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When banks raise interest rates, it affects the economy in different ways. Consumers may spend less because it costs more to borrow money, while savers may benefit from higher interest rates on their deposits. Investors may also be impacted, as higher rates can make stocks less attractive compared to bonds. All of these factors can have an impact on Saudi Arabia, both domestically and in its role as a key player in the global economy.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has announced a tax amnesty initiative, which will provide taxpayers with the option of cancellation and or removal of tax penalties relating to taxes covered in the tax laws including Value-Added Tax (VAT), Corporate Income Tax (CIT) and Withholding Tax (WHT), on the condition that the taxpayers settle the principal tax claims by November 30, 2022.

As the GCC region moves away from an era of oil dependency, many of its member states are implementing new taxes as part of a wider fiscal reform agenda. Economic diversification has been a key focus for policymakers in recent years, and taxes are seen as one way to generate non-oil revenue and promote sustainable growth.

As the capital city of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is key to the realisation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visionary national development program. Given its centrality to the Kingdom's plans for social and economic transformation, the city is in the midst of rapid changes. What does this mean for businesses in Saudi Arabia and beyond? Investors, both domestic and international, are bound to take note of the considerable opportunities that will come with the realisation of the ambitious goals set out in Riyadh 2030.

The United Kingdom is one of the most influential countries in the world, both politically and economically. With a thriving capital city and bustling business scene, there are many opportunities for investors looking to go beyond their current horizons and explore new territories.

The United States of America is the world's foremost economic and military power, as well as a leading cultural force. It is home to some of the world's most innovative businesses and has a highly skilled and educated workforce. For decades, the U.S. has attracted top talent from around the globe, making it a hub for creativity and innovation. In the global cultural psyche, the country is considered "the land of opportunity" and for many investors, it is seen as a safe and stable place to do business.

Saudi Arabia has the largest economy in the Arab League and the 19th largest in the world. However, reliance on oil revenues has made the Saudi economy vulnerable to fluctuations in global energy prices.

The last quarter of 2021 was a record-breaking one for Saudi Arabia as the country saw a 400% increase in foreign investment licence issuance compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Most of this investment was in the technology sector, with start-ups and SMEs seeing substantial growth.

Saudi Arabia is fortunate to have an abundance of oil resources. This has been the foundation of their economy for decades, allowing the Kingdom to become one of the world’s leading energy producers. However, since the 1970s, Saudi leaders have expressed a desire to move the nation away from total economic dependence on oil revenue. In 2016, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announced his Vision 2030 plan for the future of the nation. This agenda seeks to diversify the Saudi economy and increase private sector participation.

Historically, Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) has been a tax-free nation. However, in line with the government's efforts to diversify its economy and reduce its dependency on oil revenues, the nation has begun to introduce various forms of taxation in recent years. These new laws will further align the nation towards the government's national transformation program — Vision 2030.

As the modern business world evolves, finance functions must keep up with the changing data privacy landscape. New regulations and legislations require organizations to take a proactive stance when it comes to protecting customer data. Finance leaders need to understand why realigning their operations and strategies is important, as well as how they can do so effectively.

We share a brief overview of the QR code announcement, along with download links.

With less than 16 days remaining to e-invoicing becoming mandatory in Saudi Arabia, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) have provided further clarity to the applicable penalties which will be enforced for any non-compliance with the e-invoicing regulations.

The Board of Directors for Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) have approved the amendments to Article 20 of the VAT Implementing Regulations for Saudi Arabia, which are effective from 1 November 2021. We share a summary of the updates.

In December 2021 Saudi Arabia will make electronic invoicing mandatory for all in country taxpayers. The implementation of the electronic invoicing system, named “FATOORAH” will commence on December 4th and will be implemented in two phases. Phase One will commence from 4 December 2021 and will focus on e-invoicing generation and saving enforcement, with Phase Two commencing from 1 January 2023 aimed at integration enforcement which will be implemented in phases. We share insights of Phase One.

Eight of the 13 monitored mid-market industries returned to positive health in H1 2021, as assessed by Grant Thornton’s unique Global business pulse, compared with just two in H2 2020. And the spread of index results narrowed markedly, as more industries enjoyed the benefits of the overall mid-market recovery. Among the biggest industry movers, transport jumped 10.4 points into positive territory to 0.7, while healthcare and manufacturing rose 6.6 points, both also returning to positive ground.