The Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment, Majid al-Kassabi, said that they have completed a study that reviews expat fees in Saudi Arabia, saying that it will soon be presented to the Saudi Council of Ministers.

In an interview with Rotana Khalijiya on Monday, Kassabi said that the council will look into the advantages and challenges that the issue poses, and will announce the decision within a month.

While he didn’t hint at the result of the study and whether it will maintain the fees or reduce them, he said that “the study benefits the country and our nation,” adding that “the government had decided to keep the fees and that the decision is fixed so far, but at the same time it will be comprehensively studied and developments will be reviewed.”

Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister, Mohammed al-Jadaan, told a press conference last week that there’s no intention to change the expat fees.

The expat fees were introduced last year, and were due to increase next year to encourage the hiring of Saudis rather than expats, but the private sector is calling for postponing the fee's increase.

Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:52 - GMT 06:52