Parliament set to debate Decree-Law on unified GCC land transport system

TDT | Manama

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A Decree-Law approving the unified GCC system for international land transport will go to a vote in Parliament tomorrow, after the government said Bahrain needs to bring its rules into line with a framework agreed by Gulf leaders.

Decree-Law No 35 of 2025 approves the Unified System (Law) for International Land Transport between GCC states, adopted by the GCC Supreme Council at its 43rd session, and would place cross-border road transport under a single set of rules across member states.

The Public Utilities and Environment Committee, which reviewed the government referral, said the decree-law is sound on constitutional grounds and recommended that Parliament approve it.

The decree-law adopts the unified system in full and states that the ‘competent authority’ will be the government body to be designated by decree.

It also provides that, for the purposes of applying the system, one Bahraini dinar is treated as equal to ten Saudi riyals.

It explains how decisions issued under the system and its executive rules can be challenged.

Anyone affected has 30 days from notification to submit a grievance to the competent authority, which must decide within 30 days.

If the grievance is rejected, or no reply is given within that period, an appeal may be filed with the competent court within a further 30 days.

Decisions

Until the executive rules are issued, decisions already in force at the time the decree-law is issued would remain in effect.

The unified system itself runs to 25 articles.

It covers definitions, the aim and scope, the operating card, rules for return trips and entry without a load, movement by vehicles that are not registered, and domestic transport of passengers and goods.

Standards

It also sets technical standards for vehicles, rules on carrying goods and exceptional loads, and duties on carriers and drivers.

Other provisions deal with how long a vehicle may remain in a member state, as well as weight and size limits.

The system also lists breaches and administrative penalties, covers repeat offences and outlines how fines are paid, before the final articles.

In its explanatory note to Parliament, the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission said the decree-law was issued on an urgent basis because the date set for the GCC system to take effect has already passed, and because delay risks leaving a gap in the law that could disrupt the flow of land transport with other member states.

Procedures

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications said Saudi Arabia has already begun applying the system and that Bahrain needs to adjust its own laws and procedures to avoid clashes that could affect cross-border movement and the interests of national carriers.

The ministry also linked the system to road safety through unified technical standards and stricter controls on transport operations.

The Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Traffic said it agreed with the decree-law as issued.