90-Day Grace Period for GCC-Registered Cars in Saudi

New rules governing how long GCC-registered vehicles may remain inside Saudi Arabia will take effect on 26 August 2026, applying both to vehicles already in the Kingdom and to those entering after that date. Authorities have also granted a 90-day corrective grace period to help owners regularize the status of cars already in the country.

Under the regulations, a GCC-registered private vehicle owned by a Saudi citizen or a non-GCC resident may stay in the Kingdom for a maximum of 90 days within any 365-day period, whether the days are consecutive or spread out. The count begins from the vehicle's first entry through a customs port and is calculated on a rolling 365-day basis, with all subsequent entries and exits counted toward the same window.

The 90-day cap applies to private vehicles only. Vehicles rented from licensed rental establishments in GCC countries are exempt from this limitation. The rules also cover cars owned by non-GCC residents and by persons authorized to drive them inside the Kingdom, while GCC citizens visiting with their own vehicles face the same 90-day limit when the car is kept on Saudi territory.

The grace period explained

For vehicles present in Saudi Arabia before the rules take effect, the corrective grace period runs from 26 August 2026 until the end of 23 November 2026. During this time, owners and authorized drivers must bring the vehicle's status into line with the new regulations. After that, the vehicle must comply with the 90-days-per-365-days rule or leave the Kingdom.

Owners who need more time can request an extension beyond 90 days by submitting a request to the Ministry of Interior before the initial period ends, under procedures it determines. Approval is discretionary and must be obtained in advance. Vehicles that exceed the permitted stay without an approved extension or exit may face enforcement measures under traffic and customs regulations. Detailed fine amounts have not been publicly specified in the available material.

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