The Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law will come into force on 21 January 2026, 180 days after its publication in July 2025/ Representative image In a landmark move reshaping property rights in Saudi Arabia, the government has approved the use of a digital identity system for non-Saudi, non-resident foreigners to own real estate. This comes […]
On Friday, officials from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle 28.9 kilograms of cocaine into the Kingdom through Jeddah Islamic Port.Authority spokesperson Hamoud Al-Harbi said the narcotics were discovered hidden inside a shipment of frozen meat after it underwent customs procedures and was inspected using security screening technology and […]
Travelers must register on SFDA’s CDS platform and upload a prescription, ID, medical report, and full details of each medication/ Representative image SFDA now requires a clearance permit for travelers carrying controlled medications. Applications must be submitted online via the Controlled Drug System (CDS). Travelers need to upload prescriptions, ID, and medical proof to get […]
MHRSD has intensified efforts to ensure transparent and fair wage practices/Representative Image Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has intensified efforts to ensure transparent and fair wage practices in the private sector. Under the Wage Protection Program, managed by the Mudad payroll compliance platform, unreasonable salaries, excessive deductions, and salary delays […]
Saudi Arabia prohibits unmarried couples from cohabiting, but recent leniency for foreigners and tourists signals cautious legal evolution/ Image: Instagram Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent engagement to Georgina Rodríguez has drawn renewed attention to Saudi Arabia’s strict cohabitation laws. Despite longstanding legal prohibitions against unmarried couples living together, the football star and his partner have openly shared […]
Saudi Arabia prohibits unmarried couples from cohabiting, but recent leniency for foreigners and tourists signals cautious legal evolution/ Image: Instagram Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent engagement to Georgina Rodríguez has drawn renewed attention to Saudi Arabia’s strict cohabitation laws. Despite longstanding legal prohibitions against unmarried couples living together, the football star and his partner have openly shared […]
According to GASTAT’s 2024 report, 71% of Saudi citizens are under 35, with a national median age of 23.5 years/Representative Image Saudi Arabia’s population remains overwhelmingly young, with new official data showing that more than seven in ten citizens are under the age of 35. The figures come from the Saudi Family Statistics Report 2024, […]
Guests in Saudi Arabia are entitled to a minimum 20-hour hotel stay, but check-out times remain fixed regardless of arrival time/ Representative image If you’re planning a visit to Saudi Arabia, here’s an important hotel policy to know upfront: the Ministry of Tourism has confirmed that hotels will not adjust their fixed check-out times if […]
Captagon is an illegal synthetic stimulant, originally developed in the 1960s, now widely abused and trafficked in the Middle East/ Image: ZATCA via Saudi Gazette Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has once again intercepted a major drug trafficking attempt, this time, 406,400 Captagon pills hidden inside sheep wool at the Haditha border […]
NetApp has appointed Saeed Al-Zahrani as General Manager for Saudi Arabia/Image: NetApp TL;DR: NetApp, a global leader in intelligent data infrastructure and hybrid cloud solutions, has appointed Saeed Al-Zahrani as General Manager for Saudi Arabia. Al-Zahrani, with two decades of tech leadership experience, will oversee NetApp’s Saudi strategy, deepen partnerships, and accelerate digital transformation aligned […]
