Travelers entering or leaving Saudi Arabia, including Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, are now required to declare cash, gold, jewelry, and other valuables worth SAR 40,000 or more, following a new regulation issued under the Kingdom’s Anti-Money Laundering Law.
The revised threshold, reduced from the previous SAR 60,000, applies to all travelers crossing Saudi borders and covers cash, bearer negotiable instruments, gold bullion, precious metals, gemstones, jewelry, and similar high-value assets.
Under the new regulation, anyone carrying valuables valued at SAR 40,000 or above, or the equivalent in foreign currency, must submit a written customs declaration upon arrival or departure. Travelers are also expected to provide supporting documents, such as purchase invoices or valuation certificates, to confirm the value of the items.
For Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, the new rule is particularly significant, as many travel with gold jewelry kept as personal savings or intended as gifts for relatives. Once the value of such items reaches the prescribed threshold, a customs declaration becomes mandatory.
Saudi authorities also emphasized that electronic declarations do not replace the requirement to complete procedures at the Customs Declaration Office for cash, precious metals, and other qualifying valuables.
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has been granted broader enforcement powers under the updated regulations. Officials may detain undeclared or falsely declared cash and valuables for up to 72 hours if there are reasonable suspicions of money laundering or related financial crimes, even when the value is below the declaration threshold.
Travelers who fail to comply with the declaration requirement may face financial penalties ranging from 10 to 25 percent of the value of the seized assets for a first offence where no money laundering is established. Cases involving suspected money laundering will be referred to the Public Prosecution and the General Department of Financial Investigations for further action.
The updated regulation is aimed at strengthening financial transparency, combating money laundering, and ensuring greater compliance with international standards at Saudi Arabia’s ports of entry and exit.
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