Prohibited and restricted items in Saudi Arabia

Before you pack your parcel for shipping to Saudi Arabia you should check that everything you have included will be allowed to reach its destination.

There are items which ’s partner couriers won’t carry to any destination, normally due to safety or legal concerns. But beyond that there is a long list of goods which Saudi Arabia does not allow across its border.

Someone in Saudi Arabia’s Customs department is obviously not a fan of irritating noises, as the following are prohibited from import:

• Annoying horns
• Greetings cards which play a noise when opened
• Any kind of device which plays hysterical laughter
• Devices which change your voice

In recent years Saudi Arabia has cracked down on the West’s obsession with celebrity culture, and as such any items decorated with images or names of celebrities are strictly banned from entering the country.

Be particularly careful when sending anything with any religious iconography into Saudi Arabia, as the following items will be refused at the border:

• Christmas trees
• Six-pointed stars
• The Christian cross
• Any materials, such as books, drawings or films, deemed to be contrary to the Islamic faith

Other items on the prohibited list include:

• Old newspapers
• Items which have foreign flags prominently displayed on them
• Cigarette adverts in any format
• Videophones

After checking the list above, if you are still unsure whether your goods are allowed in Saudi Arabia then you can contact their customs direct.