Read our insights

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accelerates its energy transition and expands its renewables sector, understanding how Value Added Tax (VAT) applies to green projects is essential for investors, developers, and policymakers. VAT remains a cornerstone of the Saudi indirect tax system, and its application to energy transition activities has implications for project costs, financial modelling, compliance and overall investment decisions.

Saudi Arabia continues to attract international talent as part of its economic transformation agenda under Vision 2030. Multinational groups, regional headquarters, and fast-growing local organisations increasingly rely on mobile workforces to support expansion, knowledge transfer, and operational resilience. At the same time, the regulatory framework governing workforce mobility has evolved significantly, with greater emphasis on compliance, transparency, and alignment with national objectives.

Saudi Arabia has formally introduced the Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026, a national initiative that signals the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence across government, industry and society. The launch of the official identity and logo for the initiative reflects the broader strategic ambition to position Saudi Arabia as a global centre for digital innovation, advanced technologies and knowledge-based economic growth.

The introduction of Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents a significant step in the evolution of the country’s transfer pricing regime. In recent years, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has updated the Transfer Pricing Bylaws to incorporate APA provisions and, in early 2025, released formal APA Guidelines. This development reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to aligning with global tax practices while offering taxpayers greater certainty regarding cross‑border related-party transactions. For organisations operating in or expanding into the Kingdom, understanding this regime and assessing market readiness for APAs is essential.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting has become an integral component of corporate strategy and investor communication worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, the increasing focus on sustainable development, corporate accountability, and investment transparency aligns with Vision 2030 objectives, driving organisations to adopt internationally recognised reporting frameworks. Among these, the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards S1 and S2 are poised to become central to ESG reporting in the Kingdom, providing a globally consistent framework for sustainability-related disclosures.

ksa, saudiarabia, finance, accounting, advisory, sustainability, environment, operations, blog, tax, VAT, accounting, finance

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.

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.