GCC vehicles in Saudi Arabia are now subject to a 90-day stay limit under the new vehicle regulations. Vehicles with a GCC plate will receive 90 days starting on Aug. 26, 2026. Owners then have to make a move, or risk actual consequences.
What Is the 90-Day Rule for GCC Vehicles in Saudi Arabia?
Under the new rules, GCC vehicles in Saudi Arabia can remain in the Kingdom for up to 90 days when used by eligible Saudi citizens or GCC residents. The same restriction does not only apply to vehicles they own outright but also to those they are officially qualified to drive.
That 90-day allowance doesn’t have to be used all at once. It can be used all at once or over several visits, as long as the 90-day approach to total use is not violated in any 365 days. The countdown begins from the entry point of the vehicle to Saudi Arabia via a customs post. Specific information on entries and exits will be recorded by customs authorities to track.
When Were the GCC Vehicle Rules in Saudi Arabia Approved?
Back in February 2026, Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers authorized the underlying regulation. The actual implementation of the original rule, procedures, penalties, and enforcement is happening on August 26. These procedures were approved by ZATCA Governor Suhail Abanmi, also in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic of the Ministry of Interior, and are now published in the official Umm Al-Qura gazette via Cabinet Resolution No. 637.
This is not a recent policy. It’s a 6-month-old rule taking effect.
Who Gets a Grace Period?
Vehicles already in Saudi Arabia when the rule takes effect aren’t left stranded. They will have 90 days (from August 26 to November 23, 2026) to clear up their position.
At that time, there are two concrete choices left to the owners or their authorised driver:
- Evacuate the vehicle from Saudi Arabia before the expiration date.
- To import and register it in the Kingdom permanently by the customs broker, which includes paying the necessary duties and taxes.
What Happens If You Ignore It?
Overstaying your welcome is not a minor paperwork matter. Fines range from SAR 1,000 to SAR 2,000. The car can also be towed after the violation and remains in custody until fixed, and the legal aspects revolve around Saudi traffic law. Article 68 in the Saudi Traffic Law, Paragraph 5, considers the overstay as a violation.
Who This Actually Applies To
This rule applies to privately owned cars that are registered in a GCC country, owned by a Saudi citizen or resident (Premium Resident holders included). It also includes the vehicles this person is allowed to use when they cross the border through the customs port. Tourists renting a car across a border are not affected in the same way since the rule does not apply to them.
Importantly, the regulation doesn’t change or override Saudi Arabia’s general traffic law and its executive regulations. Coexists with them and provides a definite and traceable cap on vehicles staying in another country.
Why Has Saudi Arabia Introduced the GCC Vehicle Limit?
The Saudi government views this as a way of establishing a more transparent vehicle management system for those from other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Those who are registered elsewhere but are actually staying in the Kingdom for long periods, often without local registration. Informal cross-border transportation causes tangible taxation, customs tracking, and traffic accountability gaps in the long-term.
What Owners of GCC Vehicles in Saudi Arabia Should Do Now?
Currently driving or owning a GCC-registered car in Saudi Arabia, the simple measures are obvious. Determine when your vehicle initially drove into the Kingdom, as that’s when your 90-day clock began. If you’ve already completed 90 days or are nearing the end of 90 days, make sure to either export the vehicle or start the permanent registration process before November 23. Before the original deadline, if a bit more time is needed, get the 30-day extension, rather than after.
Conclusion
This is a real change in the way Saudi Arabia deals with foreign-registered vehicles, not a guideline. It’s going to involve real extra enforcement, tracking of entries into and out of the country, fines and impoundment. Indeed, the message is for the many people from the GCC region who have been keeping a car in the Kingdom for extended periods. They need to register their cars properly, or adjust their plans around the 90-day limit.
