Saudi Arabia Tourism Reaches New Heights With Value Added Tax Refund Programme For Retail Shoppers: Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Published on August 10, 2025 |

With nan preamble of nan revolutionary 15% VAT refund program, Saudi Arabia is group to go a starring hub for unit tourism. International travelers and GCC nationals tin now return advantage of Saudi Arabia’s shopping VAT refund program, making shopping moreover much appealing. Refunds tin beryllium processed astatine Global Blue Certified unit outlets, expanding Saudi Arabia’s position arsenic a high-end shopping destination. The inaugural comes pinch much than 1,440 unit stores and a elemental refund claiming process which is important for nan Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives of economical diversification, tourism development, and making Saudi Arabia a cardinal world unit influence.

Saudi Arabia is making a bold connection successful nan world unit tourism marketplace pinch nan motorboat of its groundbreaking Value Added Tax (VAT) refund programme. This caller inaugural allows world visitors and nationals from nan Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to declare a 15% VAT refund connected qualifying purchases made astatine Global Blue-certified stores crossed nan Kingdom. With complete 1,440 unit outlets participating successful this scheme, Saudi Arabia is quickly solidifying its position arsenic a cardinal destination for luxury shopping and attracting world visitors from each corners of nan world.

Saudi Arabia’s Game-Changing VAT Refund Programme

Saudi Arabia’s VAT refund programme is designed to connection a important use to non-resident visitors and GCC nationals who shop astatine participating unit outlets successful nan country. To suffice for nan refund, shoppers must beryllium 18 years of property aliases older, pinch their full purchases exceeding SAR 500 (roughly THB 4,307.98). The purchased items must beryllium for individual use, stay unused, and beryllium exported from nan Kingdom wrong 90 days of nan purchase.

This inaugural not only enhances nan shopping acquisition but besides aligns pinch Saudi Arabia’s ambition to turn its tourism assemblage arsenic portion of nan Vision 2030 agenda. By offering this charismatic taxation refund, nan Kingdom is encouraging much world visitors to research its vibrant unit scene, positioning itself arsenic a top-tier unit hub successful nan region.

What Purchases Qualify for a VAT Refund?

While galore unit products are eligible for VAT refunds, location are immoderate exclusions. For example, vehicles, boats, and craft are not eligible for refunds, nor are items specified arsenic tobacco, fuel, and nutrient aliases beverages. Additionally, services for illustration accommodations and meals are excluded from nan scheme.

However, a wide scope of different goods, from clothing and electronics to luxury accessories, suffice for nan VAT refund, making Saudi Arabia an progressively appealing destination for shoppers seeking nan latest world trends.

How to Claim Your VAT Refund successful Saudi Arabia

Claiming a VAT refund successful Saudi Arabia is simply a elemental process, consisting of 3 easy steps:

1. At nan Point of Purchase:
   When shopping astatine a participating store, shoppers must coming their passport aliases GCC nationalist ID to person a tax-exemption form. For purchases gathering nan SAR 500 threshold, nan tax-exemption shape will beryllium issued. If making aggregate purchases successful 1 day, visitors tin harvester up to 3 receipts from nan aforesaid shop to meet nan minimum walk requirement. To streamline nan process, visitors tin besides usage nan Global Blue app to scan a integer QR codification astatine checkout.
2. Validation astatine nan Airport:
   After completing their shopping, visitors must validate their tax-exemption forms astatine 1 of nan 18 verification kiosks located astatine 3 awesome world airports successful Saudi Arabia. These are:
   • King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh): 10 kiosks
   • King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah): 4 kiosks
   • King Fahd International Airport (Dammam): 4 kiosks
   Validation is required earlier departure to corroborate that nan equipment are being exported and not retained wrong Saudi Arabia.
3. Receiving nan Refund:
   Once nan tax-exemption shape has been validated, visitors tin take to person their refund successful rate aliases person it credited to a costs card. Cash refunds are capped astatine SAR 5,000 (approximately THB 43,079.77) per personification per day. However, it’s important to statement that rate refunds are not disposable astatine Jeddah’s North Terminal, truthful travelers should beryllium alert of this erstwhile readying their refund collection.

Why Saudi Arabia Is Offering VAT Refunds

The VAT refund programme is simply a cardinal constituent of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, aimed astatine diversifying nan system and diminishing nan Kingdom’s dependence connected lipid revenues. By introducing this VAT refund, Saudi Arabia is tapping into nan lucrative unit tourism market, encouraging much world visitors to shop while exploring nan Kingdom.

In caller years, Saudi Arabia has made important strides successful transforming its unit environment. The Kingdom is location to a increasing number of world and section unit brands, pinch caller shopping malls and luxury boutiques springing up successful cities specified arsenic Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. The preamble of nan VAT refund programme is simply a strategical move to further elevate Saudi Arabia arsenic a starring unit destination, particularly for visitors who position shopping arsenic a cardinal portion of their recreation experience.

This inaugural is expected to stimulate nan section system by driving tourism and expanding user spending. By offering a financial inducement for visitors to shop successful nan Kingdom, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself arsenic a world shopping destination that rivals awesome unit hubs astir nan world.

Essential Details to Keep successful Mind

• Eligibility: Non-resident visitors and GCC nationals aged 18 and supra are eligible to participate successful nan VAT refund programme.
• Minimum Spend: To qualify, shoppers must walk SAR 500 (roughly THB 4,307.98) aliases much astatine a participating store.
• Goods Requirements: Purchases must beryllium unused, for individual use, and exported wrong 90 days of purchase.
• Exclusions: Services for illustration accommodation, meals, and definite items specified arsenic vehicles and baccy are not eligible for refunds.
• Refund Locations: VAT refunds tin beryllium processed astatine King Khalid, King Abdulaziz, and King Fahd International Airports.
• Refund Method: Shoppers tin take to person their VAT refund successful rate (up to SAR 5,000 per personification per day) aliases arsenic a costs paper credit. However, rate refunds are unavailable astatine Jeddah’s North Terminal.

The Big Picture: Why This Matters for Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s VAT refund programme represents much than conscionable a unit incentive—it is simply a cardinal strategy successful nan Kingdom’s efforts to reshape its system and pull world tourism. By positioning itself arsenic a premier unit destination, Saudi Arabia is not only enhancing its entreaty to luxury shoppers but besides diversifying its tourism assemblage beyond accepted attractions.

The Kingdom’s evolving unit landscape, mixed pinch this caller VAT refund scheme, ensures that Saudi Arabia is not only a apical destination for business and leisure recreation but besides a captious subordinate successful nan world unit tourism market. As Saudi Arabia continues to rotation retired eager plans nether Vision 2030, initiatives for illustration nan VAT refund programme are poised to thief nan Kingdom go a top-tier world shopping destination for years to come.

Saudi Arabia is boosting its unit tourism entreaty pinch a 15% VAT refund programme, allowing world visitors and GCC nationals to prevention connected purchases. This inaugural supports nan Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy by attracting world shoppers and enhancing its position arsenic a luxury shopping destination.

Whether shopping for high-end fashion, cutting-edge electronics, aliases unsocial section products, Saudi Arabia’s VAT refund programme offers world visitors nan chance to bask a seamless and rewarding shopping experience, making it an basal portion of immoderate tourist’s travel successful nan Kingdom.