**Gaharu export to the Middle East centers on Gulf buyers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait who prize Arab Super and CIP Arab grades for bakhoor and oud perfume. Indicative prices run USD 500-7,000/kg for plantation chips and USD 30,000-80,000/kg for oud oil (as of 2026, indicative). Legal export requires a CITES permit and a BKSDA recommendation.**
Why do Gulf buyers prize Indonesian gaharu?
The Gulf is the spiritual home of oud. Across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, gaharu — known locally as gubal (the resin-rich heartwood) and kemedangan (lighter grades) — burns as bakhoor in homes, mosques, and majlis gatherings, and is distilled into oud oil (dehn al oud) for perfume. The demand is structural, not seasonal.
The market data backs that pull. Reports from 2024-2025 put China at about 22.4% of the global agarwood/oud market, while Asia-Pacific is forecast as the fastest-growing region at roughly 47.8% share by 2033, with the whole market projected near USD 23.47 billion by 2033 at about 7.12% CAGR (2026-2033). Gulf perfume houses and bakhoor makers sit at the premium end of that curve.
Indonesia matters because it supplies the raw grades those houses want. Documented gaharu regions include Kalimantan, Papua (Jayapura, Merauke), Ambon, and Sumbawa. Bali’s role here is trade and consolidation — a hub, not a production origin.
Which gaharu grades sell best in the Middle East?
Gulf buyers gravitate to specific cuts. The “Arab” designations exist precisely because those grades match Middle East burning and distillation preferences. According to a July 2025 grade list published by zonakeren.com, relevant export grades and indicative values include:
| Grade | Typical Gulf use | Indicative USD/kg |
|---|---|---|
| Arab Super | Premium bakhoor chips | 1,954 |
| Sabak Batu (Malaysia) | Sinking-grade chips | 938 |
| Sabak Air | Floating chips | 626 |
| CIP Arab | Mid-tier bakhoor chips | 547 |
| Medang B Padat | Distillation feedstock | 313 |
| Tri Arab | Value bakhoor / blends | 235 |
For distillation, lower resin grades and kemedangan feed the stills; the finished oud oil is where value concentrates. Kumparan/banjarhits reporting from South Kalimantan cites high-quality agarwood oil at USD 20,000-50,000 per liter, driven by Middle East perfume and bakhoor demand — consistent with our brand band of USD 30,000-80,000/kg for oud oil.
What does gaharu export to the Middle East cost?
Prices are grade-dependent — there is no single number. Our canonical, date-stamped band is plantation gaharu chips USD 500-7,000/kg and oud/agarwood oil USD 30,000-80,000/kg (as of 2026, indicative; final quote confirms grade and scope).
Real-world Gulf reference points:
| Reference | Figure | Source / date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle East buyer quotes by grade | USD 500-7,000/kg | 8 million | 2025 example |
| Oud oil, per liter | USD 20,000-50,000 | South Kalimantan, Kumparan | |
| Top-quality wood, per kg | up to about USD 100,000 | CNBC Indonesia, 2022 |
Retail sachets in Riyadh and export FOB pricing are different worlds. Bulk RFQ pricing is set by grade, resin content (sinking vs floating), aroma, and volume — which is why every serious deal starts with a graded sample and a scoped quote.
How does gaharu export to the Middle East work, step by step?
- Send your RFQ. Give us grade, target volume/MOQ, destination port (typically Jebel Ali for the UAE), and intended use (bakhoor vs distillation). The trade desk replies within 24 business hours, EN or AR-friendly.
- Grade match and sample. We align your requirement to available plantation lots and arrange a graded sample so resin, sinking behavior, and aroma are confirmed before you commit.
- Legal-origin and CITES check. Legal export requires proving cultivated vs wild origin via KLHK, a BKSDA recommendation for wild sources, ASGARIN membership, and a CITES export permit (valid up to about 6 months; processing up to about 60 days for some destinations).
- Scoped quote and terms. Firm FOB/CIF pricing by grade and volume, packing, and agreed Incoterms.
- Logistics to the Gulf. Consolidation and documentation for sea freight to Jebel Ali (Dubai), or air freight for oud oil and high-value small lots to Jeddah, Doha, or Kuwait.
MOQ and logistics snapshot:
| Item | Indicative |
|---|---|
| Chip MOQ | Set per grade at RFQ; small trial lots possible for oud oil |
| Main sea gateway | Jebel Ali (DP World), UAE |
| Air gateways | Jeddah, Doha, Kuwait, Dubai for oil / high-value |
| Core documents | CITES export permit, legal-origin proof, invoice, packing list |
| Response SLA | 24 business hours |
Is gaharu export to the Middle East legal and halal-compliant?
Yes, when done correctly. Aquilaria spp. is listed under CITES Appendix II, so legal export requires a CITES permit plus a BKSDA (Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam) recommendation. Gaharu Export is a sourcing broker and information hub — not a permit authority. We do not sell permit certainty or a customs guarantee.
Confirm current requirements with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import-country authority — for example, the relevant environment or agriculture ministry in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, or Kuwait. We work plantation-first and never promote illegal wild harvest.
On halal context: gaharu wood and oud oil are natural plant products, long used in Islamic tradition for incense and personal fragrance. As with any product for religious or personal use, confirm specifics — for instance, alcohol content in a blended attar — with your own scholars and the finished-product formulator.
Ready to scope your Gulf RFQ?
Bring your grade, volume, and destination port. The Bali Premium Trip trade desk — the concierge operating Gaharu Export — will map available plantation lots, outline the CITES pathway, and return a graded, scoped quote. We are a broker and information hub, not a permit authority or the asset owner, so final legality rests with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import country.
- WhatsApp: +62 811 2859 0000
- Email: sales@balipremiumtrip.com
- Response SLA: 24 business hours (EN / AR-friendly)
Or send the RFQ form with your name, email, destination port, cargo (grade and target volume), and a short message, and the trade desk will follow up with next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which gaharu grade is best for bakhoor in the Gulf?
Gulf bakhoor makers favor Arab Super and CIP Arab chips for their resin and aroma. According to zonakeren.com’s July 2025 list, Arab Super runs about USD 1,954/kg and CIP Arab about USD 547/kg (indicative). The right cut depends on burning preference and budget, so we match your majlis or retail requirement to a graded plantation sample first.
Do I need a CITES permit to import gaharu into the UAE or Saudi Arabia?
Yes, on both sides. Indonesia requires a CITES export permit and a BKSDA recommendation to ship legally; your import country then applies its own CITES import rules. Gaharu is CITES Appendix II, so both permits matter. We are a broker, not a permit authority — confirm current requirements with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your Gulf import authority.
What is the minimum order for gaharu export to the Middle East?
The minimum is set per grade at the RFQ stage rather than a fixed number. High-value oud oil can move in small trial lots, while wood chips are usually quoted by the kilogram against a target volume. Send your grade and destination port, and the trade desk returns MOQ and pricing within 24 business hours.
How is gaharu shipped to Jebel Ali and the wider Gulf?
Wood chips typically ship by sea to Jebel Ali (DP World) in the UAE, the main Gulf gateway, with onward distribution across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. Oud oil and high-value small lots often travel by air to Jeddah, Doha, Kuwait, or Dubai. Every shipment moves with a CITES export permit and legal-origin documentation.
Is oud oil priced the same as gaharu wood chips?
No. Wood chips and oud oil sit in different tiers. Plantation gaharu chips run an indicative USD 500-7,000/kg (grade-dependent), while oud/agarwood oil runs USD 30,000-80,000/kg (as of 2026). South Kalimantan reporting via Kumparan cites oud oil at USD 20,000-50,000 per liter. Final pricing always confirms grade, resin content, and scope.