Why source it from Korea?
Carnival is the highest-volume Korean MPV. Kia stocks Encar generously with 2-3 year-old Carnivals at significant discount to new-market pricing in KSA / UAE / Qatar. The 9-seat option (which doesn't exist in many local markets) is particularly popular for large families.
Kia Carnival on Encar: what's available
- Year range
- 2021–2024
- Drivetrain
- FWD only
- Fuel options
- Gasoline 3.5 V6, Diesel 2.2 CRDi, Hybrid 1.6T (newer)
- Korean trims
- NoblessePrestigeSignatureHi-Limousine (long-wheelbase)
Browse Kia Carnival by destination
Pick your destination to see current inventory with full landed cost in your local currency.
From Korea to your driveway: how it works
Importing a Kia Carnival typically starts on Encar (Korea's largest used-car marketplace) or KB ChaChaCha. You then contract with an independent importer or shipping agent in Korea who visits the dealer in person, physically inspects the car against the listing, photographs anything the listing missed, and verifies VIN match plus the absence of any active loan or lien. Confirm these steps are in your contract before transferring any money. KUC surfaces the listings and estimates the cost only; the actual verification and execution are performed by the importer you select.
Once the purchase is agreed, your importer files the Korean export documentation (말소등록) and the car moves to the bonded yard at Incheon or Pyeongtaek. Ocean freight to the nearest port to your destination (Jeddah, Jebel Ali, Aqaba, Doha, Sokhna, or Salalah) typically takes 18–28 days depending on shipping mode (RoRo or container). Sea freight and marine insurance fall within your importer's scope — confirm full marine-insurance coverage is included before signing.
On arrival, your importer or their local clearing agent handles customs (duty + VAT + port handling) on your behalf. The car is then handed off to your local registration office where you receive plates and local insurance. Estimated full timeline from purchase confirmation to plates: 6–8 weeks. Confirm with your importer who pays which line item and when.
What the all-in price covers — and what it doesn't
The price KUC's calculator returns for any Korean Kia Carnival is an estimate covering the main cost lines in the chain: dealer price in Korea, pre-purchase physical inspection, Korean export documentation, ocean freight to the nearest port to your destination, marine insurance, destination port handling, customs duty, VAT (or equivalent), and final clearance. Execution of these line items and any warranty on them is the scope of the importer you choose; the final binding price and any FX shifts after that fall between you and your importer, not between you and KUC.
What's not included: local registration, plates, and insurance once the car is in your name (varies by country, emirate, and vehicle age). Optional post-delivery add-ons like ceramic coating, Gulf-spec window tint, or aircon upgrades. These items are optional and happen at destination, not in Korea. Our destination partners in each country can arrange them at local-market rates if requested.
For the final number on this specific car in your local currency, run the landed-cost calculator or read the Encar calculator explainer.
Frequently asked questions
9-seat or 7-seat Carnival — which is right for me?
- 9-seat (3-3-3 layout) maximises passenger count but limits cargo behind the third row. 7-seat (2-2-3 with captain's chairs in row 2) is the executive layout — slightly less people, much better comfort and walk-through. Korean inventory is split roughly 50/50.