Saudi Arabia - Prohibited and Restricted Imports (2024)

The importation of the following products requires special approval by Saudi authorities: agricultural seeds, live animals, books, periodicals, movies, and 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; and archaeological artifacts. Saudi law prohibits importation of the following products: weapons, alcohol, narcotics, pork and pork products, p*rnographic materials, distillery equipment, retreaded or used tires, used clothing and certain sculptures. Saudi Customs also does not allow importation of cars older than five years, salvaged cars, used police cars, taxies and rental cars. For additional information, please review requirements on the SASO and Saudi Customs web sites. Only Saudi nationals may import goods for resale and conduct direct marketing activities; however, foreign industrial entities may conduct trade in the products they manufacture, and nationals of GCC member states may engage in certain retail and trading activities.

Saudi Arabia - Prohibited and Restricted Imports (2024)

FAQs

What imports are prohibited in Saudi Arabia? ›

Saudi law prohibits importation of the following products: weapons, alcohol, narcotics, pork and pork products, p*rnographic materials, distillery equipment, retreaded or used tires, used clothing and certain sculptures.

What goods are prohibited or restricted when importing? ›

Prohibitions and restrictions
  • domestic cats or dogs.
  • illegal or dangerous drugs.
  • indecent or obscene goods.
  • certain foodstuffs, mainly meat, milk, fish or products thereof.
  • products of endangered species.
  • protected items of international heritage.
  • medicines.
  • firearms, weapons, fireworks or explosives.

What are the import requirements in Saudi Arabia? ›

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.

What are the items restricted for import? ›

Prohibited Goods
  • Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
  • p*rnographic and obscene material.
  • Counterfeit and pirated goods and goods infringing any of the legally enforceable intellectual property rights.
  • Antiquities.

What are restricted and prohibited goods? ›

Prohibited goods are those goods for which importation and exportation have been completely banned for reasons linked to health, environment, protection of endangered species of flora and fauna, security, legislation etc. These items shall be liable to forfeiture by customs and the person may be liable to a penalty.

Why are imports restricted? ›

Trade restrictions are typically undertaken in an effort to protect companies and workers in the home economy from competition by foreign firms. A protectionist policy is one in which a country restricts the importation of goods and services produced in foreign countries.

What are prohibited goods Why are they prohibited? ›

prohibited goods means any goods the import or export of which is prohibited under the provisions of this Regulation “ Law “ or any other regulation “ law “.

What are prohibited goods with example? ›

Human remains, fetal remains, human body parts, human embryos or components thereof. Articles of apparel and clothing accessories of wild animals covered under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. Other articles of fur skin of wild animals covered under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

Which of the following is an example of a restriction on imports? ›

Quotas. A quota is a direct restriction on the total quantity of a good or service that may be imported during a specified period. Quotas restrict total supply and therefore increase the domestic price of the good or service on which they are imposed.

What are the import rules? ›

To legally enter the U.S., imported goods must arrive within the port of entry, delivery of the merchandise must be authorized by CBP, and estimated duties must be paid. The importer of record is responsible for the arrangement of examination and release of the goods.

What are the 4 types of imports? ›

Types of imports
  • One-time import. This handles importing most profile information for both people and organizations. ...
  • Recurring import. A list or filter shared by another nation can be imported using the recurring import. ...
  • Voter file import. ...
  • Ballot import. ...
  • Scanned survey import. ...
  • Donation import. ...
  • Membership import.

What are import requirements? ›

Imports must have the following documentation:
  • Invoice (unless a commercial sample under $25 in value)
  • Ocean bill of lading, inland bill of lading, through bill of lading, air waybill (air cargo)
  • Proof of insurance.
  • Certificate of pre-shipment inspection (when applicable)
  • Port expenditures (when applicable)
Aug 2, 2022

What is the difference between prohibited and restricted? ›

Prohibited goods are the goods that cannot be imported into the country while restricted goods are those which must meet certain conditions before clearance through Customs.

What are restricted goods? ›

Regulated (restricted) goods are goods that are controlled by an import or export permit. These permits regulate either the quality or quantity of the goods.

What happens to prohibited items in customs? ›

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN U.S. CUSTOMS SEIZES AN ILLEGAL PACKAGE? If U.S. Customs wants to detain a package, it has to go through a legal process to do that. If U.S. Customs thinks a package is illegal, it has to detain it within 5 days of the package's arrival.

What are the 3 trade restrictions? ›

The major obstacles to international trade are natural barriers, tariff barriers, and nontariff barriers.

What are the 5 types of trade restrictions or barriers? ›

The main types of trade barriers used by countries seeking a protectionist policy or as a form of retaliatory trade barriers are subsidies, standardization, tariffs, quotas, and licenses.

Does anyone benefit from import restrictions? ›

Although these barriers often discourage trade between nations, they come in handy when a government wants to improve the consumption of local goods, create local employment, foster national security and increase national revenue.

What are three reasons that nations might restrict imports? ›

Reasons Governments Are For Trade Barriers
  • To protect domestic jobs from “cheap” labor abroad. ...
  • To improve a trade deficit. ...
  • To protect “infant industries” ...
  • Protection from “dumping” ...
  • To earn more revenue.
Feb 2, 2022

How do import restrictions affect prices? ›

Import quota

Quotas limit the quantity of goods entering the domestic market. Quotas reduce supply. If domestic producers cannot compensate by increasing output, quotas create shortages (excess demand). As a result, the price of domestic goods rises.

What are the reasons for prohibition of importation and exportation? ›

Reasons for prohibiting imports and exports –

The purposes for which important/exportation can be prohibited are enumerated below – 1) Maintenance of security of India. 2) Maintenance of public order and standards of decency or morality. 3) Prevention of smuggling. 4) Prevention of shortage of goods of any description.

What are restricted import give five name? ›

Ambergris, civet, castoreum & musk; cantharides; bile, whether or not dried; glands fetched from wild animals. Other fish waste. sem*n (in the frozen state) other than the bovine embryo of wild animals. Pig Fats (inclusive of lard) & poultry fat, other than that of heading 1503 or 0209.

What are the restrictions on import and export taxes? ›

Article I, § 10, clause 2 of the United States Constitution, known as the Import-Export Clause, prevents the states, without the consent of Congress, from imposing tariffs on imports and exports above what is necessary for their inspection laws and secures for the federal government the revenues from all tariffs on ...

How many items are banned from importing? ›

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday announced its fourth negative arms import list, under which 101 products will be progressively banned from December 2022 to December 2032, in a bid to boost domestic defence production and exports.

When restrictions are imposed on imports it is called? ›

A tariff is a tax imposed by one country on the goods and services imported from another country to influence it, raise revenues, or protect competitive advantages.

What are two main imports? ›

There are two basic types of import: Industrial and consumer goods. Intermediate goods and services.

What are 3 examples of imports? ›

Imports can be finished products, like cars, TV sets, computers, or sneakers, or they can be raw materials, such as zinc, oil, wood, or grains. They can also be services, like financial services, travel services, and insurance.

What are the top 3 importing countries? ›

World's 10 Largest Importers

The United States is the world's largest importer of goods, followed by China and Germany.

What are the two types of import permits? ›

Under the EIPA , there are two types of import permits: General Import Permits ( GIP s) and Specific Import Permits.

What are the three 3 main documents required for import customs clearance? ›

• Customs for the clearance of imports consists of:
  • Import Declaration.
  • Bill of Lading (B/L) or Air Waybill.
  • Invoice.
  • Packing List.
  • Import License (if applicable)
  • Certificates of Origin (if applicable)
  • Other relevant documents such as catalogue, product ingredients, etc.

How can a country regulate imports? ›

Governments three primary means to restrict trade: quota systems; tariffs; and subsidies. A quota system imposes restrictions on the specific number of goods imported into a country. Quota systems allow governments to control the quantity of imports to help protect domestic industries.

What is an example of restricted? ›

Example Sentences

He is on a severely restricted diet. You have entered a restricted area.

What does prohibited mean customs? ›

Prohibited Imports/Exports are goods which are, by their nature, unlawful to be imported or exported.

What are examples of restrictions? ›

A restriction is a limitation or a restraint, like when a size restriction keeps you from jumping on a toddler trampoline and bouncing the smaller kids a mile up in the air. Usually a restriction is in place because a limit needs to be set.

Can prohibited goods be exported? ›

The code number is illustrative of classification but does not limit the description by virtue of the standard description of the item against the code in the import part of the ITC(HS) classification. The prohibited items are not permitted to be exported.

What food is not allowed in Saudi Arabia? ›

All Muslims, under Islamic law, are not allowed to eat pork. Saudi's expect non-Muslim foreign teachers to abide by this law while teaching in Saudi Arabia too, regardless of their own religious beliefs. It won't be too hard to follow this law though, as generally only “Halal” foods are allowed to enter the country.

What items are not allowed in checked luggage in Saudi Arabia? ›

Saudi Arabia Prohibited and Restricted Items
  • Adult Toys.
  • Alcohol and alcohol related items.
  • Alcohol and Alcoholic products including spare parts & equipment's which are used for alcohol production, bottle caps and labels for Alcoholic products.
  • All kind of DG & Non-DG Chemicals.

What Cannot be brought through customs? ›

Examples of restricted items include firearms, certain fruits and vegetables, animal products, animal by products, and some animals.

What are some weird laws in Saudi Arabia? ›

The deeply conservative country has a whole host of strict rules and laws - here are some of the more obscure things you can be arrested for:
  • Dabbing. ...
  • Witchcraft. ...
  • Making wine. ...
  • Eating in the family section of restaurants if you're on your own. ...
  • Celebrating your birthday. ...
  • LGBTQ relations. ...
  • Taking pictures of buildings or people.
Jul 19, 2018

Can you bring a Bible to Saudi Arabia? ›

The public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal; as is an intention to convert others. However, the Saudi authorities accept the private practice of religions other than Islam, and you can bring a religious text into the country as long as it is for your personal use.

Can I wear at shirt in Saudi Arabia? ›

Tips on What to Wear in Saudi Arabia

T-shirts reaching the elbow are generally acceptable. Overall it's best to wear long baggy tops, long pants/trousers, or loose skirts and dresses that reach to the ankle. The only times you should stray from this rule is in your room, or on beaches clearly designated for swimwear.

Is dating not allowed in Saudi Arabia? ›

Dating in Saudi Arabia, aside from being logistically impossible (public spaces are divided into bachelors and family-only zones), is illegal.

What happens if you have a prohibited item in checked baggage? ›

As a result, prohibited items may result in both a TSA civil enforcement action and a criminal enforcement action. Before leaving home, remember to check your baggage to ensure you are not carrying any prohibited items to avoid a possible arrest and/or civil penalties.

Can I take ibuprofen to Saudi Arabia? ›

It's important to realize that importing illegal medication or drugs in Saudi Arabia carries stiff penalties – including imprisonment and fines. However, travelers who take prescription medicines such as sleeping pills, painkillers and treatments for ADHD can import these into Saudi Arabia.

Does customs check your bag? ›

If you're chosen for a search, customs agents will search your bags by hand or X-ray and ask you more questions about your trip. Of course, it's always smart to be polite and cooperative.

What items need to be declared at customs? ›

Most countries require travellers to complete a customs declaration form when bringing notified goods (alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, animals, fresh food, plant material, seeds, soils, meats, and animal products) across international borders.

What is the biggest problem in Saudi Arabia? ›

The challenges facing Riyadh, include the dwindling of Saudi Arabia's income resulting from the drop in oil prices, Islamic terrorism in its own territory, the military intervention in Yemen, and hostile relations with Iran.

What is punishable by death in Saudi? ›

Murder is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.

Do girls have rights in Saudi Arabia? ›

According to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, women in Saudi Arabia still experience discrimination in relation to marriage, family, and divorce, despite the reforms, and the Saudi government continues to target and repress women's rights activists and movements.

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