People in Saudi Arabia took part in the national census on Tuesday, after delays caused by the coronavirus.
Citizens and residents can take part in the census online, or they can have a census taker pay a home visit or meet them at a registered office.
The General Authority for Statistics said it successfully completed canvassing addresses for the census, which started on January 26 and ended on March 10 this year.
Address canvassing is where all "occupied and unoccupied housing units are numbered and linked" with the head of household. Preliminary data was collected by a team of more than 14,000 officials to ensure the census covers all housing.
The census has been three years in the planning and is the fifth one the kingdom has conducted.
The last census took place in 2010, preceded by 2004, 1992 and 1974. The last census recorded the kingdom's population at 27,136,977 people, while a preliminary estimate for 2020 put it at more than 35,000,000.
"I had a very friendly official wearing their official uniform show up at our door over a month ago," said Farah Kasem, who lives in Jeddah.
"He took our data, asking how many people live here, ages and so on. He was using an iPad to register our information and was very professional and polite.
Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning and chairman of the board for the authority, Faisal Alibrahim, said the census was crucial for the planning and policymaking required to achieve the kingdom's Vision 2030 goals.
“We currently have 30,000 field researchers," Mr Alibrahim said in a press statement on Wednesday.
In February, the authority issued an official warning on its social media account asking residents to "beware of fraudulent impostors impersonating" field researchers.
Residents can do this through verifying the "official uniform specified for field enumerators, requesting his identification card, and by contacting us.”
The government body also asked Saudis to refrain from inviting census takers into their homes for tea, because it disrupts their work.
Mr Alibrahim said all residents should take part in the census as a national duty and social responsibility.
He encouraged people to co-operate with census takers and provide data as accurately as possible, because the "census results will directly impact policy".
The results will help policymakers in urban planning and development, providing public services and help the private sector and investors to take part in the kingdom’s economic growth.
For the first time, satellite imagery will be used to ensure a more comprehensive coverage of the country’s regions and provinces that have undergone major development since the last census in 2010.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
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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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