Zakat Committees: Half a million electronic litigation processes (2020-2025)
The General Secretariat of the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Committees announced an unprecedented achievement in the digital transformation of the judicial and tax sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, revealing that more than half a million electronic litigation cases were recorded between 2020 and 2025. This achievement reflects the success of strategic plans aimed at automating procedures and increasing efficiency in resolving zakat and tax disputes.
Record numbers reflect performance efficiency
In detailing this digital achievement, the Secretariat explained that the "Digital Case File Creation" service topped the list of most used services, enabling over 196,000 beneficiaries to file and register their cases entirely electronically. This eliminated the need for traditional in-person visits and saved time and effort for litigants and the business sector. The "Automated Exchange of Memoranda" service also witnessed significant demand, benefiting approximately 137,000 cases, thus ensuring the continuity of remote litigation and the seamless flow of legal documents between disputing parties.
In terms of transparency and speed of execution, the digital access portal for decisions has seen widespread engagement, with over 141,000 beneficiaries able to access rulings and decisions immediately upon issuance. The Secretariat has also addressed procedural details, enabling over 8,000 individuals to electronically change their legal representative, in addition to activating smartphone services that have begun attracting users and facilitating the tracking of their cases at any time.
Keeping pace with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and digital transformation
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, specifically the National Transformation Program, which aims to fully digitize government services. The zakat and tax litigation sector is a cornerstone of the legislative and economic environment, and this technological advancement contributes to achieving the Vision's objectives related to enhancing e-government and improving the efficiency of government institutions.
This qualitative leap came in response to the higher directives on the need to facilitate the beneficiary’s journey, and to move from paper-based and bureaucratic transactions to a smart digital work environment that ensures accuracy and speed at the same time, which is in line with the tremendous development that the Saudi judicial system is witnessing in general.
Economic impact and strengthening the investment environment
This development in litigation mechanisms carries significant economic implications. The swift resolution of zakat and tax disputes is a crucial factor in improving the business environment and attracting foreign and domestic investment. An efficient and transparent electronic litigation system instills greater confidence in the Kingdom's financial and tax system among investors and companies, guaranteeing their rights and providing a clear and rapid mechanism for resolving any issues that may arise.
Experts confirm that reducing litigation time periods and facilitating procedures through digital platforms directly contributes to raising the Kingdom’s ranking in international ease of doing business indicators, which enhances its position as a leading investment destination in the region, and achieves prompt justice, which is the basis for the stability of commercial and financial transactions.
