New Zealand Signs Memorandum To Strengthen Customs Cooperation With Saudi Arabia

New Zealand Customs Service and Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Customs and Tax Authority (ZATCA) have signed an arrangement to cooperate in bilateral customs matters.

The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed in Riyadh on Thursday 29 January 2026 by the Comptroller and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Customs Service, Ms Christine Stevenson, and Director General of Zakat, His Excellency Suhail Bin Muhammed Abanmi.

This Memorandum will help to establish a platform for direct dialogue between both customs administrations and enable information sharing on trade as well as the movement of people and goods that are known or suspected to be involved in customs offending.

Ms Stevenson says the Memorandum supports New Zealand’s increasing engagement in the Middle East and will help strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries.

“This Memorandum supports New Zealand’s wider trade, travel, and security objectives in the lead-up to signing the New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement.

“It enhances cooperation in Customs procedures with the Gulf’s largest economy, and better equips our agencies to combat transnational, serious and organised crime through sharing of information and expertise.”

Ms Stevenson and New Zealand Customs officials visited the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia last week (26 – 31 January 2026) to attend a World Customs Organization conference and a series of high-level meetings with counterpart agencies in the Middle East.

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