In order to enhance and develop social and economic ties between the member states of the Arab League, and in fulfillment of what is stipulated in Article Two of the Charter of the League regarding the necessity of establishing close cooperation among the member states in economic and financial matters, and with the aim of promoting Arab tourism among Arab countries, and removing restrictions and obstacles to international passenger transport via roads between the member states of the Arab League, while taking into account the principle of reciprocity,

the Arab states signing below have agreed to the following:

The following terms are defined as follows:

• 1- Competent Authority: The official entities assigned in each of the Arab countries that are parties to the Agreement on the Application of Laws and Regulations related to the implementation of this Agreement.

• 2- Carrier: A natural or legal person from one of the Arab countries that are parties to this Agreement, licensed according to the laws and regulations of their country to carry out international passenger transport on roads.

• 3- Passenger: A person who intends to travel for the purpose of visitation, trade, work, tourism, or any other purpose.

• 4- Means of Transport: Any vehicle that operates on roads with wheels powered by mechanical force (registered vehicle) in one of the Arab countries that are parties to this Agreement and authorized for use by the relevant authority in a party country to this Agreement for transporting passengers, including the following:

  • A- Private Cars: Vehicles intended for personal use and driven by their owner or by someone officially authorized by them.

  • B- Buses: Vehicles designed to transport more than eight passengers excluding the driver. They must meet all technical conditions related to safety, passenger comfort, and traffic safety, and their age must not exceed ten years from the date of manufacture.

  • C- Taxis: Vehicles intended to transport eight passengers or fewer for a fare.

• 5- Regular Transport: Refers to the transport of passengers and their personal luggage from an Arab country that is a party to the Agreement on specified routes with announced schedules and transport tariffs to another Arab country that is a party to the Agreement, in a regular international passenger transport service between them by carriers authorized to do so by the competent authorities, sharing traffic among them based on mutual benefits and the common interests of each party to the Agreement.

• 6- Regular Transit Transport: Refers to the transport of passengers from the territory of an Arab country that is a party to the Agreement through the territory of another Arab country that is a party to the Agreement, heading to a third Arab country that is a party to the Agreement or a non-party state, and vice versa, without disembarking or taking passengers from the transit country, according to a list of passenger names containing the details of each passenger.

• 7- Tourist Transport: Refers to the transport of a single group of passengers and their personal luggage for a single tourist trip on a specified route, starting in the country of vehicle registration and ending in another party country without disembarking or taking passengers along the route, with the bus returning either with the same group of passengers or empty.

• 8- Transport Tariff: Refers to the payment made by the passenger for their transport and their personal luggage.

• 9- Contracting Parties: The governments of the Arab countries that are parties to the Agreement.

The provisions of this Agreement apply to the transfer of passengers (public - private - tourist) on the roads departing from and arriving at the territories of either of the contracting parties by means of transportation, or passing through them.

The contracting parties undertake, under the provisions of this Agreement, to facilitate the free passage of vehicles with their plates, passengers, and their personal luggage.

Drivers of transport vehicles are required to possess the following documents when operating their vehicles in the territories of any of the other contracting parties:

• 1- A valid passport containing the necessary visas if required.

• 2- A valid international driving license or a locally recognized license by the contracting parties that corresponds to the type of vehicle being driven.

• 3- A valid vehicle registration certificate for the vehicle being driven.

• 4- A valid international transit book approved by the contracting parties.

• 5- A baggage declaration that includes the number of pieces, their approximate weight, the name and address of the passenger, the name and address of the carrier, and the name and address of the local agent in the destination country.

• 6- A passenger list that includes their names, nationalities, and passport numbers, to be presented upon request by the competent authority.

• 7- A vehicle insurance document covering the journey from start to finish, including civil liability towards third parties, the driver, and passengers, issued by one of the approved insurance companies in the transit and destination countries that are parties to this agreement.

The transfers subject to the provisions of this Agreement must be covered by insurance from the beginning of the journey until its end, provided that it is issued by one of the insurance companies approved in the transit and destination countries.

The carriers affiliated with the contracting parties shall have local agents for regular transportation in the destination country that is a party to the Agreement, in order to facilitate the procedures for implementing passenger transport operations subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

Public transport vehicles registered with any of the contracting parties are not allowed to enter the territories of any of the other parties while empty for the purpose of transporting passengers except by virtue of a prior permit from its competent authorities.

The registered means of transport of any of the contracting parties may not be used to conduct public transport between two points within the territories of any other party to this Agreement.

The entry of various means of transport shall be through the official ports of either contracting party, and these parties may require the means of transport intending to or transiting through their territories to follow a specified route.