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SaudiRed Sea Authority, Zatca out with guidelines for temporary entry of foreign tourist vessels: The Saudi Red Sea Authority and the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (Zatca) have released a procedural guide (pdf) for the temporary entry of tourist marine vessels to marinas in the Kingdom.
Why it matters: The guide aims to provide clear guidelines for all customs procedures necessary for the temporary entry of vessels into the Kingdom’s waters, Zatca said. The goal is to make it easier for foreign-flagged vessels to tie up at berths regulated by the Saudi Red Sea Authority, it added.
It’s all about promoting coastal tourism: Last year, the Saudi Red Sea Authority issued seven new regulations to promote coastal tourism in the Kingdom. The regulations cover visiting private yachts, cruise ships, marina design and operations, martine tourism operators, and other segments of the industry.
Vessels allowed temporary entry include cruise ships, yachts, excursion boats, and diving vessels, all of which can stay in our waters for up to six months. The period can be extended on the condition that licensing and visa requirements for the extension are met. Non-motorized watercraft including kayaks, canoes, windsurfers, paddleboards and others will also be allowed temporary entry depending on the visa duration of the tourist or the license or permit granted to operators.
The rules don’t apply to cargo ships, warships, commercial vessels not operating in coastal tourism, water ferries, high-speed racing boats, research vessels, water taxis, and fishing boats, the procedural guide showed.
Documents needed to get the temporary entry permit: The documents include a customs declaration statement, an invoice indicating the country of origin, a shipping bill, and proof of payment of customs duties and taxes.
