Article 5 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 5 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الباب الأول: تعريفات وأحكام عامة
The article provides that the Directorate carries out its work in the customs department and the customs zone, and may exercise its powers across the state's lands and territorial waters under the conditions set in the Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تمارس الإدارة عملها في الدائرة الجمركية وفي النطاق الجمركي، ولها أيضا أن تمارس صلاحيتها على امتداد أراضي الدولة ومياهها الإقليمية وذلك ضمن الشروط المحددة في 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 5 explained in plain English
This article defines the territorial scope of the work of the General Directorate of Customs, which according to Article 2 is what the word "Directorate" means. It contains two levels:
- The original field: the Directorate carries out its work in the customs department and in the customs zone.
- The extended field: it may also exercise its powers across the state's lands and territorial waters, but under the conditions set in this Law.
The definitions in Article 2 clarify these terms:
- The customs department: the area that the Minister defines at each sea, air or land port or any place where there is an administration center in which completing all or some customs procedures is licensed.
- The customs zone: the part of the lands or seas subject to defined customs control and procedures, and it includes a maritime zone and a land zone.
The important limit is that exercising the power outside the customs department and zone is not unlimited but restricted by the conditions the Law sets, and this article does not state those conditions.
This article connects with Article 4, which subjects every item of goods that crosses the customs line to the Law's provisions, and with Article 6, which provides that customs departments are established and abolished by a decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
To assess the position of a particular shipment or transaction, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in customs and commercial cases.
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 5 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Where does customs carry out its work?
In the customs department and the customs zone, and it may exercise its powers across the state's lands and territorial waters under the conditions set in the Law.
Are customs powers away from the ports unlimited?
No. Exercising them across the state's lands and territorial waters is under the conditions set in the Law.
More articles on Customs Law Definitions and Scope
- Article 1
The article sets the name of the Law as the Unified Customs Law of the GCC States, referred to by the word "the Law".
يسمى هذا النظام "القانون" (نظام "قانون" الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية).
- Article 2
The article defines 42 terms in the Unified Customs Law, its explanatory memorandum and its implementing regulations, including the customs department, customs zone, tariff, customs declaration and customs clearance agent.
يكون للكلمات والعبارات التالية حيثما وردت في هذا النظام "القانون" ومذكرته الإيضاحية ولائحته التنفيذية ، المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها ما لم يقتض السياق معنى آخر
- Article 3
The article provides that the customs law applies to lands under the state's sovereignty and its territorial waters, and allows free zones to be established to which the customs provisions do not apply in whole or in part.
تسري أحكام هذا النظام "القانون" على الأراضي الخاضعة لسيادة الدولة ومياهها الإقليمية، ويجوز أن تنشأ في هذه الأراضي مناطق حرة لا تسري عليها الأحكام الجمركية كليا
- Article 4
The article subjects every item of goods that crosses the customs line, whether entering or leaving, to the provisions of the Unified Customs Law.
تخضع كل بضاعة تجتاز الخط الجمركي في الإدخال أو في الإخراج لأحكام هذا النظام "القانون".
- Article 6
The article provides that customs departments are established and abolished by a decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
تنشأ الدوائر الجمركية وتلغى بقرار من الوزير أو الجهة المختصة.
- Article 7
The article provides that the jurisdictions of customs departments and their working hours are determined by a decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
تحدد اختصاصات الدوائر الجمركية وساعات العمل فيها بقرار من الوزير أو الجهة المختصة.
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.