Article 38 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 38 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الأول: الاستيراد: 1- النقل بحراً
A cargo manifest signed by the aircraft's pilot must be prepared for each aircraft load, under the conditions in paragraphs (a) to (d) of Article 30.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ينظم بكل حمولة الطائرة بيان حمولة "منافست" يوقعه قائد الطائرة وفق الشروط المبينة في الفقرات (أ - ب - ج - د) من المادة (30) من هذا النظام "القانون".
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 38 explained in plain English
This article carries the provisions on the sea cargo manifest over to air transport, requiring a cargo manifest to be prepared for each aircraft load, signed by the aircraft's pilot, under the conditions stated in paragraphs (a, b, c, d) of Article 30.
What these paragraphs of Article 30 contain, applied to the aircraft:
- (a) Recording every good arriving in the manifest.
- (b) Preparing a single statement for the whole load containing: the name of the means of transport, its nationality and registered tonnage, the types of goods and their gross weight and the weight of bulk goods if any, stating prohibited goods by their true name, the number of packages and their descriptions, marks and numbers, the name of the shipper and the consignee, and the ports from which the goods were shipped.
- (c) Presenting the original statement to the competent bodies on entering the customs zone.
- (d) Submitting the manifest, the statement of stores and crew luggage, the passenger list, the list of goods to be unloaded, the bills of lading and the documents the district requests.
Note that the reference does not include paragraph (e) of Article 30, the thirty-six-hour period, because Article 39 requires the pilot to hand over the documents immediately on the aircraft's arrival. Air freight companies are advised to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters when there is a dispute about the accuracy of the statement.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCommercial & Corporate Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Commercial & Corporate Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 38 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Who signs the aircraft manifest?
The aircraft's pilot.
What particulars are required in the air manifest?
Those in paragraphs (a) to (d) of Article 30, including the types of goods, their weight, the number of packages and the names of the shipper and consignee.
Does the 36-hour period apply to aircraft?
The article does not refer to paragraph (e) of Article 30, and Article 39 requires the documents to be handed over immediately on the aircraft's arrival.
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.