Some products remain restricted from entering Saudi Arabia for religious, health or security reasons. For a few categories of imported goods, advance approval or import licences are required. In most cases, goods must be imported by Saudi nationals. Imports from Israel are also prohibited. In addition, foreign companies that are deemed to support Israel in one way or another are blacklisted according to the Arab League boycott of Israel, to which Saudi Arabia is a party.
Tariffs are mostly ad valorem.
Most basic necessities are duty free, including sugar, rice, tea, unroasted coffee, barley, corn, drugs and pharmaceuticals. Joint ventures may qualify for subsidies on imported capital goods, and may be exempted from customs duties on imported machinery, raw materials and spare parts. Membership confers special trade and investment privileges within these countries. Special approval is required for the importation of seeds, food, livestock, books, periodicals, religious books, movies, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, wireless equipment, horses, perfumes, natural asphalt, and archaeological pieces. There are health and sanitation regulations for all imported foods.