Article 71 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 71 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الثاني: البضائع العابرة (ترانزيت
Transit is carried on the designated routes by various means of transport, at the carrier's responsibility under the Director General's instructions, and the routes and conditions of transport are set by decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة أحكام الاتفاقيات الإقليمية والدولية النافذة ، يتم نقل البضائع بالعبور (ترانزيت) على الطرق المعينة، وبمختلف وسائط النقل وعلى مسؤولية الناقل وفق التعليمات التي يصدرها المدير العام ، وتحدد الطرق والمسالك التي يمكن إجراء النقل عليها بطريق العبور (الترانزيت) وشروط هذا النقل بقرار من الوزير أو الجهة المختصة .
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 71 explained in plain English
This article regulates how goods in transit are transported, subject to the regional and international agreements in force.
Rules for transit transport:
- The route: Transport takes place on the designated routes, which under the law's definitions are the routes the Minister or the competent authority designates by decision for the movement of incoming, outgoing or passing goods through the State.
- The means: By various means of transport, by land, sea or air.
- Responsibility: Transport is at the carrier's responsibility, the carrier being the owner of the means of transport or whoever acts for him by official authorization.
- Instructions: As issued by the Director General.
Setting the routes and conditions: The roads and paths on which transport by way of transit may take place, and the conditions of that transport, are set by decision of the Minister or the competent authority. The article does not state these routes or conditions.
A carrier who departs from the designated routes or breaches the conditions bears responsibility under this text. This is linked to Article 70, which limits transit operations to licensed customs departments, and to Article 72, which permits exempting interested parties from the detailed declaration at the entry center when transferring from one customs department to another. Anyone who faces a violation in transit would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial matters.
Practical example
A transport company is carrying a transit shipment through the Kingdom to a neighboring state. Its trucks must use the routes designated for this by decision of the Minister or the competent authority, and the company is responsible for the shipment throughout the transit.
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 71 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
May a transit truck take any road?
No. Goods are carried in transit on the designated routes, which are set by decision of the Minister or the competent authority.
Who is responsible for transit goods during transport?
Transport is at the carrier's responsibility under the Director General's instructions.
More articles on Suspended Customs Regimes and Transit
- Article 67
Goods may be brought in and moved to another place within the State without paying customs duties, provided a cash deposit or bank guarantee equal to those duties is given under the Director General's instructions.
يجوز إدخال البضائع ونقلها إلى أي مكان آخر داخل الدولة دون تأدية الضرائب "الرسوم" الجمركية، بشرط تقديم كفالة نقدية أو ضمان مصرفي يعادل ما يترتب عليها من ضرائب "ر
- Article 68
Cash deposits, bank guarantees and undertakings given to Customs are released on the basis of discharge certificates, under the conditions set by the Director General.
يفرج عن الكفالات النقدية والضمانات المصرفية والتعهدات استنادا إلى شهادات الإبراء وفق الشروط التي يحددها المدير العام.
- Article 69
Transit of goods across the territory of the GCC states is permitted under the laws and international agreements in force, subject to Article 67 and the GCC Unified Economic Agreement.
مع مراعاة المادة (67) من هذا النظام "القانون" وأحكام الاتفاقية الاقتصادية الموحدة لدول المجلس، يسمح بعبور البضائع (ترانزيت) لأراضي دول المجلس وفق أحكام الأنظمة
- Article 70
Transit operations are permitted only at customs departments licensed for them.
لا يسمح بإجراء عمليات العبور (الترانزيت) إلا في الدوائر الجمركية المرخص لها بذلك.
- Article 72Amended by M/124
When goods are transferred from one customs department to another, interested parties may be exempted from submitting a detailed customs declaration at the entry center, and the transfer is made under the documents and conditions set by the Director General.
يجوز في حالة النقل من دائرة جمركية إلى أخرى إعفاء أصحاب العلاقة من تقديم بيان جمركي تفصيلي في مركز الدخول، وتتم الإحالة وفق المستندات والشروط التي يحددها المدير
- Article 73
The Minister or the competent authority issues the decisions needed to regulate the suspension of customs duties on all other types of transport by way of transit.
يصدر الوزير أو الجهة المختصة القرارات اللازمة لتنظيم تعليق الضرائب "الرسوم" الجمركية على جميع أنواع النقل بطريق العبور (الترانزيت) الأخرى.
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.