The Cabinet has approved the merger of the General Authority for Foreign Trade and the Saudi Export Development Authority into a single entity named the General Authority for Foreign Trade and Export. The decision brings the Kingdom's two main trade-support bodies under one umbrella.
the merger will take effect once the new authority's organizational arrangements are approved. Required merger preparations, along with any measures that need regulatory action, must be submitted within 180 days.
The new authority will report to the Supreme Committee for Trade, Industry, Localization, and Exports on strategic priorities. Its board will be chaired by the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, with the Minister of Commerce serving as deputy chair.
Why it matters
Consolidating foreign trade and export development under one body is aimed at streamlining how Saudi exporters and businesses are supported, reducing overlap between the two former entities and unifying trade-related efforts.
For now, the decision focuses on structure and governance. No fees, service prices, application steps, or validity periods were announced as part of the merger. There are also no confirmed changes to government service platforms such as أبشر, مقيم, قوى, ناجز, or نفاذ. Saudi Living will share further details once the new authority's arrangements are finalized.
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