RIYADH, 18 September 2007 — Many Shoura Council members argued yesterday that the SR50 tariff collected from all travelers leaving abroad using the Kingdom’s airports was “an additional burden” on people who are reeling under the rising costs of living all over the country.
While discussing whether the council should authorize the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) to prepare a list of individuals exempt from paying the exit fee according to international agreements, council members said that the tax was unjustified.
The tariff is included in the cost of the air ticket. The proceeds of the fee are supposed to be used to help maintain air transport infrastructure.
“Our airports are in a bad condition and do not meet our expectations, particularly the King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah,” said Shoura Council member Abdullah Dahlan.
“The money should go to improve the conditions of our airports,” Dahlan said, adding that he favored that pilgrims be exempt from paying the tax as they travel to Saudi Arabia as part of their religious duty as Muslims.
Another Shoura member, Dr. Talal Bakur, questioned the purpose of such a tariff. “Why do we have this tariff?” he asked. “This is a procedure applied by some poor countries. Does it even have an effect on our national economy?”
“I suggest that it be abolished altogether,” he stressed, adding that in any case the tariff should only be paid by foreigners leaving the Kingdom and not Saudi nationals.
Mansoor Abdul Ghaffar, another Shoura member, agreed. “I request that the regulation concerning the tariff be reconsidered,” he said.
“I recommend that the committee take this into consideration. People here are already suffering from high living expenses,” Abdul Ghaffar said.
The council apparently authorized the GACA to compile the categories of travelers who would be exempted from the tariff after majority of the members voted favoring the decision.
According to international agreements, those exempted from paying the tariff would be members of the diplomatic community, underage children, persons with special needs, and dead bodies flown out and those accompanying the bodies.
Also during yesterday’s session, Shoura Council President Sheikh Saleh Bin-Humaid said the council would create a special mechanism in which committees within the council would monitor the implementation of government regulations. “We are seeking to develop a mechanism for this,” Bin-Humaid said.
The Shoura president’s remarks came after several introductions from members such as Bandar Al-Hajjar who raised a valid point about the council’s supervisory role. “What is the purpose of the council when regulations are passed and their implementation is not followed up in government departments?” Al-Hajjar said. “I have yet to see any of the council’s committees discussing with representatives of government departments the implementation of regulations.”
During the discussion of the annual report of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, the council voted in favor of three recommendations, one of which called for the ministry to submit an annual financial report.
Some members said the ministry was not capable of handling endowments and called for the formation of an independent government body to oversee the performance of endowments in the Kingdom.
A special request submitted by council member Abdul Rahman Al-Attawi to create special centers to train imams and muezzins (prayer callers) did not win majority approval yesterday.
