Article 22 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 22 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الباب الثالث: المنع والتقييد
Article 22 prohibits aircraft departing from or arriving in the State from taking off or landing at airports with no customs district except in force majeure, and requires the pilot to notify and submit a supported report, unless otherwise provided.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحظر على الطائرات المغادرة من الدولة أو القادمة إليها أن تقلع أو تهبط في المطارات التي لا توجد فيها دوائر جمركية، إلا في حالات القوة القاهرة، وعلى قائد الطائرة في هذه الحالة أن يقوم بإشعار أقرب دائرة جمركية أو مركز أمني بذلك دون إبطاء، وأن يقدم للدائرة الجمركية تقريرا مؤيدا من الدائرة الجمركية التي جرى إشعارها ما لم ينص على خلاف ذلك في أي نظام "قانون" أو قرار آخر.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article regulates where aircraft take off and land on flights departing from or arriving in the State.
The rule: these aircraft are prohibited from taking off or landing at airports where there is no customs district.
The exception: cases of force majeure only. Note that the text here does not mention the "emergency circumstance" that appears in the two articles on sea transport, but is limited to force majeure.
The pilot's duties under the exception:
- To notify the nearest customs district or security post of it without delay.
- To submit to the customs district a report supported by the customs district that was notified.
The last restriction: all of this applies unless otherwise provided in any other law or decision; that is, these provisions may differ if a special provision appears in another law or decision, and the article does not name those provisions.
Under Article 2, the customs district is the area the Minister determines at each sea, air or land port or any place where there is an Administration center in which all or some customs procedures are licensed to be completed.
This article is linked to Article 21 on vessels of less than two hundred nautical tons, and to Article 23, which prohibits land transport means from entering or leaving the State in areas where there are no customs districts.
To assess the position of a particular shipment or transaction, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters.
Practical example
A private aircraft arriving in the Kingdom is forced by a sudden technical fault to land at an airport with no customs district. If this is force majeure, its pilot must notify the nearest customs district or security post without delay, and submit a report supported by the customs district that was notified.
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 22 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
May an aircraft land at an airport with no customs?
Aircraft departing from or arriving in the State may not do so except in cases of force majeure, unless otherwise provided in any other law or decision.
What is the pilot's duty in an emergency landing?
To notify the nearest customs district or security post without delay, and to submit to the customs district a report supported by the district that was notified.
More articles on Prohibition, Restriction and Points of Entry
- Article 19
Article 19 requires a customs declaration for every good entering or leaving the State, and the goods to be presented to the customs authorities at the nearest customs district.
يقدم عن كل بضاعة تدخل الدولة أو تخرج منها بيان جمركي، وتعرض البضاعة على السلطات الجمركية في أقرب دائرة جمركية.
- Article 20
Article 20 prohibits sea transport vessels entering the State from anchoring anywhere other than ports prepared to receive them, except in an emergency maritime circumstance or force majeure, and requires the master to notify the nearest customs district or security post without delay.
يحظر على وسائل النقل البحرية التي تدخل الدولة مهما كانت حمولتها الاستيعابية أن ترسو في غير الموانئ المعدة لاستقبالها، إلا في ظرف بحري طارئ أو بسبب قوة قاهرة، وع
- Article 21
Article 21 prohibits vessels with a carrying capacity under two hundred nautical tons from entering or moving within the maritime customs zone loaded with restricted, prohibited or high-duty goods, except in a maritime emergency or force majeure.
يحظر على السفن التي تقل حولتها الاستيعابية عن مائتي طن بحري أن تدخل أو تنتقل ضمن النطاق الجمركي البحري وهي محملة بالبضائع المقيدة، أو الممنوع استيرادها، أو الخا
- Article 23
Article 23 prohibits land transport means from entering or leaving the State in areas where there are no customs districts.
يحظر على وسائل النقل البرية دخول الدولة أو الخروج منها في المناطق التي لا توجد فيها دوائر جمركية.
- Article 24
Article 24 requires the Administration to prevent the entry, exit or transit of prohibited or non-compliant goods, and of restricted goods except with the approval of the competent bodies in the State.
تمنع الإدارة بموجب أحكام هذا النظام "القانون" أو أي نظام "قانون" أو قرار آخر دخول البضائع الممنوعة أو المخالفة أو خروجها أو عبورها، كما تمنع دخول البضائع المقيد
- Article 37
Aircraft crossing the State's borders must follow the air routes set for them and land only at airports with customs districts, subject to Article 22.
مع مراعاة ما نصت عليه المادة (22) من هذا النظام "القانون" على الطائرات أن تسلك عند اجتيازها حدود الدولة الطرق الجوية المحددة لها، وألا تهبط إلا في المطارات التي
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.