Saudi Arabia Adopts Measures to Control Used Cars Market, Reduce Prices

A car showroom in Al-Shifa district, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A car showroom in Al-Shifa district, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Adopts Measures to Control Used Cars Market, Reduce Prices

A car showroom in Al-Shifa district, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A car showroom in Al-Shifa district, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority announced that it was possible to calculate the value-added tax (VAT) on the profit margin of the sale of certified used cars, without taking into account of the total sale value.

This regulation will be implemented conditionally, effective from July 1, 2023.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the new steps came in response to the demands of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, in order to regulate and control the local market as well as reduce the prices of used vehicles.

The Federation of Saudi Chambers has held several meetings with the authority for the purpose of implementing Article 48 of the executive regulations of the value-added tax system, which defines the mechanisms for the supply of used goods.

Faisal Abu Shusheh, head of the National Committee for Car Dealers in the Federation of Saudi Chambers, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the decision would balance prices by calculating value-added tax on profit margins, and therefore the addition would be symbolic and contribute to lowering prices.

For his part, Muqrin Al-Mutairi, owner of a car showroom, said that the new measure would contribute to regulating the market and limiting manipulation in the sale of used cars. He also stressed that the decision would help reduce the prices of used vehicles in the local market.

The Saudi Ministry of Commerce has recently taken accelerated moves to protect the local car market from improper practices, after it witnessed a rise in prices and delays in delivering vehicles to customers.

The Ministry of Commerce requested car dealers to publish prices, policies, instructions and special procedures on their websites, and prevented rental companies from selling new vehicles.



Oman State-run Oil Firm OQ will Make Initial Public Offering, Potentially Seek Billions

Oil companies operating in Oman drilled many exploratory wells in various oil and gas concession areas, targeting different reservoirs at varying depths (Oman News Agency)
Oil companies operating in Oman drilled many exploratory wells in various oil and gas concession areas, targeting different reservoirs at varying depths (Oman News Agency)
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Oman State-run Oil Firm OQ will Make Initial Public Offering, Potentially Seek Billions

Oil companies operating in Oman drilled many exploratory wells in various oil and gas concession areas, targeting different reservoirs at varying depths (Oman News Agency)
Oil companies operating in Oman drilled many exploratory wells in various oil and gas concession areas, targeting different reservoirs at varying depths (Oman News Agency)

An Omani state-run oil and gas company announced Monday it will make an initial public offering of its exploration and production business, potentially seeking billions in a major move toward privatization in the sultanate.

OQ, formerly known as the Oman Oil Co., will offer up to 25% of shares in its exploration and production arm, the announcement said. It offered no proposed values for the deal, though Bloomberg quoted anonymous officials with knowledge of the deal suggesting the company could be worth an overall $8 billion, making the stake being put up worth some $2 billion, The AP reported.

“The intention to float OQ Exploration and Production reflects our commitment to unlocking new opportunities for growth, both for the company and for the sultanate of Oman,” OQ CEO Ashraf Hamed Al Mamari said in a statement.

The plan calls for the listing to take place in October, pending regulatory approvals. It plans dividends of $150 million for the first two quarters after that, with a planned dividend of $600 million annually, plus one linked to its performance.

OQ was founded in 2009 and is Oman's third-largest firm in the oil industry, following the state-owned Petroleum Development Oman and US firm Occidental Petroleum.