Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Cargo Restrictions

The following goods/products are prohibited to import to Saudi Arabia:

• Weapons
• Alcohol
• Narcotics
• Pork and pork products
• Pornographic materials
• Distillery equipment
• Retreaded or used tires
• Used clothing and certain sculptures
• Cars older than five years*
• Salvaged cars*
• Used police cars*
• Taxis and rental cars*

*https://sls.saso.gov.sa/Default

The following products requires special approval by Saudi authorities:

• Live animals
• Agricultural seeds
• Books
• Periodicals
• Movies
• Tapes
• Religious books and tapes
• Chemicals and harmful materials
• Pharmaceutical products
• Wireless equipment and radio-controlled model airplanes
• Horses
• Products containing alcohol (e.g., perfume)
• Natural asphalt
• Archaeological artifacts
• Food products required SFDA registration and approval. Saber certification, Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC), etc are required for certain products. The list of required documents and exemptions are accessible to brokers/clearing agents only

Weight Regulations

The weight limitations for import at Saudi ports limits terminal to terminal – based on lifting capacity of quay cranes.

• Maximum crane capacity at DMN as of Dec 2024 is 65 mt.
• Maximum capacity at RUH, JUB and JED is 30 mt,
• Haulage limitations by on train from DMN to RUH is 30 mt.

In land haulage by road: trucks with two axles are allowed 21 tons, those with three axles 34 tons

Mandatory information in Bills of Lading

• Full style address of consignee and notify party in Saudi Arabia including valid email and mobile number
• Full name of the Consignee/Notify party should be mentioned, instead of using abbreviation.
• Any change or amendment after the manifest is filed will lead to a penalty.

Fasah

• Importers are required to complete the “Fasah” platform clearing procedures by presenting the necessary documents and completing the customs declaration form at least 48 hours prior to the arrival of the shipment at the port of entry.
• Importers can submit this information directly into Fasah website or with the help of a customs broker as soon as the necessary documents are available.
• Via the Fasah platform, the importer can track the shipment in Customs or before its arrival as soon as the customs declaration form is completed, as well as receive instant notifications

Zakat

• Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, the tax and customs authority, requires importers to present a commercial invoice, a bill of lading, and a certificate of origin to import goods into Saudi Arabia. The importer is also required to present additional documents for certain imports. For example, the importer would be required to present an IECEE certificate for goods that require this certificate as well as proof of registration(s) of products with the concerned parties if necessary.
• To check whether there are conditions specific to each product, companies importing goods into Saudi Arabia can search for the product they want to import to check which conditions apply with the help of the Customs Tariff website or by consulting a customs broker.

For shipments involving Freight Forwarders as Consignees / Freight Forwarders

• As per circular from Mawani, Saudi Port Authority has stipulated in Article 26 that Shipping Lines are required to obtain a copy of Freight Forwarder’s License issued by the Public Transport Authority (PTA) for shipment involved freight forwarders – as Consignee or Notify Party on Bill of Lading.

Our Saudi Arabia office will not release any shipments unless a validated license is presented.

New Mandatory Certification Requirements for imports (w.e.f 1^st Jan 2025) *:

1. Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC)
2. Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC

*Details under Relevant Documents

Usage of pallets in shipping & packing cargo in containers into Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
In order to increase the efficiency and productivity of port operations in line with international standards, the Saudi Ports Authority has issued a Circular No: (31) of 2021 regulating cargo owners to stow goods imported in containers into Saudi Arabia with the use of pallets.