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Para. 4.5.1Status unknownSaudi ArabiaRegulation
Issued by Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA)
Charitable Associations, Non-Government Organizations, and Training
Units; and their fully-owned establishments
The Associations and Non-government Organizations Law, issued under Royal Decree No.
(M/8) dated 19 Safar 1437 AH, defines a non-profit association as any continuously organized
group, for a specified or unspecified period, composed of natural or legal persons, or both,
primarily not for profit, and established to achieve a charitable or social purpose, or for a religious
activity determined by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Awqaf, Dawah, and Guidance, or a social,
cultural, health, environmental, educational, scientific, professional, creative, youth, tourism,
or consumer protection activity, or any other civil activity deemed appropriate by the Ministry,
whether through financial, moral, or technical expertise or otherwise, and whether the activity
is directed towards public services, such as public benefits associations, or is primarily directed
towards serving members of a specific profession or field, such as professional associations,
scientific societies, and literary associations.
The Associations and Non-government Organizations System also defines a non-government
organization as any ongoing entity, established for a specified or unspecified duration, by one or
more natural or legal persons, or a combination thereof. Its primary purpose is to serve the public
interest or a specific cause, without aiming for profit. Such entities rely on funds, endowments,
grants, or bequests provided by the founder(s). Family and charitable funds of all types are
considered Non-government organizations.
Regarding training units, the regulatory rules for establishing non-profit training units in the field
of technical and vocational training, issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (17) dated 15
Muharram 1430 AH, defines a training unit as a legal entity whose primary purpose is to provide
technical and vocational training services within the Kingdom without aiming for financial profit.
Its establishment and growth depend on continuous self-financing, and it may accept grants but
is prohibited from collecting donations.
Charitable Associations, Non-Government Organizations, and Training Units; and their fully-
owned establishments are excluded from Zakat if the following conditions are met:
a. Their returns are disbursed to public charity purposes or to society, not a specific person.
Non-Government Organizations are excluded from this Paragraph if less than (10%) of the
organization’s net profit is distributed to a specific person.
b. Licensed by the competent authority in the Kingdom and legally documented.
c. Ownership of financial statements are audited by a chartered accountant certified in the
Kingdom, or any other documents acceptable by the Authority.
d. The training unit shall have a final license (Non-profit training organization).
The Arabic text is the legally binding version. The English translation is provided for guidance only.
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