Saudi Arabia gears up for Halloween with queues for pumpkins and costumes


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Saudi Arabia's full embrace of Halloween is delighting foreign residents and Saudis alike, as pumpkins, lights and ghoulish decorations spring up around malls and homes in the kingdom.

Ryan Davidson, an American national, spent some of Thursday shopping for a werewolf costume in Riyadh for a Halloween party at the weekend.

“Never would I have imagined Halloween here being such a big deal as it is in the US … I am really excited for this weekend.”

But it wasn't always this way.

Many foreign nationals say Halloween and Christmas used to be celebrated quietly until Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 was announced, which helped liberate religious and other festivals celebrated by the kingdom's diverse population.

Fahad Alzowaid, a store manager at decoration and costume store Party Experts in Riyadh, said he was enjoying seeing the happiness the holiday brought to people.

“Everyone is buying make up, costumes and props to celebrate it,” he said.

“People are lining up and waiting up to 40 minutes just to buy costumes. The government has been great at controlling the pandemic and has helped avert this disaster.”

But Covid-19 is still a concern with a tradition that usually involves participants going door-to-door to collect sweet treats from homes in their neighbourhoods.

Imagine, Saudis used to travel abroad to experience these activities and now our government has brought them home so we can enjoy them here with our friends and families
Enas Abdullah

Rates of the virus have dropped in the kingdom in recent weeks, with daily cases hovering at about 50. Saudi Arabia has registered 548,530 cases since the start of the pandemic.

“Things are getting better but I am ensuring there are masks and limited gatherings for the safety of our children,” said Ghada Batarjee, a Saudi national, who is creating an immersive experience “with spooky carved-out pumpkins, webs, lanterns and costumes” for her friends and children at home on Friday.

“We have been celebrating every year but now its more widespread as the government has opened up interactive events, stores and other entertainment venues,” she said.

“It's so much fun for the kids — they love trick-or-treat, going down the road. Most of our neighbours have neon lights and signs saying 'ring the bell for treats' and it helps bring the community together in a festive way.”

Malls around the kingdom are selling Halloween-inspired costumes and decorations, while bakeries and supermarkets are capitalising on the pumpkin season and are offering items for those celebrating Halloween.

“We have events in our compound every year, with competitions for best dressed, but it was hard to source decorations and costumes locally up until now,” said Natasha Ahmed, a South African national visiting the Mall of Arabia in Jeddah.

“Today, we are in the malls and everywhere you go, you can easily find them.”

This year, people can attend public Halloween events with their families, including Horror Adventures at Riyadh Season’s Winter Wonderland, which has a haunted house, a scary maze and games.

A screengrab from the video of Saudi Arabian residents gear up for Halloween.
A screengrab from the video of Saudi Arabian residents gear up for Halloween.

In the capital, people can also drive up to the Tuwaiq Palace parking area in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh for trick-or-treating and participate in fun competitions for the whole family.

Syrup Lounge in Riyadh is hosting a costume party for children and a ladies' night that includes games, family activities and more.

Even fitness enthusiasts can celebrate Halloween at gyms that are hosting special events during Halloween. Rebel 1 gym is hosting “heart-pumping” sessions and offering treats.

“Imagine, Saudis used to travel abroad to experience these activities and now our government has brought them home so we can enjoy them here with our friends and families,” Enas Abdullah, a Saudi national living in Riyadh tells The National.

“We are dressing up as Squid Games characters and my cousins are coming as vampires.”

Tips for SMEs to cope
  • Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
  • Make sure you have an online presence
  • Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
  • Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Updated: November 01, 2021, 4:36 AM