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The signing of the double tax treaty between Cyprus and Saudi Arabia

The double tax treaty for the avoidance of double taxation between Cyprus and Saudi Arabia was signed on 3 January 2018. The treaty is expected to be ratified and come into force as from 1 January 2019.
The new treaty is based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Model Tax Convention framework, with some modifications.
 
The treaty applies to taxes on income as well as on gains from alienation of movable or immovable property. In the case of Saudi Arabia, the treaty covers the Zakat and the income tax (including the natural gas investment tax), whereas, in the case of Cyprus, it covers corporate and personal income tax, defense tax and capital gains tax.
 
Please note that the treaty provides for withholding taxes on dividends at the following rates:

• There is no withholding tax in cases where there is at least 25% participation by a company that is tax resident in the receiving jurisdiction.
• In all other cases the withholding tax is 5%.

 
Additionally, there is no withholding tax on interest, as long as the recipient of the interest is the beneficial owner of the income.
 
With regards to royalties, the treaty provides for withholding taxes on royalties at the following rates (as long as the recipient of the royalties is the beneficial owner of the income):

• 5% in cases where the royalties are paid for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment
• in all other cases the withholding tax is 8%

 
The treaty provides that gains arising from the disposal of shares of a substantial participation in the capital of a company which is resident of a Contracting State may be taxed in that Contracting State.
A person is considered to have a substantial participation when this participation is at least 25% of the capital of that company, at any time within twelve months prior to the disposal of the shares.
 
In case you wish to know more about the double tax treaty signed between Cyprus and Saudi Arabia and what its associated merits would be for you, please contact our director, Savvas Shiatis at SShiatis@oneworldweb.net  for a discussion.