New 90-day rule: how it works
Under the new framework, vehicles registered in any Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country can remain in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 90 days during any rolling 12‑month period. The limit applies whether those 90 days are spent in one continuous stay or spread across multiple visits, and the clock starts from the moment the vehicle enters through any Saudi customs port.
The regulations cover vehicles owned by Saudi citizens, GCC nationals and expatriate residents alike, as well as cars driven by authorised users, closing a loophole that allowed some owners to keep foreign‑registered vehicles in the Kingdom almost permanently.
Who is covered – and who is exempt
Saudi authorities have confirmed that the 90‑day limit applies to Gulf‑registered private vehicles entering from all neighbouring GCC states, including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar. The measure is particularly relevant to cross‑border commuters and families who routinely drive between Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states for work, business, and leisure.
However, the rules carve out a key exemption: vehicles rented from licensed companies in GCC countries are not subject to the 90‑day cap, reflecting the different regulatory treatment of short‑term rentals versus privately owned cars. Officials have also indicated that owners or authorised drivers may apply for extensions before the permitted period expires, with the Ministry of Interior assessing such requests on a case-by-case basis.
Enforcement: data sharing and penalties
Implementation of the new system hinges on closer coordination between border, tax, and traffic authorities. The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has been tasked with supplying the Ministry of Interior and traffic departments with detailed vehicle entry data, enabling them to track cumulative days spent in the Kingdom by each Gulf‑registered car.
Owners or authorised drivers must register vehicle details at customs ports on entry, and those who exceed the 90‑day limit without an approved extension will face penalties under Saudi traffic law, where overstaying is treated as a violation. Repeat offenders could be subject to escalating measures as executive decisions are issued to operationalise the regulations.
Why Saudi Arabia is tightening the rules
Officials say the move addresses a long‑standing problem of Gulf‑registered vehicles remaining in Saudi Arabia for months or years without being transferred to local registration, complicating traffic enforcement, insurance oversight, and road‑safety monitoring. Vehicles that stay indefinitely on foreign plates can fall outside normal inspection and compliance regimes, making it harder to ensure they meet Saudi technical and safety standards.
The 90‑day cap is part of a broader push to modernise vehicle regulation, improve data‑driven enforcement, and reduce violations linked to unregistered or hard‑to‑trace cars. By limiting how long Gulf‑registered vehicles can operate in the Kingdom, authorities hope to encourage timely local registration for longer stays and align cross‑border traffic with national road‑safety goals.
What it means for Gulf motorists
For GCC nationals and expatriates who frequently drive into Saudi Arabia, the change will require more careful trip planning and a clearer view of how often their vehicle crosses the border. Regular visitors who previously left cars in Saudi Arabia for extended periods may now need to either re‑register their vehicles locally or ensure they exit before hitting the 90‑day threshold.
Travel and automotive advisers are urging motorists to keep records of entry and exit dates, monitor any days counted towards the annual limit, and seek clarification from customs or traffic departments if they plan long stays that could trigger the need for an extension or re‑registration. While some drivers may see the rule as an inconvenience, officials frame it as a necessary step to keep Saudi roads safer, vehicle fleets more compliant, and enforcement more predictable in an increasingly mobile Gulf region.
Know more about Saudi Arabia sets 90-day annual limit on stay of Gulf-registered vehicles :
- What is the new 90-day rule for Gulf-registered vehicles in Saudi Arabia?
It is a regulation approved by the Saudi Council of Ministers that limits the total stay of any vehicle with GCC license plates to 90 days within a rolling 365-day period. - When does the 90-day “clock” start ticking?
The countdown begins exactly on the date the vehicle enters the Kingdom through any land, sea, or air customs port. - Do the 90 days have to be consecutive?
No. The limit is cumulative. People are searching for this because it means you can visit for 10 days, leave, and come back; those 10 days still count toward your annual 90-day total. - What happens if I enter and exit multiple times a year?
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) tracks the vehicle’s data. Once the total sum of days inside Saudi Arabia hits 90 within a year, the vehicle must exit or face penalties. - Does this rule apply to Saudi citizens driving GCC-plated cars?
Yes. The regulation specifically applies to vehicles owned by Saudi citizens, expatriates, or any person authorized to drive them within the Kingdom.
2. Exemptions and Extensions
- Are rental cars from the UAE or Kuwait exempt?
Yes! One of the top searches is for exemptions. Vehicles rented from licensed rental establishments in any GCC country are currently excluded from this 90-day limit. - Can I extend the 90-day stay if I need more time?
Yes, but it is not automatic. You must submit a request to the Ministry of Interior (MOI) before the 90 days expire. - Is an extension guaranteed?
No. The Ministry reviews each request at its discretion based on the data and procedures they establish. - Do I need to register my vehicle data upon entry?
Yes. Drivers are required to register the vehicle’s information at the customs port according to the requirements set by ZATCA to ensure accurate tracking. - Does this rule affect commercial trucks and heavy transport?
The primary focus of this specific 90-day “visit” limit is on private passenger vehicles, though all foreign-registered vehicles are subject to ZATCA’s broader import and transit regulations.
3. Penalties and Enforcement
- What is the penalty for overstaying the 90 days?
Violators will be penalized under Article 68, Paragraph 5 of the Saudi Traffic Law, which classifies overstaying as a formal traffic violation. - Will my car be impounded if I exceed the limit?
While the primary penalty is a fine, the Traffic Law allows for escalated enforcement measures for repeat offenders or significant overstays. - How will the government track my vehicle’s days?
ZATCA provides a live data feed to the Ministry of Interior. Every time a license plate is scanned at a border or by “Saher” traffic cameras, the system updates the vehicle’s “days remaining” balance. - Why did Saudi Arabia introduce this limit now?
The goal is to curb the long-term use of foreign plates by residents to avoid local registration fees, insurance requirements, and periodic technical inspections (MVPI). - Does this rule affect my personal “stay” as a visitor?
No. This rule is specifically for the vehicle. Your personal visa (e.g., a 1-year multiple-entry tourist visa) has its own stay limits (usually 90 days per visit), which are separate from the car’s annual 90-day limit.
4. Practical Advice for Travelers
- How can I check how many days my car has left?
It is expected that a tracking feature will be integrated into the Absher or Tawakkalna apps, allowing owners to monitor their vehicle’s remaining balance. - What if I live in Saudi but my car is registered in the UAE?
Under the new rule, you cannot keep that car in Saudi for the whole year. You will either need to export and re-register it with Saudi plates or ensure it stays out of the country once the 90-day limit is hit. - Does the 90-day limit reset on January 1st?
No. It is a rolling 365-day period. The system looks back 12 months from the current date to see if the vehicle has already used its 90-day quota. - Can I just “border run” to reset the clock?
No. Since the days are cumulative (non-consecutive), crossing the border and coming back the same day does not reset the 90-day annual limit. - Where can I find the full text of the regulation?
People are looking for the Saudi Gazette reports and the official ZATCA (zatca.gov.sa) portals for the latest executive decisions regarding implementation.