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ZATCA sets August 31 deadline for July VAT returns RIYADH, August 20 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Businesses in Saudi Arabia with annual supplies of goods and services exceeding SAR40 million must file their July value-added tax returns by August 31, with late submissions carrying fines of 5% to 25% of the tax required to be declared. The filing deadline applies to businesses covered by the monthly VAT reporting requirement for the July tax period. Returns and related payme

Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy of Falic Group ABU DHABI, August 20 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Miami-based Falic Group has agreed to acquire 100% of DFS’s luxury travel retail business at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, establishing a major regional operation for Duty Free Americas. Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter. Zayed International Airport, the second-largest airport in the Unite

Saudi Arabia Launches Riyadh Action Agenda Community Platform at COP17 | 📷SPA RIYADH, August 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia launched the Riyadh Action Agenda Community Platform at COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, creating a coordination network for around 200 international initiatives concerned with land restoration and drought resilience. The platform is intended to give the Riyadh Action Agenda’s expanding group of partners a shared framework for setting objectives, b

DIHAD 2026 to Draw More Than 21,000 Participants From 165 Countries DUBAI, August 18 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — More than 21,000 participants, delegates and visitors from over 165 countries are expected in Dubai for the 22nd Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference & Exhibition – DIHAD 2026. The event will run from August 24 to 26 at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme “Humanitarianism in Transition: Shaping the Future of Humanitarian Actio

PIL Adds IRF Shipping Service to Jeddah Islamic Port | 📷SPA JEDDAH, August 18 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Global shipping company PIL has added its IRF service to Jeddah Islamic Port, the Saudi Ports Authority announced. The service will connect the Saudi port with Sokhna and Safaga in Egypt and will offer capacity of up to 1,261 twenty-foot equivalent units. Mawani said the route will expand Jeddah Islamic Port’s links with regional and international markets while suppor

Super White Falcon Sells for SAR1.3 Million at International Falcon Breeders Auction 2026 | 📷SPA RIYADH, August 16 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — A mottled gyr (Super White) chick sold for SAR1.3 million at the International Falcon Breeders Auction 2026, recording the highest price of this year’s event and the second-highest sale in the auction’s history. The auction record remains SAR1.75 million, paid during a previous edition for an Ultra White pure mottled gyr chick. The

Jeddah Islamic Port Named Key Hub for Gemini Cooperation’s AE15 and AE19 Services | 📷SPA JEDDAH, August 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Jeddah Islamic Port has been selected as a key hub for Gemini Cooperation’s AE15 and AE19 services following route changes through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal, the Saudi Ports Authority said. Gemini Cooperation comprises Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. Under the revised network, the AE19 service will call at Jeddah twice during eac

Romania’s Annual Inflation Slows to 8.2% in July BUCHAREST, August 12 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Romania’s annual consumer price inflation slowed to 8.2% in July from 10.4% in June, data from the country’s national statistics office showed on Wednesday. The July reading was above expectations of 7.9% and marked the lowest annual inflation rate since July 2025. Food inflation eased to 5.0% from 5.8%, while inflation for non-food goods fell to 7.9% from 12.3%. Services pric

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Patronize 10th Future Investment Initiative Conference RIYADH, August 11 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The tenth edition of the Future Investment Initiative Conference will take place under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh from October 26 to 29, 2026. FII10 will be held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center under the theme “The Power of Legacy,” examining how cu

Sports Boulevard Signs Contracts for SAR700 Million-Plus Urban Wadi Fund RIYADH, August 10 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Sports Boulevard Real Estate Development and Investment Company has signed contracts with Al Jazira Capital and Rikaz Properties to establish a real estate investment fund with a combined value of more than SAR700 million. The fund will support the development of a luxury five-star hotel in Urban Wadi, located in Riyadh’s Hittin District. Rikaz Properties

ADNOC Oil Tanker Targeted by Missile in Strait of Hormuz, Company Says ABU DHABI, August 8 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — An Abu Dhabi National Oil Company oil tanker was targeted by a missile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning, the company said in a statement carried by the UAE’s WAM news agency. No one was injured, and the situation is “under control,” according to the statement. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Gulf Cooperation Council con

International Falcon Breeders Auction to Open August 5 in Malham | 📷SPA RIYADH, August 4 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The International Falcon Breeders Auction will open on August 5 at the National Center for Falcons’ headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh, and continue through August 25. Falcon shipments have begun arriving from breeding farms in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, France, Slovenia, Poland, Russia, the Czech

Aramco Second-Quarter Net Profit Rises 44% to $32.69 Billion RIYADH, August 4 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Aramco reported a 44% increase in second-quarter net profit on Tuesday, supported by higher prices for crude oil, refined products and chemicals amid disruptions to regional shipping routes. Net profit reached $32.69 billion in the three months ended June 30, up from $22.67 billion a year earlier. Aramco rerouted shipments away from the Strait of Hormuz and maint

Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz discusses Azerbaijan’s potential membership in International Dates Council | 📷SPA RIYADH, August 4 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Azerbaijan is considering joining the International Dates Council as the organisation expands its membership among countries that produce and import dates. The membership proposal was the focus of talks between International Dates Council Executive Director Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz and Azerb

Riyadh Air launches direct flights to Kuala Lumpur | 📷SPA RIYADH, July 31 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Riyadh Air launched its first direct service to Kuala Lumpur, opening the Saudi carrier’s first route to Southeast Asia. The airline will operate three flights a week between King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The route will provide direct travel between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia for business, tourism, trade and education.

Almarai ranked Saudi Arabia’s most influential food and grocery brand | 📷Almarai RIYADH, July 31 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Almarai was ranked the most influential food and grocery brand in Saudi Arabia and placed third among Saudi brands overall in an Ipsos study released this year. The company was the only food and beverage business to appear among the country’s 10 most influential brands. Ipsos evaluated 120 local, regional and international brands using responses fro

Diriyah awards SAR2.7 billion contract for Waldorf Astoria complex | 📷SPA RIYADH, July 30 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Diriyah Company awarded a SAR2.7 billion contract for the construction of a Waldorf Astoria hotel and mixed-use complex to a Saudi joint venture. Hassan Allam Construction Saudi Limited and Urbacon Saudi Company, a subsidiary of UCC Holding, will deliver the project. The Waldorf Astoria Diriyah will include 160 rooms, 39 suites and a presidential suite acr

The partnership will provide additional capacity, wider market access and more flexible routes across major international trade corridors. Saudia Cargo and Riyadh Cargo sign interline agreement to expand global network | 📷SPA RIYADH, July 28, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — Saudia Cargo and Riyadh Cargo, the cargo division of Riyadh Air, signed an interline agreement on Tuesday to connect their networks and expand access to international markets. The agreement will allow custom

A GlobalEye aircraft, manufactured by Saab Technologies, on static design during the fifth day of Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates November 21, 2019. REUTERS/Christopher Pik STOCKHOLM, July 28, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — Swedish defense company Saab has received an order for two GlobalEye surveillance aircraft from an undisclosed Middle Eastern country, Reuters reported. The order is valued at 10.1 billion Swedish crowns ($1.04 billion), with deliveries schedul

ZATCA Sets July 31 Deadline for May–June Excise Tax Returns RIYADH, July 23, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — Saudi businesses liable for excise tax must file their returns for May and June 2026 by July 31, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority said. Returns must be submitted through ZATCA’s website. Businesses that miss the deadline face penalties ranging from 5% to 25% of the tax due. A separate penalty of 5% of the unpaid amount will apply for every month, or part of a month, t