Tax News Update    Email this document    Print this document  

July 14, 2021
2021-1345

Saudi Arabia clarifies GCC origin of goods

Executive summary

On 2 July 2021, Saudi Arabia published Ministerial Decision No. 3852 on the local rules of origin. The Decision sets out the national rules of origin for the eligibility of preferential duty treatment when importing Gulf Cooperation Council1 (GCC) goods into Saudi Arabia. The Decision took effect on 2 July 2021.

Detailed discussion

Goods produced in any of the GCC countries are treated as national products and will receive national product duty exemptions upon import of those goods into another GCC country.

To benefit from national product exemptions:

  • The goods must obtain a valid certificate of origin from the relevant GCC country.
  • The goods must be shipped directly from the GCC country of origin to Saudi Arabia.
  • The local added value from production of the goods in any GCC state must equate to at least at least 40%.
  • The licensed manufacturer must generally meet a standard requirement of 25% national workforce. Where it does not meet the standard requirement, it must meet a minimum of 10% national workforce, and the local value-added requirement will be increased by the percentage of the national workforce deficit (e.g., if the national workforce is 10%, the local added value would need to be at least 55%).

Certain processes, such as packing, assembly and mixing of products, will not satisfy the GCC origin requirements. Manufacturing, transporting, invoicing or shipping from a GCC free zone is also unlikely to satisfy the GCC origin requirements.   

Penalties may apply where goods are declared to originate from the GCC but do not meet the requirements under the Decision.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) of Saudi Arabia has yet to publish details on how it will conduct the process of verifying the origin of products in line with the Decision.

Implications

Businesses should review how the Decision affects their supply chain and the manufacturing, movement and invoicing of goods between GCC countries.

_________________________________________

For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following:

EY Consulting LLC, Dubai

Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Middle East Tax Desk, New York

_________________________________________

ENDNOTE

  1. The GCC countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. 
 

The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal, accounting or tax advice or opinion provided by Ernst & Young LLP to the reader. The reader also is cautioned that this material may not be applicable to, or suitable for, the reader's specific circumstances or needs, and may require consideration of non-tax and other tax factors if any action is to be contemplated. The reader should contact his or her Ernst & Young LLP or other tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information. Ernst & Young LLP assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any changes in tax laws or other factors that could affect the information contained herein.

 

Copyright © 1996 – 2024, Ernst & Young LLP

 

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, retransmitted or otherwise redistributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including by photocopying, facsimile transmission, recording, rekeying, or using any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from Ernst & Young LLP.

 

EY US Tax News Update Master Agreement | EY Privacy Statement