Saudi Arabia consults on advance customs-data rules for all ports

Proposal would extend the advance-data framework

The proposal is not yet operative. It is framed under the GCC Common Customs Law issued in Saudi Arabia by Royal Decree M/41 of 3/11/1423H, its Executive Regulations issued by Ministerial Decision 2748 of 25/11/1423H, and the Controls Regulating Customs Procedures issued by Governor Decision 28624 of 23/5/1445H. Unlike the current advance-data rules identified by ZATCA for goods arriving through seaports, draft article 2 would cover importers, authorised representatives, shipping agents and anyone submitting data for goods entering or transiting Saudi Arabia.^[2][3]

Mode-specific submission times

For sea freight, article 3 would require shipping agents to submit the manifest and cargo data at least 72 hours before arrival from a distant port and 24 hours before arrival from a nearby port. If the voyage takes less than 24 hours, submission could occur at any time before actual arrival. Article 4 would require the importer or representative to lodge the customs declaration no later than the vessel’s arrival, including the goods’ description, quantity, weight and value, bill-of-lading number and exporter name.^[2]

Articles 5 and 6 would extend pre-arrival declarations to air and land traffic. Air declarations and supporting shipment data would be due no later than actual aircraft arrival. Land declarations would be required before the vehicle’s scheduled arrival on the Fasah platform, subject to Administrative Decision 113-99-1446 governing land-port appointments. Article 11 would also require data to be updated before arrival when timing or shipment information changes.^[2]

Proposed enforcement consequences

Electronic supporting documents would have the evidential force of originals. Importers could complete restrictions, duty, tax and other payment steps during advance clearance, but ZATCA would retain risk-based release controls. Article 10 proposes SAR500–SAR1,000 fines for violations or late or non-submission, subject to an exception for accident, force majeure or circumstances beyond the relevant party’s control. ZATCA could additionally refuse release and require re-export.^[2]

Consultation and group preparation

Comments close on 24 November 2026. Article 12 says the final controls must be issued by a Governor’s decision and published in the Official Gazette, but supplies no commencement date. Multinational groups should map Saudi import and transit flows by transport mode, identify who controls manifests and declarations, and test whether brokers, carriers and internal systems can update consistent data before actual arrival. Existing requirements remain the operative baseline until final controls are issued.^[1][2][3]