RIYADH — The incentives offered to companies operating in the four newly launched Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Saudi Arabia cover both fiscal and non-fiscal concessions, including competitive corporate tax rates, duty-free imports of machinery and raw materials, 100% foreign ownership, seamless set-up procedures, and flexibility in employing foreign labor.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Special Economic Cities and Zones Authority and Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih said: “This is an exciting moment. We are proud to see the launch of these four special economic zones that offer the chance for foreign investors to have a stake in the world’s fastest-growing economy.”

The new zones, strategically situated across the Kingdom, are ‘King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Jazan, Ras Al Khair and Cloud Computing SEZ located in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). The SEZs reinforce further Saudi Arabia’s position as a global business hub and will play a major role in achieving Saudi Arabia’s economic development goals under the Crown Prince’s Vision 2030 strategy.

The Secretary-General of the Authority, Nabil Khoja, added, “With hugely attractive financial incentives, world-class infrastructure, business-friendly regulations and streamlined procedures for investors, there has never been a better time to be part of Saudi Arabia’s economic success story. The zones will become engines of growth, increasing the Kingdom’s export competitiveness, attracting talent, boosting technology and improving our global links.”

Special economic zones – or SEZs – are geographically defined areas that facilitate specific economic activities, such as investment, trade and employment, by providing competitive advantages and legislative frameworks that differ from the base economy. With a bespoke regulatory and incentive scheme, SEZs constitute an attractive proposition in the increasingly attractive context of foreign investment. This important program will enable Saudi Arabia to fast-track certain reforms and facilitate the ease of doing business across the country.

King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) SEZ will serve as the premier destination for advanced manufacturing and logistics, from automobile supply chain and assembly to consumer goods, ICT to MedTech. Set in a prime location on the Red Sea, less than 90 minutes from Jeddah Airport, this 60km2 site offers unrivaled access to global trade routes through King Abdullah Port, ranked the world’s most efficient by the World Bank in 2022. Anchor investor Lucid, a leader in the global EV industry, will produce 150,000 EVs a year from its base in KAEC SEZ.

Jazan SEZ will be an industrial center and key platform for trade with fast-growing markets in Africa and Asia. Jazan SEZ offers access to the largest port in the region for the export of goods and import of materials, helping investors benefit from and contribute to large-scale infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia and around the world, backed by easy access to both natural and industrial resources. Jazan is part of the Kingdom’s fertile southwestern region, providing opportunities for manufacturing, processing and distribution of food products to cater for growing regional demand and meet food security challenges across the region.

Ras Al-Khair SEZ is a launchpad on the Arabian Gulf for leaders in the maritime industry, Ras Al-Khair SEZ is a fully integrated marine ecosystem, with a rich network of existing investors – 40% of the zone is already spoken for – and myriad opportunities across shipbuilding and repair, offshore drilling and maritime value chains.

Cloud Computing SEZ, located in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), will serve as a hub for emerging and disruptive technologies. A direct manifestation of the Kingdom’s ‘Cloud First’ policy, the Cloud Computing SEZ underlines the Kingdom’s commitment to digital innovation and the fast-growing tech sector. The Zone is based around an innovative hybrid model that allows investors to establish physical data centers and cloud computing infrastructure in multiple locations within the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s favorable geographic location, at the heart of major trade routes and supply chains, with access to more than 70% of the world’s population within 8 hours, adds to the zones’ appeal, along with the Kingdom’s young, highly educated population of more than 34 million, expansive natural resources and stable, rapidly growing capital markets. — SPA