Saudi Arabia sets 90-day limit for GCC-registered vehicles from August 26
Owners can seek a 30-day extension or register eligible vehicles for Saudi licence plates
Dubai: Saudi Arabia will impose a 90-day limit on how long privately owned vehicles registered in other Gulf Cooperation Council countries may remain in the kingdom, under new rules taking effect on August 26.
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, working with the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Traffic, said the limit would apply to GCC-registered vehicles owned by Saudi citizens or non-GCC residents of the kingdom, as well as vehicles they are officially authorised to drive.
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The 90 days may be consecutive or spread across a 365-day period, beginning from the vehicle’s first entry into Saudi Arabia through a customs port.
Vehicles already inside the kingdom before the rules take effect will be given a 90-day grace period, running from August 26 until the end of November 23, to regularise their status.
Owners or authorised drivers will be able either to take the vehicle out of Saudi Arabia before the grace period ends or permanently import and register it in the kingdom to obtain Saudi licence plates.
Those choosing permanent registration can authorise a customs broker to submit the declaration electronically through the Fasah platform, complete the necessary requirements and pay applicable customs duties and taxes. They will not need to return to the border crossing through which the vehicle originally entered.
The rules will also allow owners or authorised drivers to apply for an extension before the initial 90-day period expires. Extensions may be granted for up to 30 days and will be calculated from the end of the original permitted stay.
The extension service is expected to be made available through the Absher platform in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic.
Vehicles that remain in Saudi Arabia beyond the permitted period may face fines ranging from SAR1,000 to SAR2,000 and could be impounded until the violation is resolved. Owners or authorised drivers would also be responsible for towing, impoundment and other related costs.
The new procedures implement regulations governing the stay of GCC-registered vehicles in Saudi Arabia and are intended to provide a clearer framework for vehicles that remain in the country for extended periods.
