Can pilgrims claim a VAT refund in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Non-resident visitors — including Umrah and Hajj pilgrims — can reclaim the 15% Saudi VAT on eligible goods purchased from ZATCA-approved tax-free retailers, provided the goods are exported in personal luggage within 90 days.

What is the VAT rate in Saudi Arabia?

The standard VAT rate is 15%. Tourists and pilgrims can reclaim it on qualifying retail purchases through the ZATCA tax-free shopping scheme.

Guide · Tax-free shopping

VAT refunds in Saudi Arabia — the plain-English guide for pilgrims and tourists

Q: How does Sahlan differ from a standard VAT refund?

Sahlan is not the VAT refund operator. Once a refund is approved, Sahlan lets visitors upcycle that approved value into higher-perceived-value rewards — vouchers, wallet credits and loyalty benefits across the Makkah and Madinah commerce ecosystem.

Saudi Arabia charges 15% VAT on most retail purchases. Under the ZATCA tourist VAT refund scheme that took effect on 18 April 2025, non-resident visitors — including pilgrims travelling on Umrah or Hajj visas — can reclaim that VAT on eligible goods. Below: every rule in plain language, and a free scanner that reads your receipt and tells you instantly if it qualifies.

Live tool

Check a receipt

Upload or photograph a Saudi receipt. We check it against ZATCA tax-free rules and give you a clear yes/no.

The full rules, in plain language

Based on ZATCA's Tourist VAT Refund scheme (effective 18 April 2025). If anything on your receipt fails even one rule below, the refund will be rejected at the airport.

You qualify when ALL of these are true

You are a non-resident visitor over 18 with a foreign passport (Umrah and Hajj visas count).
The shop is registered with ZATCA's tax-free scheme — look for a 'Tax Free' sticker at the till.
Physical goods you take home unused: perfume, oud, dates, gold and silver, abayas/thobes, gifts, electronics, fashion, cosmetics, books.
Your spend totals SAR 500 or more — either one invoice, or up to three receipts from the SAME store on the SAME day.
You leave the Kingdom with the goods in your luggage within 90 days of purchase.
You ask the cashier for the tax-free tag at the time of purchase and present your passport.
You validate the tag at the tax-free desk at the airport (JED, MED, RUH, DMM) before checking your bags.

You do NOT qualify when any of these is true

Services of any kind: hotels, transport, taxis, restaurants, cafés, spa, telecom, tour guides.
Food, drinks, snacks or anything you consume inside Saudi Arabia.
Fuel, vehicles, vehicle parts, and anything attached to a car.
Tobacco, e-cigarettes, weapons, and items restricted by Saudi customs.
Prescription medicine and most pharmacy items.
Anything you open, wear, or use before leaving the Kingdom.
Total spend under SAR 500, or a receipt with no clear 15% VAT line.
Purchases from shops that are NOT in the ZATCA tax-free scheme — no sticker means no refund.
Goods you ship separately or post home — they must leave with you in your luggage.

The four-step refund process

1
Shop
Buy at a ZATCA tax-free retailer. Show your passport at checkout and ask for the tax-free tag.
2
Tag
Receive a digital tag linked to your passport and invoice via the approved operator.
3
Validate
At the airport, visit the tax-free desk in departures BEFORE checking your bags. Customs may ask to see the goods.
4
Refund
Choose cash, card refund or — with Sahlan — upcycle the approved value into vouchers, wallet credit and loyalty benefits.

How Sahlan turns your approved refund into more

Sahlan is not the VAT refund operator. Once your refund is approved by the ZATCA-licensed operator, Sahlan converts that approved value into higher-perceived-value rewards across the Makkah and Madinah ecosystem — a compliant bridge between tax-free shopping, local merchants, hotels, airlines and Muslim travellers.

Try the Sahlan app prototype →