Article 83 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 83 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الرابع: المناطق والأسواق الحرة
Goods may not be moved from free zones and markets to other free zones or markets, stores or warehouses except under the guarantees, undertakings and procedures the Director General sets.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز نقل البضائع الموجودة في المناطق والأسواق الحرة إلى مناطق أو أسواق حرة أخرى أو مخازن أو مستودعات إلا وفق الكفالات والتعهدات والإجراءات التي يحددها المدير العام.
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 83 explained in plain English
This article regulates moving goods from free zones and markets to other places with a special customs status.
Destinations covered:
- Other free zones or markets.
- Stores, which under the Law's definitions are places prepared for temporarily storing goods pending their release under one of the customs regimes.
- Warehouses, which are places in which goods are deposited under the Administration's supervision in a duty-suspended status.
The rule: such moving is not permitted except under the guarantees, undertakings and procedures that the Director General sets. The article does not state the amount of the guarantee or the kind of undertaking, leaving that to the Director General.
Reason: duties have not been paid on goods in a free zone, and moving them outside may expose them to leaking into the local market on the way. Guarantees and undertakings are therefore required to ensure they reach their destination.
This differs from withdrawing goods into the country, which Article 84 regulates in accordance with the regulations in force and the Director General's instructions. Article 82 also requires the administrations of the zones to provide lists of goods entering and leaving on request. Anyone who needs to move goods between these places should consult a lawyer specializing in customs and commercial cases.
Practical example
A company stores goods in a free zone and wants to move part of them to a customs warehouse near its customers. The move is only permitted after providing the guarantees and undertakings and following the procedures the Director General sets.
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 83 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Can goods be moved from one free zone to another?
Yes, under the guarantees, undertakings and procedures the Director General sets.
Does moving goods from a free zone to a warehouse require a guarantee?
Such moving is not permitted except under the guarantees, undertakings and procedures the Director General sets.
More articles on Free Zones and Free Markets
- 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 15
Article 15 subjects goods leaving free zones and free markets for local markets to the customs tariff in force on the date of their exit.
تخضع البضائع الخارجة من المناطق والأسواق الحرة إلى الأسواق المحلية للتعرفة الجمركية النافذة في تاريخ خروجها.
- Article 77
Free zones and markets are established by each State's legal instrument, and their customs rules, conditions and procedures are set by decision of the Minister or the competent body.
تنشأ المناطق والأسواق الحرة بالأداة القانونية لكل دولة، وتحدد القواعد والشروط والإجراءات الجمركية الخاصة بها بقرار من الوزير أو الجهة المختصة.
- Article 78
All foreign goods may be brought into free zones and markets and taken out of them abroad without duties, subject to Articles 79 and 80, and there is no limit on how long they stay.
أ - مع مراعاة أحكام المادتين (79 و 80) من هذا النظام "القانون" يمكن إدخال جميع البضائع الأجنبية من أي نوع كانت، وأيا كان منشؤها إلى المناطق والأسواق الحرة وإخرا
- Article 79
Goods listed in the manifest as imports may not be moved or brought into free zones and markets except with the Director General's approval and within the conditions and controls he sets.
البضائع المدرجة في بيان الحمولة "المنافست" برسم الوارد لا يجوز نقلها أو إدخالها إلى المناطق والأسواق الحرة إلا بموافقة المدير العام وضمن الشروط والضوابط التي يق
- Article 80
The article prohibits seven kinds of goods from entering free zones and markets, including flammable and radioactive goods, weapons, narcotics, counterfeit goods and goods prohibited from entering the country.
يحظر دخول البضائع التالية إلى المناطق والأسواق الحرة : 1 - البضائع القابلة للاشتعال، عدا المحروقات اللازمة للتشغيل التي تسمح بها الجهة المشرفة على المناطق والأس
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.