The General Administration of Customs launched on Wednesday a pre-clearance mechanism to expedite the release of goods as part of ongoing efforts to develop the customs system and enhance the efficiency of logistical services at land ports.

The Customs Authority announced in a press release the issuance of Customs Instruction No. (24) of 2026 regarding the regulation of pre-clearance procedures for goods imported by land, within the framework of the digital transformation plan and the simplification of customs procedures.

It stated that the new instructions aim to expedite the release of goods, reduce the documentation process, and increase the smooth flow of commercial shipping in line with the best modern customs practices and enhance the business and trade environment.

She explained that, according to the instructions, importers or those legally authorized by them can now begin pre-clearance customs procedures through the automated customs system before the goods actually arrive at the customs department by submitting the necessary data and transactions in a timely manner in preparation for completing the procedures as soon as the shipments arrive.

The Customs Authority stated that the instructions issued in this regard stipulated that the customs declaration would be automatically cancelled if the goods did not arrive within a maximum period of 30 days from the date of registration of the declaration, in order to ensure the accuracy of the data and to regulate work procedures.

She emphasized that this step comes within its direction towards strengthening customs governance and reducing truck waiting times at land ports, in addition to supporting the full digital transformation of procedures, which contributes to improving the importers’ experience and raising the efficiency of operational performance in various customs ports.