The words and phrases mentioned below, wherever they appear in the Implementing Regulation for dealing with abandoned items at air ports, shall have the meanings specified next to them unless the context requires otherwise:

• 1-Law:

• Civil Aviation Law and related regulations.

• 2-The Kingdom:

• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• 3-The Authority: 

• The General Authority of Civil Aviation, which is the official authority responsible for overseeing civil aviation affairs in the Kingdom.

• 4-The Aircraft:

• Any machine capable of sustaining itself in the air through reactions of the air other than those reflected from the surface of the earth.

• 5-The Operator: 

• The natural or legal person who operates one or more aircraft for their own account, and whose crew is subject to the orders of ground handling companies and licensed cargo station operators by the General Authority of Civil Aviation at air ports, who manage and operate air cargo warehouses at air ports, in addition to express parcel delivery companies present in the airport grounds.

• 6-The Airport:

• A defined area of land or water, including buildings, facilities, and equipment, designated wholly or partially for the operation or movement of aircraft and their departure.

• 7-Perishable or Refrigerated Goods:

• Goods that are subject to rapid spoilage due to expiration or reasons such as high temperature, humidity, climate, or any other environmental conditions, or the passage of a certain period of time, which require preservation under specific temperatures or conditions.

• 8-Dry Goods (General Goods):

• Goods that do not require refrigerated storage.

• 9-Hazardous Goods:

• Goods that pose a danger as defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), including explosive materials, flammable gases, flammable liquids, combustible and self-igniting solids, oxidizing materials, toxic and infectious materials, radioactive materials, corrosive materials, and various other hazardous goods, as well as any other materials according to the Chemical Import and Management Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/38 dated 16/6/1427H, taking into account the international regulations applicable to the transport of hazardous materials. No hazardous materials may be transported by aircraft without a permit from the Authority, in accordance with the procedures specified by the Regulation.

• 10-Abandoned Items:

• All imports or exports or domestic goods under transit that include refrigerated goods, perishable goods, general goods, or hazardous goods for which the regulatory procedures have not been completed and have exceeded the specified period.

• 11-Customs Declaration:

• The declaration or admission submitted by the owner of the goods or their representative, detailing the marks, characteristics, and description of the incoming (declared) goods, along with their quantity and specifics in accordance with the Customs Law and its Implementing Regulation and the instructions issued in this regard.

• 12-Owner of the Goods:

• The owner of the goods as stated in the relevant documents and records.

• 13-Air Carrier:

• The licensed carrier company authorized to conduct aviation activities and permitted to operate to and from the airports of the Kingdom, either regularly or occasionally.

• 14-Operator Fees:

• All amounts due to the operator concerning handling fees, storage fees, or other additional services.

The aim of this Regulation is to define the roles and responsibilities of the relevant authorities within the air ports regarding the mechanism for dealing with abandoned goods, whether through re-export, destruction, or sale at auction.

This Regulation applies to the following:

• 1. Dry goods (general goods).

• 2. Perishable goods such as refrigerated items and foodstuffs.

• 3. Hazardous goods.

Stakeholders and their Representatives: (including airport companies, air cargo operators, air carriers, and representatives of importers)

A- Obliging all personnel of stakeholders and their representatives to comply with the laws related to the regulations of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority.

B- Emphasizing that operating companies must periodically notify the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority of goods that exceed the legal duration, and in the event of a violation by the handling company, it will be dealt with according to the laws and regulations.

1. The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority shall coordinate with the designated airport management to allocate specific locations for abandoned shipments according to the applicable communication channels, ensuring that they are sufficient to accommodate all abandoned items. Coordination and monitoring of the inventory of abandoned items shall be conducted, ensuring that they are handled in accordance with the provisions mentioned above.

2. The operator shall provide the necessary labor and equipment for the abandoned items area within the airport premises to unload the abandoned shipments in the abandoned items area for the purpose of inspection and to review their contents before and after the sale.

This Regulation shall come into effect after being communicated to the relevant authorities with a notice period of (60) days by providing them with a copy of its content. No amendments to it, whether by deletion, addition, or cancellation, shall take effect except through a signed agreement between His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and His Excellency the Governor of the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority. It shall be reviewed annually for all operators, importers, and related entities to amend their contracts and related documents in accordance with this Regulation.

The Implementing Regulation for dealing with abandoned goods at air ports applies to interested parties (the owner of the goods, the air carrier, operators, and their representatives), and the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority shall not be held responsible for taking any actions under the Implementing Regulation for dealing with abandoned goods.