In a move aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia's position as a leading global center for breeding purebred Arabian horses, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, approved a set of new regulations and requirements for registering these prestigious bloodlines. These measures are designed to streamline the registration process and ensure the preservation of lineage purity, in accordance with internationally recognized standards.

Historical legacy and modern organization

Arabian horses hold a unique place in the cultural and historical heritage of the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula, having been associated with horsemanship and nobility throughout the ages. Accordingly, the King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center works to protect this great legacy by documenting their pedigrees and ensuring their purity. The new regulations are an extension of these efforts, aiming to align national records with the requirements of the World Arabian Horse Organization (WAHO), thereby enhancing the value and credibility of horses registered in the Kingdom internationally.

Key new registration terms and conditions

The approved regulations stipulate a set of precise conditions that horse owners and breeders must adhere to, most notably:

• Birth notification deadline: The owner must notify the center of the birth of any purebred Arabian foal within a maximum period of 90 days from the date of birth, while emphasizing the accuracy of the information provided.
• Naming requirements: The horse's name must be appropriate, not violate customs, traditions, or religious beliefs, and must not exceed 25 characters. Duplication of names is prohibited to ensure a unique identity for each horse, and the name may be linked to the officially registered stud farm.
• Proof of lineage: It is required that the father (stallion) and mother (mare) of the horse to be registered be officially registered in the approved horse pedigree records.
• Application procedures: The registration application is submitted electronically via the “Nama” platform (Aseel Services), with all required data and documents attached, such as the horse’s name in Arabic and English, and information about the father and mother.

Expected impact on the equestrian sector

These regulations are expected to have a significant positive impact on the equestrian sector in the Kingdom. Locally, they will contribute to greater transparency and reliability in production and registration processes, protecting breeders' rights and increasing the market value of their horses. Regionally and internationally, the implementation of these stringent standards will enhance the Kingdom's reputation as a leader in preserving the purity of the Arabian horse breed and open up broader opportunities for exporting Saudi horses and participating in international competitions and events with greater confidence.

Responsibilities and implementation mechanisms

The regulations stipulate that the applicant bears full responsibility for the accuracy of the submitted data. The center will process applications that meet the requirements within 30 days. Upon acceptance of the application and payment of the required fee, the official registration certificate will be issued. The regulations also emphasize the application of strict penalties, according to the approved schedule of violations, to anyone who violates these requirements, thus ensuring full compliance and maintaining the integrity of the pedigree records for purebred Arabian horses.

In a strategic move aimed at enhancing transparency and promoting voluntary compliance, the Board of Directors of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has adopted new “voluntary disclosure” regulations. These regulations allow taxpayers the opportunity for full exemption from fines for customs violations if they disclose and rectify them before the Authority discovers them. This decision, published in the official gazette “Umm Al-Qura,” supports the business environment and facilitates trade, in line with the economic objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Background and strategic context of the initiative

This initiative falls within the broader framework of reforms underway in the Kingdom to transform its economy into a more sustainable and competitive model. Since the launch of Vision 2030, the Saudi government has been working to develop its financial, tax, and customs systems to make them more efficient and transparent. The General Authority of Taxation and Customs (ZATCA) is a key player in this transformation, continuously striving to adopt global best practices that balance collecting government revenue with streamlining procedures for businesses. The voluntary disclosure program builds upon previous successful policies, such as initiatives to waive late payment penalties, underscoring the government's commitment to building a relationship based on trust and partnership with taxpayers.

The importance of the decision and its expected impact

The implementation of voluntary disclosure controls is of paramount importance on several levels. Locally , the decision is expected to encourage companies and importers to review their customs records and proactively correct any errors, thereby reducing the volume of customs disputes and issues and saving time and effort for both parties. It also enhances investor confidence in the Saudi regulatory environment. Regionally , this step contributes to the standardization and streamlining of customs procedures in line with the unified customs system of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, thus strengthening the Kingdom's position as a leading logistics and trade hub in the region. Internationally , the decision sends a positive signal to investors and international trading partners that the Kingdom is committed to implementing the transparency and fairness standards recommended by organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), making the Saudi market more attractive to foreign direct investment.

Details of the rules and conditions

The voluntary disclosure regulations cover a wide range of irregularities related to customs data and declarations, such as errors in classifying goods, estimating their value, determining the country of origin, and any other information that may lead to discrepancies in applicable customs duties. For a disclosure request to be accepted, the authority stipulated several essential requirements:

• Self-initiative: The person responsible must submit the application before the violation is discovered by the authority or any audit or inspection procedures are initiated.
• Comprehensiveness and clarity: The application submitted through the Authority’s electronic platform must include all the required information and documents that clarify the nature of the violation and the financial differences.
• Payment of the principal amount: The exemption applies only to fines. The taxpayer must pay all customs duties and any outstanding balances within 30 days of being notified of the amount due.

Conversely, the regulations explicitly exclude cases of customs smuggling and related offenses, which will be subject to applicable legal procedures, including the possibility of amicable settlement in accordance with the law. These regulations are scheduled to take effect 30 days after their publication, giving the business sector an opportunity to prepare and benefit from this significant initiative.