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The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), in collaboration with the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA), has launched a public consultation on the proposed Economic Substance Requirements (ESR) Regulations applicable to investors operating within Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Saudi Arabia’s sports sector has entered a decisive phase of maturity. Significant investment has accelerated the development of professional leagues, global sporting events and elite infrastructure. As the market evolves, attention is shifting from rapid growth towards value creation, commercial discipline and long-term sustainability.

Saudi Arabia has become an increasingly attractive destination for business process outsourcing as part of its broader economic diversification agenda under Vision 2030. Organisations across sectors, including finance, healthcare, technology, logistics, and government services, are leveraging BPO models to enhance efficiency, manage costs, and access specialised capabilities.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing rapid growth in emerging technology sectors, particularly artificial intelligence, gaming and digital platforms. These sectors are attracting significant investment as part of Vision 2030’s broader push to diversify the economy, enhance digital infrastructure and promote innovation. For investors, understanding how to value ventures in these high-growth, high-risk sectors is critical to making informed decisions, structuring investments effectively and managing risk.

This publication is designed to give preparers and reviewers of IFRS financial statements a high-level awareness of recent changes to International Financial Reporting Standards. It covers both new Standards and Interpretations that have been issued and amendments made to existing ones.

Saudi Arabia has formally issued the much-anticipated regulatory frameworks governing several key Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) regularly publishes new International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Interpretations of Standards (IFRIC) or amendments to existing IFRS Standards. In response to these, the global IFRS team publishes IFRS Alerts on these changes (and other issues relevant to IFRS) as they are announced so that you can keep up to date. Aldar Audit Bureau, Grant Thornton is pleased to share our Alerts with you below.

Saudi Arabia is transforming at an unprecedented pace. Vision 2030 is opening doors to new industries, bold initiatives, and global opportunities, an era where ambition meets action.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is rapidly gaining traction in Saudi Arabia as companies seek to streamline operations, reduce costs, and focus on strategic growth. From customer service and back-office operations to IT, data management, and legal services, organisations are increasingly leveraging BPO providers to deliver specialised expertise and operational efficiency.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) of Saudi Arabia has recently introduced significant regulatory updates that sharpen compliance expectations across all sectors, including energy and petrochemicals. For companies operating in the Eastern Province, adherence to these developments is essential. Non-compliance poses operational, financial, and reputational risks. Given the complexity and scale of operations in the energy and petrochemical sector, it is critical to understand and embed these requirements in internal systems and controls.

Saudi Arabia’s rapid digital transformation is reshaping how organisations operate, compete, and create value. Cloud adoption, data-driven decision-making, AI-enabled platforms, and ecosystem partnerships are now central to business strategy across both the public and private sectors. As data volumes grow and digital interdependencies deepen, data security and governance have moved decisively out of the IT function and into the core of enterprise leadership.

As organisations adopt more advanced digital tools, including AI-enabled applications, boards and audit committees must remain clear on one fundamental principle, that management owns outcomes, and audit verifies the governance and evidence that support them.

Saudi Arabia is rapidly transforming into a global logistics and industrial hub, supported by large scale investments, strategic infrastructure development, and a strong regulatory framework designed to modernise trade. As businesses expand and diversify within the Kingdom, supply chain resilience has become a fundamental priority. Recent global disruptions have highlighted the need for robust contractual structures, strengthened compliance, and proactive risk mitigation strategies to protect operations and maintain continuity.

Financial reporting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is entering a new era. Driven by regulatory transformation, accelerated market development, and deeper global integration, the reporting landscape is becoming more complex, more transparent, and more strategically important. For CFOs, these shifts demand not only compliance but a forward-looking approach to how financial information is produced, governed, and communicated.

The Saudi tax landscape for digital platforms continues to evolve. In line with its broader efforts to strengthen VAT compliance in the digital economy, Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has issued a detailed guide clarifying VAT obligations for electronic marketplaces acting as “deemed suppliers”.