English text status

English translation published by the NBR in its bilingual Regulations file (marked unofficial). The Arabic text published in the Official Gazette remains the legal reference in the event of any discrepancy.

Practical summary

Zero rating covers oil, gas and hydrocarbons; exploration and exploitation rights; field, refining, processing, transport, distribution and storage Services; and required specialist Services. Consumables and equipment qualify only where used directly and exclusively in those activities. Derived products such as fertiliser and plastics are excluded.

Who should read this?

Energy companies, contractors, field Service providers, Suppliers and importers.

Why does it matter?

The key boundary is direct and exclusive use. A purchase by an oil company is not enough, and a derived plastic product does not follow crude oil treatment.

Covered oil or gas activityDirect and exclusive useDerived products excluded

Current text

A. Tax shall be applied at the zero rate on the following: 1. The Import and Supply of oil, gas and other hydrocarbons, whether processed or unprocessed. 2. The grant of a right to use, explore or exploit any part of the Kingdom to search for, extract or produce oil, gas or other hydrocarbons. 3. The Supply of oil and gas exploration Services. 4. The Supply of oilfield and gas field related Services, including but not limited to, design, drilling, rig set-up, drilling, extraction, recovery, separation, evaluation, feasibility analysis, testing, seismic and geophysical surveys, and repair and maintenance Services. 5. The Supply of specialist professional Services, where such Services are required for the exploration or exploitation of oil and gas sites and potential oil and gas sites; 6. The Supply of oil refining or gas processing Services, including regasification of liquefied natural gas;.( 7. The distribution or transportation of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons; .( 8. The storage of oil or gas or other hydrocarbons; 9. The Import or Supply of consumables that are used directly and exclusively in the making of Supplies listed in Clauses 1 to 8 in Paragraph A of this Article. 10. The import, purchase or lease of equipment that is used directly and exclusively for the purpose of making Supplies listed in Clauses 1 to 8 of Paragraph A of this Article. B. Imports and Supplies of Goods produced from oil, gas and other hydrocarbons such as fertiliser and plastics shall not be subject to the zero rate.

Link Supply to covered activity

  1. 1

    Identify the covered activity.

  2. 2

    Evidence specialist Service necessity.

  3. 3

    Document direct and exclusive use of inputs and equipment.

  4. 4

    Separate general or multi-use assets.

  5. 5

    Exclude fertiliser, plastics and other derived products.

  6. 6

    Keep contract, work order and site-use evidence.

Connected provisions

Official guides and tools

Connected Madar tools

Illustrative example by Madar

Drilling chemical and office laptop

A chemical documented for direct and exclusive use in covered drilling may be tested for zero rating. A general office laptop used across the business does not qualify merely because the buyer is an oil company.

Questions to help you apply it

  • What covered activity?
  • Is use direct?
  • Is it exclusive?
  • Is the item a derived product?
  • What links it to the site?