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The World Customs Organization (WCO) has commended Saudi Arabia's efforts in facilitating trade through its Clearance within Two Hours Initiative that has been implemented by the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) in all of its land, sea, and air customs ports. This initiative is the product of ZATCA's endeavors to make the Kingdom a global logistics hub.

WCO published a detailed report reviewing the initiative implementation stages, the Kingdom's digital transformation efforts, and the ongoing coordination and cooperation between the concerned parties that contributed to the success of the initiative. The WCO report also noted that the clearance period at the Saudi customs ports was 12 days (averaging 8 days) five years ago. This confirms ZATCA's efforts in facilitating customs procedures and promoting the flexibility of import and export operations to facilitate trade in the Kingdom through the Clearance within Two Hours Initiative.

WCO has also commended ZATCA's efforts and measures taken to achieve the record time of “clearance within two hours." Such measures include the automation of all customs procedures and linking the information systems of all regulatory bodies through Fasah platform, allowing data exchange and electronic communication between such authorities and ZATCA. In addition, ZATCA signed service level agreements with seaport operators to ensure the transport and unloading of the containers required for the actual inspection in a specified period of time.

The report highlights the services provided by Fasah platform, which facilitated importers' and exporters' access to 149 import and export services electronically, which in turn contributed to supporting trade facilitation goals and achieving greater flexibility in clearance through land, sea and air customs ports.

The WCO report has attributed the success of the “clearance within two hours" initiative to importers' ability to pre-submit the necessary import documents 72 hours before the shipment arrives at the port, and to comply with all requirements and laws set forth by ZATCA before the arrival of the consignment, which contributed to promoting clearance flexibility and facilitating customs procedures and associated logistics.

For further information, you can view the report on the World Customs Organization's official website here.​