ZATCA has published the Regional Headquarters Tax Rules (“RHQ Tax Rules”), approved and enacted by ZATCA’s board resolution no. (9-1-24) on 04/02/2024. Under the RHQ Tax Rules, RHQ licensed entities will enjoy the following tax incentives for a period of 30 years commencing from the date on which the RHQ license is issued: 0% income tax on eligible Income (i.e. income from the main activities that an RHQ entity is allowed to carry out pursuant…
On 5 December 2023, the Saudi government announced the tax regime that will be applicable to Regional Headquarter entities (“RHQs”). RHQs will effectively be given a tax holiday for 30 years and outward payments by the RHQ would be subject to nil withholding tax. Specific details have yet to be announced. The Ministry of Investment, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced a tax holiday package…
In brief In September 2023, the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA) published the “AI Ethics Principles”, intending to support the Kingdom’s effort towards achieving its vision and national strategies related to adopting AI technology. SDAIA has analyzed global practices and developed the AI Ethics Principles to limit the negative implications of AI systems, help companies ensure the responsible use of those systems and protect the privacy of individuals and their rights concerning…
On 1 November 2023, the Board of the General Authority for Competition (“Authority”) announced that new financial thresholds would apply to determine whether a transaction is reportable to the Authority. By implementing such change, the aim of the Authority is to provide further clarity on the local nexus test required for a transaction to be notifiable to the Authority and to align the Saudi merger control regime further with international standards. This announcement follows the…
On 13 September 2023, the Communication Space & Technology Commission of Saudi Arabia (CST) proposed a draft law on Global Digital Content Safe Harbor (please find the draft law here). The proposed law is aimed at providing a legal framework for intermediary service providers hosting and transiting global digital content in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in a way that ensures no objection, deletion or modification of content hosted in and accessible within the…