The Saudi Custom, in cooperation with FASASH platform, launched the “Masar Express” service, which enables customers of e-commerce, express transport, and express mail from companies and individuals the ability to know the customs status of shipments and check their customs duties, regardless of the shipping company.

The spokesman for Saudi Customs, Bader Al-Rabdi, stated that the customs aims, in launching this service, to provide transparency with customers by facilitating the services provided in e-commerce so that the customer can check the status of the shipment and the stages of the shipment’s movement inside the customs ports, noting that the service is available through FASAH application and the platform’s website.

Al-Rabdi clarified that customs seeks through this service, to keep up with the rapid growth of e-commerce, the multiplicity of its channels and sources, and the various communication tools with customers around the world, by facilitating and developing e-commerce procedures, indicating that one of the most important development tools in this aspect is establishing an independent e-commerce department to tackle the challenges and obstacles by enhancing communication and cooperation with all the involved parties in e-

commerce from express transport companies licensed by the Communications and Information Technology Commission in accordance with the regulations of the postal parcel transport regulation. Customs also seeks, through this service, to cooperate with some websites through express transport companies to set the rules of importing and classifying goods, and the rate of customs duties, as this contributes to achieving the flow, speed, and flexibility of e-commerce imports clearance, in addition to completing the electronic linking process between express transport companies, which allows more rapid clearance process, and enhances the efficiency of collecting due fees and taxes.

Al-Rabdi stated that Customs is still seeking to develop its services provided to this important sector which witnesses the increase of the shipping companies and rapid growth of customers using e-commerce.

It is noteworthy that the field of e-commerce witnessed during 2020 a significant activity through the various service providers in the Kingdom, which led to the growth of this activity in the period of the Corona pandemic.

Customs statistics indicate that, during the past year, it accomplished about 2.2 million customs statements, with an increase of about 65% over the year 2019, in which Saudi Customs accomplished more than 1.3 million customs statements.