Article 23 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 23 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الباب الثالث: المنع والتقييد
Article 23 prohibits land transport means from entering or leaving the State in areas where there are no customs districts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يحظر على وسائل النقل البرية دخول الدولة أو الخروج منها في المناطق التي لا توجد فيها دوائر جمركية.
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 sets the rule on land crossings: land transport means are prohibited from entering or leaving the State in areas where there are no customs districts.
This means that crossing the land border by vehicles and other land transport means may be done only through areas where there are customs districts.
Note the following:
- The prohibition covers both entering and leaving.
- The article contains no exception for force majeure, unlike Article 22 on aircraft, which excepts cases of force majeure and requires the pilot to notify and submit a report.
- The article does not specify the penalty for violation.
Under Article 2, the customs district is the area the Minister determines at each sea, air or land port or any other place where there is an Administration center in which all or some customs procedures are licensed to be completed. Article 2 also defines the land customs zone as the land lying between the shores or land borders on one side, and an inner line set by decision of the Minister or the competent body on the other.
This article is linked to Article 24, which prevents the entry, exit or transit of prohibited or non-compliant goods, and prevents the entry, exit or transit of restricted goods except with the approval of the competent bodies.
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 truck driver arriving from a neighboring country wants to shorten his route by crossing the border from a desert area with no customs crossing. This is prohibited by the article, since entry must be through an area where there is a customs district.
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 GCC Unified Customs Law
May I enter the Kingdom by land other than through the customs crossings?
No. Land transport means are prohibited from entering or leaving the State in areas where there are no customs districts.
Is there a force majeure exception for land transport?
The article contains no exception, unlike Article 22 on aircraft.
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 22
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.
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
- 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.