Shura Council Approves Accelerating Launch of Saudi Free Zones

 The Saudi Shura Council approved recommendations on expediting the launching of free and economic zones in the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Shura Council approved recommendations on expediting the launching of free and economic zones in the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Shura Council Approves Accelerating Launch of Saudi Free Zones

 The Saudi Shura Council approved recommendations on expediting the launching of free and economic zones in the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Shura Council approved recommendations on expediting the launching of free and economic zones in the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Shura Council approved the recommendations and proposals submitted to the Ministry of Commerce on expediting the launching of free and economic zones in the Kingdom within a timetable that comes in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.

The recommendations made by the Economy and Energy Committee of the Shura Council will be submitted to the concerned authorities to take the necessary measures that will accelerate the establishment of free zones with international standards in a number of Saudi cities, which would have a direct impact on the Saudi economy and increase investment opportunities.

The move comes in line with the directions of the Saudi government, which has drawn its economic path and developed the relevant mechanisms according to its vision launched five years ago.

Based on information received by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Economy and Energy Committee called on the Ministry of Commerce to coordinate with the ministerial authorities and committees over sectoral and regional plans in order to develop a work model that would ensure the integration of roles between the relevant sectors.

According to the approved recommendations, the Ministry of Commerce was urged to coordinate with relevant government agencies to expedite the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the anti-commercial cover-up program, while enabling the ministry to continue providing financial and logistical support packages to small and medium enterprises within the sectors affected by the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The recommendations also emphasized the importance of adopting mechanisms and incentives to support the expansion of e-commerce platforms in order to enhance competition in the trade market at the national and regional levels.



PIF Launches Al Waha, First Saudi-Owned Duty-Free Retailer

PIF Launches Al Waha, First Saudi-Owned Duty-Free Retailer
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PIF Launches Al Waha, First Saudi-Owned Duty-Free Retailer

PIF Launches Al Waha, First Saudi-Owned Duty-Free Retailer

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced on Monday the establishment of Al Waha Duty-Free Company (Al Waha), a travel retailer and the first Saudi-owned duty-free operator.

Al Waha, a wholly owned PIF company, will become a leader in travel retail and secure a greater share of passenger spending for the Saudi economy, said PIF in a statement.

Al Waha will develop luxury retail outlets in select locations across the Kingdom and feature a variety of merchandise including unique, high-quality Saudi products. The company will operate its airport outlets on a duty-free basis, and will explore additional travel retail opportunities at land border crossings and seaports, as well as channels such as inflight shopping.

Head of Consumer Goods and Retail in MENA Investments at PIF Majed Al-Assaf said: “By establishing Al Waha as a national travel retail champion, PIF intends to grow the Saudi travel retail industry and further support its ambitions for the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.”

“Al Waha will offer a distinctive traveler experience across Saudi travel retail touch points through diverse product offerings, a duty-free operation and a superior digital customer journey,” he added.

There is considerable potential for Saudi Arabia to gain a larger share of travel retail spending in the future, and the continued increase in visitors coming to the country - as well as global events being hosted locally - offer new opportunities to generate sustainable travel retail revenues, he remarked.

PIF is unlocking the capabilities of strategic sectors to diversify the Saudi economy, stressed the statement.