Saudi authorities set rules, conditions for establishing duty-free shops at customs

ZATCA said that the decision will contribute to supporting supply chains and improving logistical services to duty-free shops. (File Photo)
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Updated 08 January 2023
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Saudi authorities set rules, conditions for establishing duty-free shops at customs

  • ZATCA said that the decision will contribute to supporting supply chains and improving logistical services to duty-free shops

RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia on Friday announced new customs rules, conditions and procedures for establishing duty-free shops at air, sea, and land ports, but said that prohibited goods will continue to be banned in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority said the measures were in accordance with the unified customs system of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, which includes requirements related to the operation of the free market, in addition to provisions related to the requirements for operating licenses and other related controls.

The authority said that defining these rules was the consequence of a Saudi Cabinet decision, which included approving the establishment of free markets — according to air, sea, and land ports demands, and allowing sales for travelers coming to and departing from the Kingdom.

ZATCA said that the decision will contribute to supporting supply chains and improving logistical services to duty-free shops by providing a wide range of goods and products for shopping during travel.

The shops will also be able to provide additional sales channels to the local companies by selling their products to the duty-free operators, which will support and contribute to promoting national products by displaying them in sales halls.

The authority said that the duty-free shops are currently located in the departure halls of a number of airports, including the King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd Airport in Dammam, and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah.

Free markets at customs are defined as retail outlets that allow travelers to purchase goods and products that are permitted to be traded in the Kingdom, and that are subject to exemption from customs duties or taxes in accordance with the provisions of the relevant regulations, as stipulated in the Unified Customs Law of the free market rules system.

Goods prohibited from entering the Kingdom include contraband, alcohol, weapons, and products violating regulations related to the protection of commercial, industrial, literary and artistic property, as well as those originating from a country that has been boycotted economically.

Tax exemption systems differ from one country to another according to the location of the free market (arrival or departure halls) and in accordance with the provisions of the unified customs system, its executive regulations, and any of the relevant laws and legislation in each country.


US trade policy uncertainty sees muted response from markets

Updated 7 sec ago
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US trade policy uncertainty sees muted response from markets

RIYADH: President Donald Trump renewed his condemnation of the US Supreme Court on Monday after it ruled against his sweeping tariff program last week, vowing to ‌turn to ‌other ​powers ‌and ⁠licenses ​but giving no ⁠details.

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling on Friday, voided most of the tariffs Trump imposed in 2025, finding that the emergency law he relied on did not allow the imposition of the levies.

Trump said on Saturday he would raise ‌a temporary tariff from 10 percent to 15 percent on US ⁠imports ⁠from all countries, the maximum level allowed under the law, a day after the court ruled he had exceeded his presidential authority when he imposed an array of higher rates ​under an ​economic emergency law.

"The court has also approved all other Tariffs, of which there are many, and they can all be used in ⁠a much more ‌powerful and obnoxious ‌way, with legal ​certainty, than ‌the Tariffs as initially ‌used," he wrote in a social media post.

US stock index futures slipped on Monday as traders reacted to the latest twist in the US’s economic policy. 

At 12noon GMT, Dow E-minis were down ​162 points, or 0.33 percent, Nasdaq 100 E-minis ‌were down 129 points, or 0.51 percent, and S&P 500 E-minis were down 23.75 points, or 0.34 percent.

Most ‌megacap and growth stocks were lower in premarket trading, though Alphabet bucked the trend with a 0.3 percent gain after rising around 4 percent on Friday.

“It’s really hard from ​a ‌business ⁠standpoint when ​you ⁠are at a company to know how do you plan if you’re not even sure about suppliers, supply chains and what the tariffs are going to look like,” said Arthur Laffer Jr., president of Laffer Tengler Investments, according to Reuters.

“That’s a huge concern for corporate America and why it was really important to get that hammered out and ironed out as fast as possible, so that companies know what the playing field really looks like, and they can plan accordingly,” he added.

All three main stock ⁠indexes clocked weekly gains on Friday as markets took the Supreme ‌Court’s decision in stride, with the Nasdaq snapping a five-week ‌losing streak.

Other stock markets across the world greeted the latest wave of uncertainty with a muted response.

In the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia’s main market — which had been closed on Sunday due to a national holiday — ended the day up 0.34 percent.

Dubai’s main share index closed up 1.82 percent, led by a 3.64 percent gain in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties and a 2.92 percent leap in Emirates NBD Bank.

In Abu Dhabi, the index ended the session up 0.55 percent, with Americana Restaurants International leading the gainers with its share price surging 7.73 percent.

Qatar’s index closed up 1.08 percent, driven ​by banking shares, including ​a 0.43 percent uptick in Qatar National Bank, the region’s largest lender. 

Other global markets faced a mixed picture, with the UK's FTSE 100 subdued on Monday.

The blue-chip ‌index was up ‌0.1 percent at 12:00noon GMT, after closing ​at ‌record ⁠highs ​last week. For the UK, the ⁠tariff rate has increased from 10 percent ‌to 15 percent,

Unicredit analysts noted, ‌following Trump's latest announcement.

Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial said the possible US tariff increase from 10 percent to 15 percent “ has brought trade tensions back into focus, tempering the optimism seen after the recent Supreme Court tariff ruling.”

He added: “Markets are now reassessing the economic impact of higher import costs, possible retaliation from trade partners, and the broader implications for global growth.”