Tobacco — Saudi Arabia
What travelers need to know about tobacco in Saudi Arabia. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Tobacco in Saudi Arabia: restricted — there are real limits travelers must follow.
Declare tobacco at Saudi customs. Up to 200 cigarettes is free of customs duty and tax. Between 200 and 2,400 cigarettes you pay duty and tax on the ENTIRE quantity, not just the excess, and you need Saudi Food and Drug Authority approval. Above 2,400 cigarettes is handled as a commercial import.
ZATCA states a quantity above 200 and below 2,400 cigarettes is admitted only "with the imposition of customs duties and taxes on the entire quantity", and requires Saudi Food and Drug Authority approval; above 2,400 cigarettes it becomes subject to commercial importation procedures. No fine amount is published on this page.
§ Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), "Personal Quantities of Tobacco Products", Rules and Regulations > Zakat, Tax and Customs Regulations > Travel; page-stamped Last Update 26 Aug 2026. Corroborated by the Arabic mirror and by ZATCA "Personal luggage" (GCC Common Customs Law art. 103(b), SAR 3,000) and ZATCA "Official Goods Declaration" (art. 60, Common Customs Law, Royal Decree M/41 of 3/11/1423).