Article 23 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
المادة 23 من نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال · الفصل الخامس: الإقرار الجمركي
The article requires anyone entering or leaving the Kingdom to declare to Customs the cash, gold or jewelry they carry that reaches the threshold in the Implementing Regulations, and allows seizure for 72 hours on suspicion.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- على كل شخص يَقْدُم إلى المملكة أو يغادرها وتكون بحوزته عملات أو أدوات قابلة للتداول لحاملها، أو سبائك ذهبية أو معادن ثمينة أو أحجار كريمة أو مجوهرات مشغولة، أو يُرتِّب لنقلها إلى داخل المملكة أو خارجها من خلال خدمة شحن أو نقل أو خدمة بريدية أو بأي وسيلة أخرى، تبلغ قيمتها (أو تفوق) الحد المنصوص عليه في اللائحة؛ أن يقدم إقراراً بذلك لمصلحة الجمارك العامة، ولمصلحة الجمارك العامة أن تطلب من الشخص معلومات إضافية عن مصدرها أو الغرض من استخدامها.
2- لمصلحة الجمارك العامة ضبط مبلغ العملة أو الأدوات القابلة للتداول لحاملها أو سبائك الذهب أو المعادن الثمينة أو الأحجار الكريمة أو المجوهرات المشغولة لمدة (72) ساعة إذا كان هناك اشتباه في أنها متحصّلات أو وسائط أو أنها مرتبطة بجريمة غسل الأموال أو جريمة أصلية بما في ذلك في حالات المبالغ التي لا تصل إلى حد الإقرار المحدد وفقاً للفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، وحالات عدم الإقرار أو الإقرار الكاذب وفقاً لهذه المادة.
3- لمصلحة الجمارك العامة -عند مخالفة عدم الإقرار أو الإقرار الكاذب, وعدم الاشتباه بارتباطها بجريمة غسل أموال أو جريمة أصلية- فرض غرامة وفق ما تحدده اللائحة.
4- للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية الحصول على كل المعلومات التي تتلقاها مصلحة الجمارك العامة.
5- تحدّد اللائحة القواعد والإجراءات المتعلقة بالإقرار وصلاحيات مصلحة الجمارك العامة في تنفيذ موجباته.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 23 explained in plain English
This article regulates the customs declaration of money and precious metals when crossing the Kingdom's borders, and has five paragraphs:
- Duty to declare: Every person who enters or leaves the Kingdom carrying currency, bearer negotiable instruments such as checks, gold bullion, precious metals, precious stones or worked jewelry, must submit a declaration to the General Customs Authority if their value reaches or exceeds the threshold set out in the Implementing Regulations. This includes anyone who arranges to transport them by cargo, mail or any other means. Customs may request additional information about their source or the purpose of their use.
- Seizure on suspicion: Customs may seize these funds for 72 hours if it suspects that they are proceeds, instrumentalities or connected to a money laundering offense or a predicate offense, even if they are below the declaration threshold, and also in cases of failure to declare or a false declaration.
- Fine: If no declaration is made or a false declaration is made, and there is no suspicion that the funds are connected to a money laundering offense or a predicate offense, Customs may impose a fine as specified by the Implementing Regulations.
- Availability of information: The General Department of Financial Intelligence may obtain all the information that Customs receives.
- Reference to the regulations: The Implementing Regulations set the rules and procedures for the declaration and Customs' powers.
The most important thing to know is that the law does not state the monetary threshold or the amount of the fine; the Implementing Regulations set them. The article requires declaring these funds, and does not include a ban on carrying them. Anyone whose funds have been seized at a border crossing would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A Turkish traveler left from King Khalid Airport in Riyadh carrying a large sum of cash and gold jewelry worth more than the threshold set in the Implementing Regulations. He must submit a declaration to the General Customs Authority, and Customs may ask him for information about their source and purpose. If he does not declare them and there is no suspicion that they are connected to a crime, a fine may be imposed in accordance with the Implementing Regulations.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 23 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
How much money must be declared when traveling to or from Saudi Arabia?
The law does not state the amount; it refers to the threshold set out in the Implementing Regulations.
Must gold and jewelry be declared?
Yes. The declaration covers gold bullion, precious metals, precious stones and worked jewelry if their value reaches the threshold set in the Implementing Regulations.
Can Customs hold my money if it is below the declaration threshold?
Yes. Customs may seize it for 72 hours if there is suspicion that it is proceeds, instrumentalities or connected to a money laundering offense or a predicate offense, even if it does not reach the declaration threshold.
What is the penalty for not declaring if there is no suspicion?
Customs may impose a fine as specified by the Implementing Regulations when there is a failure to declare or a false declaration and no suspicion that the funds are connected to a crime.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.