Doing Business In Saudi Arabia - Bna

Work Week:
a. U.S. Embassy: 08:00 - 17:00 Sat. thru Wed.
b. Government: 08:00 - 14:30 Sat. thru Wed.
c. Banks: 09:00 - 17:00 Sat. thru Wed.
d. Businesses: 08:00 - 12:00 and
16:00 - 20:00 Sat. thru Wed.
08:00 - 13:00 Thursdays.
There are two Islamic religious holidays during which most businesses close for at
least three working days and all Government offices close for a longer period. During
these holidays, it is very difficult to make contacts or transact business.
The Eid al-Fitr holiday occurs at the end of the holy month of Ramadan (month of
fasting). Eid al-Adha celebrates the time of year when pilgrims arrive from around the
world to perform the Hajj. Their timing is governed by the Islamic lunar calendar. The
next Eid al-Fitr holiday will begin on or about September 29, 2008 and the next Eid al-
Adha holiday on or about December 8, 2008. The Saudi national day is celebrated
September 23.
Business travel to Saudi Arabia during the holy month of Ramadan is best avoided.
During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours. Office
hours are shortened and shifted to the evening, and people may be affected by the
fasting and customary late night social gatherings. During Ramadan business
travelers should not drink, eat, or smoke in public during daylight or in the presence of
fasting Muslims. Hotels offer special daytime food services for their non-Muslim
guests. Ramadan will start on or about September 1, 2008 and end on or about
September 30, 2008.
Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings Return to top
For temporary entry of goods for promotional purposes, importers need an invoice with
the value of the goods endorsed by the local Chamber of Commerce or the U.S.-Saudi
Business Council, and a certificate of origin also to be authenticated by one of the
afore-mentioned entities. The invoice should state that the goods are being imported
for exhibition purposes only and will be re-exported.
Saudi Customs requires a deposit for these goods (equivalent to the applicable tariff
rate on the total value of the goods). This deposit is refundable when the exhibition is
over and upon showing a document that the owner of the equipment officially
participated in a trade show. Additionally, the customs authorities will collect handling
charges. Reimbursement takes between two to four weeks. If the goods are meant
for demonstration purposes to a Government entity, a letter from that entity is required
indicating the nature and purpose of the goods.
Web Resources Return to top
5/13/2008