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The guide contains listings of some of the leading hotels and resorts in Saudi Arabia and contacts for important government offices and services. It also contains useful tips and information for first-time or regular and business and leisure visitors alike.

This chapter contains an overview of the legal framework in which local and foreign investors operate, including a breakdown of new company and investment reguations and a look at the increasing emphasis on corporate governance. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Zeyad Khoshaim, Managing Partner, Khoshaim & Associates.

This chapter contains an overview of the tax framework in which local and foreign investors operate, including a rundown of the restructuring efforts currently under way at the department of tax and an outline of the set timeframe for the introduction of value-added tax. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Riyadh Al Najjar, KSA Country Leader, PwC.

With the holy cities of Makkah and Medina attracting millions of pilgrims every year, the bulk of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry remains concentrated in these two areas. The seasonal nature of many pilgrim visits has historically presented a challenge to the country’s tourism authorities, and as a result various plans and initiatives have been designed in recent years to drive tourism activities across the Kingdom more broadly, by enhancing existing facilities and developing resort-style tourist centres as well as promoting awareness of the options available for domestic tourists. Under Vision 2030 there are plans to develop the sector as a major contributor the economy, with reforms to visa issuance and development of historic heritage sites integral to boosting the numbers. This chapter contains interviews with Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman and President, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage; and Abdullah Al Dawood, CEO, Al Tayyar Travel Group.

Public and private sector investment in Saudi Arabia’s health care industry continues to be fuelled by the growing demands of a rising population and the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases. Although the 2016 health care budget was down on the historic high of 2015, industry players are confident of changes to enhance efficiency and promote better allocation of resources, as the rollout of government initiatives and projects already in the pipeline moves ahead. Moreover, what scale-backs are taking place are expected to open opportunities for more vigorous private sector involvement, as called for in the National Transformation Programme, released in June 2016. Meanwhile, a greater focus on preventive care is being encouraged to tackle the rise of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases, and an increasing number of Saudis are enrolling in courses at the Kingdom’s medical colleges, which bodes well for a sector historically reliant on foreign expertise. This chapter contains an interview with Dr Haitham Alfalah, CEO, King Saud Medical City.