Driving Your Car Into Saudi Arabia? You Now Have Only 90 Days Before It Needs To Leave

If you regularly drive into Saudi Arabia in a car registered elsewhere in the GCC, there is a new date worth marking on your calendar. From August 26, 2026, eligible GCC-registered private vehicles will be allowed to remain in the Kingdom for up to 90 days within a 365-day period as per the new rule.

Saudi Arabia Is Putting A 90-Day Clock On GCC-Registered Cars From August 26

And before you start counting 90 consecutive days, there is an important detail. The permitted period can be used continuously or in separate visits. The 365-day calculation starts from the vehicle’s first entry into Saudi Arabia through a customs port, with authorities recording the vehicle and driver details to track the stay.

Who Does The New Rule Apply To?

The rules cover privately owned vehicles registered in another GCC country and owned by a Saudi citizen or a non-GCC resident living in Saudi Arabia. They also apply to eligible vehicles that a citizen or resident has been officially authorised to drive. Premium Residency holders are included under the definition of residents.

So, for anyone using a GCC-registered vehicle for regular trips into Saudi Arabia, keeping track of border crossings is about to become considerably more important.

Also Read: Saudi Arabia Updates Rules For Expat Drivers And How To Convert License 

Already Have A GCC Car In Saudi Arabia?

There is a grace period for that.

Vehicles that were already inside Saudi Arabia before the new rules take effect will get 90 days to regularise their status, starting August 26 and running through November 23, 2026. Owners or authorised drivers have two options: take the vehicle out of the Kingdom before the deadline or permanently import and register it to obtain Saudi licence plates.

For those choosing permanent registration, a customs broker can submit the declaration electronically through the Fasah platform, complete the required procedures, and pay the applicable customs duties and taxes. There is no need to take the vehicle back through the same border crossing it originally entered through.

You Can Get Another 30 Days

Need a little more time? The rules allow owners or authorised drivers to apply for an extension before the initial 90-day period expires.

The extension can be granted for up to 30 additional days and will be counted from the end of the original permitted stay. The service is expected to be available through Absher, in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic.

Also Read: Riyadh Musical Road Plays Saudi Anthem As Cars Drive Over It

Staying Beyond The Limit Could Cost You

There is little room to ignore the deadline. Vehicles that remain in Saudi Arabia beyond the permitted period could face fines between SAR 1,000 and SAR 2,000, and the vehicle may be impounded until the violation is resolved. Owners or authorised drivers would also be responsible for towing, impoundment and related costs.

So, if your GCC-registered car spends a lot of time in Saudi Arabia, August 26 is more than just another date. Start keeping track of those entries and exits now, because that 90-day clock is about to matter.

Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/benedek from Getty Images Signature

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