Article 87 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
المادة 87 من نظام قانون الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية · الفصل الرابع: المناطق والأسواق الحرة
The administration of free zones and markets is responsible for violations by its employees and for goods leaking out unlawfully, and the regulations on security, public health and suppressing smuggling and fraud remain in force there.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد إدارة المناطق والأسواق الحرة مسؤولة عن جميع المخالفات التي يرتكبها موظفوها، وعن تسرب البضائع منها بصورة غير مشروعة، وتبقى نافذة فيها جميع الأنظمة والتعليمات المتعلقة بالأمن والصحة العامة وبقمع التهريب والغش.
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 87 explained in plain English
This article sets the responsibility of the administration of free zones and markets and confirms that the general regulations apply in them.
First: the administration's responsibility for two things:
- All violations committed by its employees.
- Goods leaking out of them unlawfully, that is, leaving without following the procedures.
The administration of a zone cannot evade responsibility on the grounds that a particular employee committed the violation, or that the goods leaked out without its knowledge. The article does not specify the kind of responsibility or the penalty that follows, so the other provisions of the Law are consulted.
Second: general regulations continue to apply. All regulations and instructions relating to the following remain in force in free zones and markets:
- Security.
- Public health.
- Suppressing smuggling and fraud.
Exemption from duties and the usual procedures does not mean that a free zone is outside the authority of the law in these fields.
Article 88 provides that goods coming from free zones and markets into the State or abroad are treated as foreign goods. Free zone administrations facing accountability because of goods leaking out should consult a lawyer specializing 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.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal 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 87 of the Saudi GCC Unified Customs Law
Who is responsible for goods leaking out of the free zone?
The administration of free zones and markets is responsible for goods leaking out of them unlawfully.
Do anti-fraud regulations apply inside free zones?
Yes. All regulations and instructions relating to security, public health and suppressing smuggling and fraud remain in force there.
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.