delivery of shipments domestically and internationally. To rectify the absence of street addresses and pin codes in the country, Esnad Express uses GPRS technology to deliver shipments to the exact location.

They have a clear system in place for handling COD orders. In case of delivery exceptions or failed deliveries, they provide weekly COD remittances with the lowest rates on returns.

As an eCommerce business, you can create an Esnad account to pay via a monthly invoice, and access several pricing options and bulk discounts.

Esnad's Domestic Express offers same-day deliveries (SDD) in Riyadh and next-day deliveries (NDD) in more than 25 cities. Apart from these, Esnad specializes in cross-border management. The company offers comprehensive supply chain management with real-time order tracking, round-the-clock customs clearance, and warehousing fulfillment.

2) Postaplus 

Since its foundation in 2005, PostaPlus has elevated from a domestic courier company to a leading regional provider of global logistics and shipping solutions. Postaplus is proficient in the speedy transportation of shipments via land, air freight, and sea.

Postaplus introduced cash-on-delivery transactions a while ago. Customers could pay for their items, shipping, and customs clearance (if any) upon delivery.

Apart from cash, they also accept K-net payments for eCommerce shipments. Its Pick-and-Pack service maintains full transparency during order delivery with real-time tracking updates. 

As a leading Saudi delivery company, Postaplus especially assists in the growth of small businesses.

They strive to provide transparent and cost-effective logistics solutions and real-time online tracking tools. Their pick-and-pack service highlights advanced warehousing procedures and attention to returns management. 

3) Aymakan 

Aymakan is a Middle East-based courier company that started its operations in KSA in 2014. This multinational logistics service provider currently ships to 130+ countries worldwide.

Their specialization lies in last-mile delivery. Aymakan aims to provide innovative end-to-end logistics solutions and customer support services for Saudi e-commerce businesses.

They are hugely popular in the region of their estimated delivery success rate of 90%. With the Aymakan carrier, you can opt for Cash-on-Delivery (COD) services.

Aymakan offers a streamlined COD reconciliation period of one week to transfer funds for fulfilled COD orders. It also allows you to offer customers other payment methods, like Mada and STC Pay.

Faster cash transfers ease the post-purchase journey, making for a smoother shipping experience for you and your customers.

All AyMakan clients are assigned a personal account manager who manages all their orders and prepares comprehensive bi-monthly reports.

Aymakan's delivery success rests in its impressive fleet management with expertly trained personnel. This Saudi delivery company is well known for optimizing remote area remote areas and for three delivery attempts consecutively. 

4) Shipa Delivery 

Shipa Delivery is Agility's technology and innovation wing, a global logistics leader, and MENA’s largest developer of logistics parks. Shipa has a highly skilled team with deep insights into the logistics industry and online commerce in Saudi Arabia.

They partner with multiple courier partners to deliver on your customer promise. They excel at on-time deliveries for all their orders, including same-day or next-day deliveries.

They are well-equipped to manage cash on delivery orders and keep delivery exceptions low with constant follow-ups to customers for failed deliveries.

Shipa provides integrated domestic and cross-border courier solutions for eCommerce businesses of all sizes.

The courier platform operates through a single window that allows you to navigate the entire shipping and tracking journey. Shipa is an expert in origin fulfillment. They can capably handle first-mile to last-mile deliveries, focusing on low-cost package fulfillment. 

5) Thabit Logistics 

Thabit Logistics is like the new kid on the block of courier companies in Saudi Arabia. It came into being in 2020 to provide transportation and express courier services to small and large eCommerce companies within Saudi Arabia.

Thabit Logistics has secured an enviable position in Saudi Arabia's logistics industry by streamlining its COD delivery and reconciliation process. A COD order is not marked as completed or fulfilled unless the customer pays for it and the courier partner sends proof of delivery to the associated parties.

In case of returns, the courier partner collects the product, and the eCommerce owner submits an NDR to the company. They allow a COD reconciliation period of one week, within which all funds transfers must be completed. 

6) First Flight 

First Flight started its operations in the UAE in 1986. The First Flight Middle East is one of the largest express courier companies in the MENA Region (the Middle East and North Africa).

Their vast array of express delivery solutions has helped banks, institutions, trading companies, and SMEs with express couriers. 

First Flight specializes in providing eCommerce businesses with high-end courier and shipping solutions. They are cognizant of the demand for cash-on-delivery services.

As such, they offer doorstep charges collection and COD. They also allow eCommerce businesses to pay with Party COD. Customers can pay for several COD orders at one go.

For UAE businesses, First Flight has a special cheque collection service. Their specialists safely and securely collect cheques from destinations and deliver them to the partner company. On top of these, they offer same-day and next-day shipping services with a real-time order tracking system. 

First Flight is also known for its solid infrastructure designed for reverse logistics. Their live order tracking feature can schedule and track pickups from the carrier platform.

They have a multitude of domestic and international shipping options. Notably, their bullet service handles extremely urgent deliveries across the UAE within three to four hours. 

7) Fodel 

Fodel is a one-of-a-kind parcel pick-up location provider. It offers 2500+ pick-up locations in five MENA countries as an alternative to doorstep delivery.

By connecting e-commerce platforms with local merchants, Fodel offers faster and cheaper delivery options. Customers can securely collect their shipments from their nearest pick-up locations at their convenience.

With its numerous pick-up locations, Fodel makes order fulfillment easier for courier partners and eCommerce companies. Since the parcel pick-up locations are active around the clock, the chances of failed deliveries from customers' unavailability are minimized to zero.

Fodel enables eCommerce businesses to offer cash-on-delivery and other modes of payment. Customers can buy an item online and pay for it while collecting it from Fodel's pick-up location. Fodel is also integrated with Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop, and Magento, so eCommerce businesses can easily use it as a plug-in. 

8) Qatar Post 

Qatar Post is Qatar's national postal and courier service provider, with operations in more than 200 countries.

Qatar Post has developed a specialized platform for providing eCommerce business solutions called Qatar Connected. Connected is an international shipping service that can help you ship orders to Asia, Africa, the US, and the UK at competitive prices.

Connected promises super-fast deliveries, meaning customer orders reach them within 5-8 working days. For domestic orders as well as international orders, both Qatar Post and Qatar Connected offer COD services without any hidden costs.

Order is marked as fulfilled only after successful payment. Shipments can be easily tracked throughout their journey with the help of the live tracking feature. With Qatar Post, you can also schedule pick-ups from multiple locations. 

9) Asyad Express 

Asyad Express is an Omani express courier and delivery service provider that ships to Saudi Arabia, among many other nations.

It caters its world-class shipping and courier services to various sectors. Growing SMEs, eCommerce, manufacturing, and financial institutions have benefited from their express shipping solutions.

In addition to providing core courier services, it also offers value-added shipment management services like packaging, bundling, etc. Asyad Express does offer complete COD services as a payment option and for returns.

However, this service comes with an additional cost. If you wish to use their COD services, we advise you to contact their support team directly. 

For businesses in Oman, Asyad Express has dedicated fulfillment centers and warehouses for picking, packing, labeling, and dispatching parcels. Their warehouses are equipped with a warehouse management system. They are especially skilled at expediting inspections and customs clearance. 

10) Jeebly 

Jeebly is headquartered in Dubai and aims to become a major disruptor in the existing last-mile delivery system in the Middle East. It partners with many eCommerce companies to deliver extremely punctual and fast deliveries.

It provides a top-of-the-line tracking system that tracks pick-ups from stores, business collections & client returns till the items reach their destinations.

Jeebly offers end-to-end COD services and manages returns without causing any extra hassle to your eCommerce business.

How To Choose the Best Cash On Delivery (COD) Courier Service Company in Saudi Arabia

The main reason why COD orders are harder to fulfill is because of returns or RTO (Return to Origin) and COD reconciliation.

The first and most important part of COD reconciliation is reconciling the COD payments with the corresponding transaction in the financial accounts. Hence, there are no inconsistencies between the two.

The second is to examine the reasons behind these cancellations or failed deliveries and determine if any of those are solvable by you or the courier company.

As an eCommerce business in Saudi Arabia, you would want to keep COD as one of the payment options since it develops trust in customers. But getting rid of cash on delivery options might lead you to lose a big chunk of your target audience. 

Instead, you should try to make COD offerings as foolproof as possible by ensuring a couple of checkpoints before selecting a Cash On Delivery (COD) Delivery Service Provider Company for your eCommerce business.

We will discuss a few things that every eCommerce entrepreneur must remember before picking the best Cash On Delivery (COD) Courier Service Provider Company in Saudi Arabia.

1) Partner with Courier service providers with COD services

You can partner with any of the above-listed courier companies in Saudi Arabia. All of these courier companies have been handpicked based on their COD offerings.

These shipping companies have skilled staff and excellent fleets with proper safety protocols to ensure safe and secure delivery of your products. These courier services provider companies also have proficient reverse logistics channels in place.

2) Have a solid NDR Management System

The downside of having a flourishing eCommerce business has to deal with NDRs or Non-Delivery Reports. That said, all eCommerce businesses must deal with NDRs whether or not they provide cash on delivery services.

In the case of a COD order, a well-organized NDR system allows you to track failed or canceled deliveries and the reasons behind them.

You can then better understand what is or is not working for your business concerning COD orders. The report can sometimes be a wake-up call to change courier service providers.

3) Look for strong customer support

It's always good to have strong customer service, but it's even more true with cash on delivery orders. Strong and responsive customer service can enable timely order fulfillment if something goes wrong in the last-mile delivery operation.

For instance, if a customer is unavailable or has mistakenly shared the wrong address, a customer service executive can repeatedly follow up with the customer and ensure that the order is delivered within 24 hours. 

4) COD Serviceability

If the success of your eCommerce business hinges on COD services, you might want to select logistics service providers that provide COD offerings in larger areas or regions.

Keep in mind that a larger network coverage does not necessarily mean a more extensive COD coverage. Always check with your courier service company before making your decision. 

Final Conclusion

These are the top best cash-on-delivery (COD) courier service provider companies in Saudi Arabia that you can choose for your eCommerce business.  Cash on delivery remains the most favored paying option in Saudi Arabia.

As long as your customers are attached to COD, eCommerce businesses must also continue to provide COD services to cater to a large customer base.

We hope this article helped you in navigating the mechanisms of COD services. With this information, you can safely choose the best cash-on-delivery service for your business.