Country Dossier

Saudi Arabia

NOTICE:
For use on the Europa site, portions of the original version have been
removed. As a consequence, page numbering may be interrupted.

Saudi Arabia
Table of Contents
Overview of Customs Procedures
Customs Regimes
List of Customs Procedure Codes
List of Entry Ports and Codes
Description of Specimen Documents
Citations
Overview of Customs Procedures
Saudi Customs (SADC), under the Ministry of Finance, is the authority
overseeing importations into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Within Saudi
Customs the sections or departments of Documentation, Enforcement, Inspection
and Revenue carry out the distinct functions of Saudi Customs.
The Customs Documentation Section receives import declaration packages
submitted by the importers legal agent or from the importer. The Customs
Documentation Section issues the unique sequential number or entry number
when filing the import declaration in a kingdom-wide computer network linking
SADC headquarters with different customs ports.
The importation of animals and animal products, plants and plant products is
subject to permission from the Ministry of Agriculture. Phytosanitary and
quarantine certificates are required and goods will be inspected at the customs
office of entry prior to clearing customs. Halal certification is required for animal
products.
When all the necessary documents have been filed for the entry the imported
goods undergo the following two inspections:

Identification of the imported goods as compared with the manifest

information provided to the Customs Department;
Laboratory test of miscellaneous specimens of the imported goods
to ascertain their consumption status and expiry dates as compared
with the filed documentation. This test is conducted by the
Ministry of Health.

After receiving favourable results of the above two inspections, the importer pays
the relevant fees necessary to allow the entry of the agricultural products. The
relevant fees are duty, customs fees for conducting laboratory tests, port entry and
user fees. Under Article 63 of the GCC Common Customs Law, goods may not
be released until after the completion of their customs procedures and payment or
bank guarantee for the customs duties and taxes. The goods will then be allowed
to enter the Saudi market and the electronically generated Customs Declaration
is issued by Customs after the imported goods have met all importation
procedures. The document is stamped to show that the goods are allowed to enter
Saudi Arabia.

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Note on Calendars:
The Islamic calendar (or Hijri calendar) is a purely lunar calendar. Because it
contains 12 lunar months, it is consistently shorter than a tropical year. To
calculate the Gregorian year from a hijra year, divide by 1.031, then add 622. In
order to find hijra year from the Gregorian, first subtract 622, then multiply with
1.031. The year 1426 is the equivalent to 2005. For a conversion function:
http://www.oriold.unizh.ch/static/hegira.html

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Customs Regimes
1. Definitive Importation for Consumption
The following documents are required to allow the commercial entry of
agricultural products into Saudi Arabia for consumption:

Original Commercial Invoice legalised by the Saudi Arabian

consulate.
Certificate of Origin legalised by the Saudi Arabian consulate.
Health Certificate legalised by the Saudi Arabian consulate.
Original Bill of Lading, Airway Bill, or Carriers Certificate
(naming the consignee for customs purposes) as evidence of the
consignees right to make entry, duly stamped by the relevant bank.

2. Free Trade Zones & Warehouse

Saudi Arabia does not have duty-free import zones or free ports. It has
begun to permit trans-shipment of goods through its ports in Jeddah and
Dammam.
3. Temporary
Temporary goods imported for promotional use require an invoice with the
value of the goods endorsed by the local Chamber of Commerce and a
certificate of origin. The invoice should clearly state that the goods are
being imported for exhibition purposes only and will be re-exported.

Saudi Arabia

List of Customs Procedures Codes

Entry type in Saudi Arabia is limited to imports for consumption, temporary or transshipment. The word, ( Import), appears in Box 3 of the Customs
Declaration and is used in the context of an import for consumption.
Temporary
Transit
Transhipment

List of Entry Ports and Codes

The customs port of entry name appears in Box 20 of the Customs Declaration.
Customs authorities in Saudi Arabia do not use codes to identify the port of entry.

Riyadh Dry Port (Inland) Customs =

King Khalid International Airport Customs =

(North of Riyadh)

Jeddah Islamic Port Customs =

Saudi Arabia
Specimen Documents
Customs Declaration
Purpose Import declaration and customs clearance
Issuing Authority Department of Customs, Ministry of Finance
Where entry number is marked Box 1, Dec. No
Where procedure code is marked The word, ( import), is electronically
printed out in Box 3
Where duty paid amount is marked Box 66 indicates bank payment receipt
number, Box 56 indicates amount paid, Box 62 indicates payment method, i.e. draft
Where stamps are posted Line 45; The Customs Declaration is electronically
generated by Customs once all import procedures are completed; the release of goods
is indicated by the word, ( pledge of bond). The document is stamped by
Customs to show that the goods are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia.
NOTE: The year 1426 of the Saudi Umm al-Qura calendar is the equivalent to 2005.

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Customs Clearance Stamp
Purpose Shows that goods are allowed to enter
Issuing Authority Saudi Customs Authority
Where stamps are posted Lower right of Customs Declaration
Are there variations to the stamp Name of Port
English Translation of the Stamp (text stamp only):
-------Customs Department
-------Jeddah Islamic Port Customs
------Checked by Officer No.
------------- Signature
Name
------------Date

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Citations
Unified Custom Law for the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council States