Warning issued against carrying prohibited items such as drugs, eavesdropping devices
With the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage season looming in sight, Saudi authorities have spelt out customs regulations for the faithful to make their holy journey smooth.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has called on foreign Muslims set to arrive in the kingdom to perform the Hajj rites to complete a customs declaration at the ports of entry and exit if they are carrying more than SR 60,000 or its equivalent in other currencies.
The ministry has also called for completing a customs declaration when the pilgrim carries luggage and gifts in commercial quantities, the value of which exceeds SR 3,000.
Under Saudi regulations, it is also necessary to submit a customs declaration when the passenger carries items that require the approval of the competent authorities, such as pharmaceutical products.
Saudi authorities have warned against possessing prohibited items during the Hajj trip, pointing out that this could cause legal troubles and disrupt the smoothness of the journey.
The Ministry of Hajj has urged pilgrims to abide by related instructions and avoid carrying unauthorised drugs, counterfeit currency, rare precious metals, and eavesdropping devices.
The ministry has advised pilgrims to visit the website of the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Zatca) for more details.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims from around the world annually converge on Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, one of Islam’s five obligatory duties, in and around the holy city of Mecca. This year’s Hajj is due to begin in early June.
Source: Gulfnews
