Saudi regulation moves quickly.
We write about what's actually changing on the ground.
Practitioner notes from the AlHisabat partners on what's currently in front of Saudi mid-market finance teams - the things ZATCA is reviewing this quarter, the IFRS changes that will land before they're expected, the GOSI questions that come up in every audit, the operational decisions that determine whether a finding lands quietly or expensively. Senior-led, short, specific.
IFRS 18: what Saudi mid-market needs to know before January 2027
IFRS 18 supersedes IAS 1 for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027. The income statement is being restructured into three categories. A new disclosure regime for management-defined performance measures lands at the same time. With eight months to mandatory adoption, here is what Saudi mid-market finance teams should be doing now.
Read articleTwo more practice notes worth your time.
ZATCA Phase 2: what we're finding eighteen months in
Phase 2 e-invoicing is mandatory across most Saudi mid-market firms now. The integration is "live" - which is not the same as compliant. Here are the six gaps we keep finding when we run an integration audit, and what good looks like.
Read article →GOSI compliance: eight questions every operator should be able to answer
Not a primer on GOSI. A senior-level operator checklist - the eight questions that come up in every audit, every Qiwa inspection, and every conversation with a strategic acquirer's diligence team. If your finance director cannot answer them, that is the finding.
Read article →Short briefings on what just changed.
We track ZATCA, SOCPA, SAMA, MoMRAH, SFDA, HRSD, and the rest of the Saudi regulatory perimeter. When a circular, directive, or framework change lands that affects mid-market clients, a short alert goes here within two working days - what changed, who it affects, and what to do about it.
Phase 2 wave 22 onboarding deadline confirmed for Q3 2026
ZATCA published the wave 22 taxpayer list with the integration deadline of 30 September 2026. Affected entities are mid-market businesses with VAT-able revenue between SAR 7-15M for calendar 2024 or 2025. If you are on the list, integration testing should already be in motion.
SOCPA confirms IFRS 18 adoption guidance for Saudi entities
SOCPA issued implementation guidance for IFRS 18 covering Saudi-specific application questions on the new income statement structure and the management-defined performance measures (MPMs) disclosure regime. Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, with early adoption permitted.
Saudization threshold revisions for hospitality activity codes
HRSD updated Nitaqat thresholds for several hospitality activity codes including restaurants, cafes, and hotel front-of-house roles. The new thresholds apply from 1 July 2026. Operators currently in the green band should run a forward-looking compliance check now.
From the firm.
Partner appointments, sector commentary, public statements, and significant engagements - the firm-level updates that go alongside the practitioner content.
AlHisabat strengthens its Family Business advisory practice
With the first generational transition happening across hundreds of Saudi family businesses simultaneously, AlHisabat has expanded the Family Business advisory team to support clients through group consolidation, governance framework implementation, and senior-partner-led succession planning.
AlHisabat publishes IFRS 18 readiness framework for Saudi mid-market
Eight months ahead of the IFRS 18 mandatory adoption date, AlHisabat has published a structured readiness framework covering income statement restatement, MPM disclosure design, and system mapping. Available to clients and prospects on request.
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Practice notes and regulatory alerts as they're published.
We publish a short partner-voice practice note roughly once a month, plus regulatory alerts within two working days of any significant Saudi regulatory change. To receive these directly, get in touch and we'll add you to the distribution list.