contributors > SUSTG Team

Launched on April 25, 2016, Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's blueprint for economic and social transformation marks it 8th year and the halfway point between 2016 and 2030.

The goal of the new office is to strengthen the IMF's collaboration with governments and institutions in the Middle East including promoting economic stability, growth, and regional integration. It also underscores the growing economic importance of the region.

In February the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority published guidelines specifying RHQ tax rules. Under the new rules, specific activities qualify for tax incentives. The new RHQ tax rules aim to clarify the scope and conditions of tax relief for RHQ entities, as announced by MISA in December 2023.

The EU will now allow citizens from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain to apply for five-year Schengen visas. This marks a significant step forward in strengthening people-to-people relations between the EU and the GCC.

According to a study by Forecast International in 2023 global defense spending grew at its fastest pace in the last decade as governments respond to security crises unfolding around the world.