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The Umm Al-Qura Gazette has published the executive procedures that limit GCC-registered private vehicles owned by Saudi citizens, residents or premium residency holders to no more than 90 days, whether consecutive or accumulated across multiple entries, within any 365-day period beginning from the customs entry date. Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority Governor Suhail Abanmi coordinated the rules with the Ministry of Interior, under which the authority will share vehicle data to enable enforcement at all border ports. The controls, which apply equally to vehicles operated by authorized drivers, implement Cabinet Resolution No. 637 without amending the existing traffic law.
Vehicles already inside the Kingdom when the regulation takes effect on August 26, 2026, will benefit from a grace period extending to November 23, 2026, during which owners must either remove them or complete permanent importation and local registration. The permanent registration process can be handled by a licensed customs broker at the nearest border crossing, after which the vehicle does not need to exit the country again. Owners seeking to regularise their situation face no requirement to leave Saudi territory solely for re-entry under the transitional provisions.
Applications for extensions of up to 30 days may be submitted through the Absher platform before the 90-day limit expires, provided the vehicle carries current registration documents and valid insurance coverage. The Ministry of Interior will review each request individually and reject any submitted after the permitted period has ended. Once granted, the extension integrates into the overall annual calculation without resetting the 365-day counter.
Violators will incur financial penalties ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 riyals in addition to any towing or impoundment charges incurred by enforcement agencies. Settlement of the violation requires either full local registration of the vehicle or submission of a formal undertaking to remove it from the Kingdom once fines are cleared. The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has emphasised that data sharing with traffic departments will streamline identification of overstaying vehicles at entry and exit points.
The framework stems directly from Cabinet Resolution No. 637, which the Council of Ministers approved following a proposal from the Minister of Finance in his capacity as chairman of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority board. Earlier comparisons circulating in regional media indicated that prior arrangements had permitted GCC-registered vehicles to remain for periods approaching 180 days per visit without a strict rolling annual cap. The new cumulative limit seeks to align cross-border vehicle use with local registration requirements across the transport network.
Saudi Arabia maintains one of the largest vehicle fleets among GCC states, with the Transportation Ministry recording more than 18 million active vehicles monitored at major city entrances through traffic units, according to data compiled by the GCC Statistical Center. The updated rules will affect Saudi citizens and expatriate residents who have relied on neighbouring-country registration for extended stays, prompting many to consider full importation or local licensing before the grace period closes. Enforcement agencies are expected to begin applying the controls uniformly once the transitional window ends in late November.
