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Emerging technologies are at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s drive to achieve Vision 2030, reshaping industries and enhancing global competitiveness.

In the midst of a rapidly unfolding AI revolution, digital trust is emerging as the cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s future economy.

Emerging technologies such as collaborative sensing and generative watermarking are reshaping the concept of modern infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a premier destination for global investment and business expansion, driven by the transformative vision of Vision 2030.

In a significant step towards strengthening urban development and real estate reform, the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH) has announced the issuance of the updated Executive Regulations for the White Land Fees on 28/2/1447H (22 August 2025). The new regulations form part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to promote efficient land use, stimulate housing development, and achieve the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Grant Thornton Saudi Arabia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to strengthen collaboration in advancing the accounting and finance profession across the Kingdom.

In a step toward greater transparency and alignment with global best practices, the GCC Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee has approved a new methodology for calculating excise tax on sweetened beverages.

Our ‘IFRS Viewpoint’ series provides insights from our global IFRS team on applying IFRS Accounting Standards in challenging situations. Each edition will focus on an area where the Standards have proved difficult to apply or lack guidance. This edition provides guidance on some of the basic issues encountered in accounting for cryptocurrencies, focusing on the accounting for the holder.

2024 saw yet more turbulence and change around the world and in the markets where our member firms operate, from the ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East to volatile economic markets and the explosion of AI.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is challenging. Each year, new Standards and amendments are published by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). These changes have the potential to significantly impact the presentation of a complete set of financial statements, and 2025 is no different.

On 26 September 2025, ZATCA announced the 24th wave of taxpayers required to implement phase 2 of e-invoicing integration. This wave extends the obligation to taxpayers whose taxable revenues exceeded SAR 375,000 during the years 2022, 2023, or 2024.

In 2023, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) issued its first two international IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (IFRS SDS), IFRS S1 ‘General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information’ and IFRS S2 ‘Climate-related Disclosures’.

Revenue recognition is fundamental in all businesses, and it is important that it is recognised in a consistent and comparable way across industries and capital markets.

Across the world, tax administrations have long recognised that compliance is not only about enforcement. It is also about providing pathways for taxpayers to voluntarily come forward, settle their obligations, and restore their standing within the system. Tax amnesty programs and voluntary disclosure initiatives have emerged as strategic policy tools that balance the needs of governments with the realities facing businesses and individuals. They do more than recover overdue revenues; they promote transparency, maintain economic stability, and foster long-term trust between taxpayers and regulators.

In today’s dynamic economic environment, accurately valuing businesses and assets has become more critical and more complex than ever. Within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, rapid economic transformation, increased M&A activity, evolving regulation, and global market fluctuations are redefining traditional valuation benchmarks. Volatility, whether triggered by shifts in oil prices, regional developments, or broader geopolitical risks, requires a more thoughtful and adaptable approach to ensure that fair value remains both reliable and defensible.

The government of the United States of America (US) has announced a series of changes in their economic and policy priorities. These include changes to import tariffs targeting major trading partners and the suspension of foreign development assistance.