RIYADH, Feb 27: Very often, Kuwait citizens and expatriates drive to Saudi Arabia. With the new rule, they now need to be aware of the 90-day limit to avoid penalties. Any vehicles registered in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will now face a maximum stay of 90 days within any 365 days in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the government announced. The period, whether consecutive or not, is calculated from the vehicle’s entry date through any Saudi customs port.

The decision, issued by the Saudi Council of Ministers, aims to regulate the use of GCC-registered vehicles and curb violations associated with extended stays without proper registration.

The rules apply to vehicles owned by Saudi citizens, expatriates, or authorized drivers within the Kingdom. Vehicles rented from licensed establishments in any GCC country are exempt from the regulations.

Under the new system, vehicle owners or authorized drivers can request an extension from the Ministry of Interior before the 90-day limit expires. The ministry will review such requests at its discretion and provide details on the required documentation and procedures.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority will supply the Ministry of Interior with the necessary vehicle data to enforce the regulations. Vehicle owners or authorized drivers must register their vehicle information at the customs port in line with the authority’s requirements.

Violators exceeding the allowed stay will face penalties under Article 68, Paragraph 5 of the Traffic Law. The governor of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority is set to issue the executive decisions needed to implement the rules in coordination with the Ministry of Interior.