Article 37 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 37 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الأول: الاستيراد: 1- النقل بحراً
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 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 37 explained in plain English
This article places two obligations on aircraft when they cross the State's borders:
- To follow the air routes set for them.
- Not to land except at airports that have customs districts.
Subject to Article 22: the article refers to Article 22, which prohibits aircraft departing from or arriving in the State from taking off or landing at airports with no customs districts, except in cases of force majeure. In that case the pilot must notify the nearest customs district or security post without delay, and submit to the customs district a report supported by the district that was notified, unless otherwise provided in another law or decision.
So the rule is that landing is only at customs airports, and the exception is force majeure with the duty to notify and submit a report. The aim is to ensure that all goods an aircraft carries are subject to customs control. Article 38 is the one that requires a cargo manifest to be prepared for each aircraft load.
Airlines or private aircraft owners facing liability because of a landing at a non-customs airport are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters.
Practical example
A cargo aircraft arriving in the Kingdom is forced by a technical fault to land at a small airport with no customs district. If this is treated as force majeure, its pilot must notify the nearest customs district or security post immediately and submit the required report.
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 37 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
May an aircraft land at an airport with no customs?
No, except in cases of force majeure under Article 22, with notice to the nearest customs district or security post without delay.
Must aircraft follow a set route on entering the State?
Yes. They must follow the air routes set for them when crossing the State's borders.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Cargo Manifest, Imports and Exports
- 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 30
Article 30 requires every good arriving by sea to be recorded in the cargo manifest, signed by the master and containing specified details, and presented with other documents within thirty-six hours of entering the port.
أ - تسجل في بيان الحمولة "المنافست" كل بضاعة ترد إلى الدولة عن طريق البحر. ب - يجب أن ينظم بكل الحمولة بيان واحد يوقعه ربان السفينة، متضمنا المعلومات التالية :
- Article 31
Article 31 requires the cargo manifest of vessels that do not make regular voyages, have no shipping agent at the port, or are sailing vessels, to be endorsed by the customs of the port of loading.
إذا كان بيان الحمولة "المنافست" عائدا لسفينة لا تقوم برحلات منتظمة أو ليس لها وكيل ملاحة في الميناء، أو كانت من المراكب الشراعية، فيجب أن يكون مؤشرا عليه من الس
- Article 32
Ships' cargo may not be unloaded except in the customs district at the port and under its supervision, and unloading and transfer between ships are carried out under the Director General's conditions.
أ - لا يجوز تفريغ حمولة السفن وجميع وسائط النقل المائية الأخرى إلا في الدائرة الجمركية في الميناء. ولا يجوز تفريغ أي بضاعة أو نقلها من سفينة إلى أخرى إلا تحت إش
- Article 33
The ship's master, agent or representative is liable for shortages in packages, their contents or bulk goods until the goods are received at the warehouses, storage facilities or by their owners, subject to Article 54.
يكون ربان السفينة أو وكيلها أو من يمثله مسؤولا عن النقص في عدد القطع أو الطرود، أو في محتوياتها، أو في مقدار البضائع الفرط، إلى حين استلام البضائع في المخازن ال
- Article 34
If the packages unloaded or bulk goods fall short of the manifest, the master states the reason and proves with documents that it occurred outside the maritime customs zone, and may be given up to six months against a guarantee.
إذا تحقق نقص في عدد القطع أو الطرود المفرغة عما هو مدرج في بيان الحمولة "المنافست" أو في مقدار البضائع الفرط، فعلى ربان السفينة أو من يمثله بيان سبب هذا النقص و
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.