Saudi Arabia: GAMI Issues 2026 Risk Management Guide for Defence Industry

Al Riyadh, 26 April 2026: The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) has released the Risk Management Guide and Advisory Package for 2026, establishing a regulatory framework to strengthen compliance and operational resilience in the defence sector, aligned with Vision 2030 localisation targets.

The guide provides a comprehensive framework for military industry entities to identify, analyse, evaluate, and monitor risks, ensuring operational efficiency and strategic alignment. It is designed to support companies in implementing structured risk management systems that enhance decision‑making and compliance with national defence policies.

Prepared in accordance with international standards — including ISO 31000, COSO, and the UK Institute of Risk Management guidelines — as well as the National Risk and Emergency Management Framework and Digital Government Authority requirements, the guide reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to embedding global best practices into its regulatory environment.

GAMI emphasised that the initiative aims to raise awareness of risk management principles, establish mechanisms for designing and implementing risk frameworks, and strengthen proactive monitoring of threats. The guide also supports the Kingdom’s strategic objective of localising over 50% of military spending by 2030, ensuring a sustainable and resilient domestic defence industry.

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Saudi Arabia: Interior Minister Approves Strategic Plan for Crime Research Center

Saudi Gazette, 20 April 2026: Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister has endorsed a new strategic plan for the Crime Research Center, aimed at strengthening research, analysis, and policy development to combat crime and enhance public security.

The Ministry of Interior announced that the Interior Minister approved a comprehensive strategic plan for the Crime Research Center. The initiative is designed to advance Saudi Arabia’s capacity in crime prevention, criminological research, and evidence‑based policymaking.

Key objectives of the plan include:

• Enhancing research capabilities to study crime trends and patterns across the Kingdom.
• Developing analytical tools to support law enforcement agencies in decision‑making.
• Strengthening collaboration with universities, research institutions, and international partners.
• Supporting policy formulation by providing data‑driven insights into criminal behaviour and social factors.
• Promoting innovation in crime detection and prevention strategies.

The Crime Research Center is expected to serve as a national hub for criminological studies, offering recommendations to policymakers and law enforcement agencies while ensuring that strategies remain consistent with international best practices.

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Saudi Arabia: HR Ministry Begins Phase Two of Enforceable Contracts Initiative

Saudi Gazette, 8 April 2026: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has commenced the second phase of making notarised employment contracts legally enforceable, expanding direct wage enforcement rights for workers under fixed-term agreements.

The initiative had been introduced after labour authorities had identified persistent delays and inefficiencies in resolving wage disputes through traditional court procedures. Previously, employees were required to pursue lengthy administrative and judicial routes to claim unpaid salaries.

In the second phase, fixed-term contracts are now eligible to be treated as enforceable documents once updated or renewed. Employers and employees must notarise or update relevant contracts via the Qiwa platform and obtain an enforcement number from the Ministry of Justice’s Documentation Center.

If an employee has not received full wages within 30 days of the due date, or only partial wages after 90 days, they can file an enforcement request through the Najiz platform. The employer then has five days to raise an objection before enforcement action begins. This avoids traditional court filings and accelerates recovery of due wages.

Background: the first phase, launched in October 2025, already allowed newly notarised contracts to be directly enforceable. The third phase will extend the regime to open-ended contracts, completing the rollout.

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Saudi Arabia: CMA Approves SPAC Framework for Nomu Parallel Market

Saudi Gazette, 3 April 2026: Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority has approved a regulatory framework permitting the offering and listing of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) on the Nomu Parallel Market, expanding investment products and access to private companies.

The Capital Market Authority (CMA) announced that its board had approved a comprehensive framework regulating the registration, offering, and operation of SPACs in the Nomu Parallel Market, through amendments to key regulations, including:

• the Implementing Regulation of the Companies Law for Listed Joint Stock Companies,
• the Rules on the Offer of Securities and Continuing Obligations, and
• the Glossary of Defined Terms used in CMA regulations

The amendments will take effect upon publication.

The CMA stated that the framework is intended to diversify available investment instruments, encourage private‑sector listings, and enhance liquidity and capital formation in Nomu. It also provides investors with regulated access to non‑listed companies that were previously difficult to invest in directly, aligning with the Kingdom’s capital‑market development objectives.

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Saudi Arabia: TGA extends road‑transport compliance deadlines to August

2 April 2026: Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority (TGA) has extended key road‑transport compliance deadlines to August 2026 to allow operators additional time to meet regulatory requirements.

The decision applies to establishments involved in heavy and light freight activities and forms part of regulatory changes which aim at raising compliance levels and enhance operational efficiency across the sector.

The extension will allow companies additional time to complete rectification procedures and align with approved regulatory requirements. These include reclassifying vehicle registrations from private to public transport for heavy‑goods activities and improving fleet utilisation within the authorised regulatory framework.

In parallel, the TGA has also extended the deadline for drivers to obtain a professional driver card, giving drivers more time to complete required documentation and meet regulatory conditions.

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Saudi Arabia: Expired visit visa holders may exit without fines until 18 April 2026

4 April 2026: Expired visit visa holders will be allowed to leave Saudi  without paying overstay fines, provided they exit before 18 April 2026, following temporary relief measures issued by the Ministry of Interior.

Saudi authorities have announced a grace period for visitors whose visit visas expired on or after 25 February 2026, allowing them to depart Saudi without paying fines or penalties if they leave before 18 April 2026. The measure was introduced in response to regional travel disruptions that prevented many visitors from exiting on time.

The relief applies to visit visas, Umrah visas, transit visas, and final exit permits. Affected individuals may either exit Saudi Arabia directly through any international airport or border crossing without extending their visa or paying fees, or apply for a temporary extension through the Absher platform, subject to payment of the applicable government fees.

Saudi authorities have urged all eligible visa holders to act before the 18 April 2026 deadline, warning that standard overstay fines and legal consequences will apply once the grace period expires. The measure is described as temporary and exceptional, aimed at preventing penalties for overstays caused by circumstances beyond travellers’ control.

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Saudi Arabia: ZATCA waives bank guarantees and metal plates for transit carriers

6 April 2026: Saudi Arabia has removed the requirement for bank guarantees and metal transit plates for transit carriers, streamlining customs procedures to support trade flow and logistics efficiency.

Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has announced that transit transport activities may now be carried out without submitting a bank guarantee, as part of a broader effort to simplify customs procedures and increase operational flexibility during the current phase. The measure applies across land, sea, and air ports in the Kingdom and is intended to ensure uninterrupted cargo movement.

In addition, ZATCA confirmed that metal transit plates are no longer required for carriers transporting goods under the domestic transit system between air and sea ports. The removal of this requirement is designed to facilitate faster transfers between ports and reduce procedural burdens on logistics operators.

The changes aim to enhance the efficiency of supply chains, support the smooth flow of trade, and strengthen the resilience of customs services under varying regional and global conditions. The simplified framework should improve logistics flexibility while allowing Zatca to maintain operational oversight through existing electronic and regulatory controls.

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Saudi Arabia: Interior Ministry Bars Sharing of Missile Interception Information

Saudi Gazette, 28 March 2026: Saudi Arabia warned against photographing, publishing, or sharing information relating to missile and drone interceptions, citing legal accountability and national‑security risks.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior issued a formal warning prohibiting the photographing, publication, or circulation of any information related to the interception of hostile missiles and drones, including footage of interception operations or impact locations. The Ministry stated that violations would expose individuals to legal liability under applicable laws governing national security and public order.

The warning was issued amid ongoing aerial defence operations, with authorities stressing that unauthorised dissemination of such information could compromise operational effectiveness and expose sensitive defence capabilities. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that the restriction applied to all forms of digital and social‑media sharing and urged the public to cooperate fully with security authorities during the current circumstances.

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