New jobs: Saudi Arabia unveils tax incentives to lure talent, boost investments

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia, on Friday, launched a new campaign on Thursday aimed at enhancing its investment landscape by drawing foreign talent and businesses to its Special Economic Zones (SEZs), offering a package of tax exemptions, streamlined visas, and regulatory incentives.

The initiative, led by the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA), is being rolled out in collaboration with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

Together, these agencies offer customs and tax breaks, easing visa procedures and removing financial equivalence requirements for international talent, aiming to solidify the Kingdom’s SEZs as hubs for global business.

“The partnerships we are building across government institutions are key to enabling a more competitive, investor-friendly environment,” said ECZA Secretary General Nabil Khojah. “These new incentives are designed to improve operational efficiency, minimize regulatory friction, and make our Special Economic Zones among the most attractive destinations for investment in the region.”

The campaign reflects ECZA’s strong coordination with key state entities to offer targeted benefits to investors and companies setting up within SEZs. These zones are envisioned as high-growth areas tailored for global logistics, manufacturing, and technology companies.

As part of the campaign, a partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration will establish dedicated arbitration and reconciliation centres within the Special Economic Zones. These centres, modelled on international standards, aim to enhance legal certainty and offer more efficient dispute-resolution mechanisms for businesses operating in the zones.

Further agreements with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) aim to reduce regulatory bottlenecks and simplify market access for goods and services entering Saudi Arabia.

The campaign also focuses on digital integration. ECZA is expanding its One-Stop-Shop portal, a centralized digital platform that connects investors with all necessary government agencies, helping to accelerate business licensing and operational approvals. Enhanced data-sharing tools across government platforms are expected to improve transparency and ease of doing business.