Customs Union Authority

The Customs Union Authority of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional Gulf entity operating under the umbrella of the GCC Secretariat General. It was established by a decision of the Supreme Council in its thirty-second session held in Riyadh (December 2011).Based on the Supreme Council’s decision in its forty-second session (December 2021) to activate the work of the Customs Union Authority and grant it full powers to perform its duties in accordance with best practices supporting the completion of all requirements for establishing the Customs Union, the Executive Council of the Authority was formed from the Directors General of Customs of the GCC Member States (United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, State of Kuwait), with the participation of the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC Secretariat General.

• Promote the free movement of goods across GCC member states.
• Harmonize customs laws, procedures, and practices.
• Strengthen customs cooperation and information exchange.
• Combat smuggling, fraud, and illicit trade.
• Enhance border security while facilitating legitimate trade.
• Advance customs modernization and digital transformation.
• Improve customs efficiency through coordinated risk management.
• Support economic integration and regional competitiveness.
• Build customs capabilities through training and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure the effective implementation of the GCC Customs Union framework.

ZATCA participates in the following areas of cooperation:

• Customs Policy Harmonization
• Common Customs Tariff Administration
• Trade Facilitation and Free Movement of Goods
• Customs Cooperation and Information Exchange
• Combatting Smuggling and Customs Fraud
• Risk Management and Customs Enforcement
• Customs Digital Transformation and Single Window Integration
• Capacity Building and Technical Cooperation
• Regional Economic Integration and Common Market Development

• Enhanced regional trade flows and facilitating the movement of goods across GCC member states.
• Improved customs efficiency and border operations through the harmonization of customs procedures and the adoption of modern customs practices.
• Enhanced customs security and enforcement capabilities, contributing to more effective detection and prevention of smuggling and customs violations.
• Expanded cooperation and information exchange with GCC customs administrations, improving risk management and compliance activities.
• Accelerated customs digitalization and innovation, including greater integration of electronic customs systems and trade facilitation initiatives.
• Reduced administrative burdens and trade barriers for businesses operating across GCC markets.
• Enhanced alignment of customs regulations and practices, creating a more predictable and transparent trading environment for importers and exporters.