Saudi Arabia

For all imported, exported, and transit goods customs certificates - Import-Export Statements and Customs Declarations - must be submitted at the customs office. The certificates must be completed with all the specified data filled in by concerned parties before starting customs formalities on the goods.

IMPORT

Shipments arriving from foreign countries are required to submit the original copy of the cargo manifest. The following information should be included in the manifest:

• Kind and quantity of items
  
• Marks, number and destination of the packages
  
• Name and kind of transportation facility
  
• Total number of packages in figures and words

This copy should be prepared in accordance with the established procedures and also approved by the appropriate authority at the port. All the particulars mentioned in the manifest and other documents must agree with the cargo. Goods imported by land shall be directed to the nearest Customs office on the border or to the Customs office designated by the Directorate of Customs; they shall follow the regular route without any deviation there from, and shall comply fully with the formalities set forth in the Rules for Implementation of the Customs Regulations.
Items re-imported from abroad after having been previously exported according to the official procedures are exempt of import-export duties.

EXPORT

For exporting items in the country an official certificate must be submitted - authenticated by the concerned authorities - showing the description of the items to be exported together with the reasons for export.

Furthermore, goods may not pass across the Customs Line at night, i.e. between sunset and sunrise, except in cases of pressing necessity, such as the landing of pilgrims, or for operations connected with the Government, or by written authorization from the Minister of Finance.

For detailed information on the Saudi customs procedures please visit the official website http://www.customs.gov.sa/home.htm.