About
ECZA
Saudi Arabia’s Economic Regulator Cities and Special Economic Zones’ Umbrella
The Economic Cities and Special Zones (ECZA) is the enabler and the umbrella regulator of Saudi Arabia’s Economic Cities (ECs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). ECZA was originally formed in 2010 to oversee the development of ECs.
In 2019, ECZA’s mandate was expanded to include the supervision of SEZs and the creation of the right regulatory environment to attract businesses. We are launching SEZs to capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s potential as a global business hub. They will play a major role in achieving Saudi Arabia’s economic development goals under Vision 2030.
Our vision
To be the umbrella regulator and trusted national reference for Economic Cities and Special Economic Zones with global standards.
Our mission
To raise the Kingdom’s global competitiveness through the launch and enablement of an ECs and SEZs ecosystem that provides:
An investor-friendly regulatory environment, competitive sector-specific incentives and enablers.
Highly-efficient integrated government services.
An inspiring living experience with global quality of life standards.
Our values
Pioneership
Responsibility
Credibility
Partnership
Customer Centricity
Our value proposition
Strategic Alignment and Strategic Interoperability Integration
Aligning with national strategies and ensuring strategic integration and coordination among ECs and SEZs.
Integration and Interoperability with base economy
Ensuring strategic and interoperability of SEZs and ECs with the base economy for local market protection.
Regulatory environment, exemptions, and incentives
Supporting SEZs in assessing and obtaining appropriate exemptions and incentive packages and developing an optimal regulatory environment for investors.
Integrated Government Services
Supporting and providing efficient, integrated government services to ensure sustainability and ease of doing business.
Assessment of strategic performance
Applying standard and unified mechanisms for evaluating of and licensing SEZs, and monitoring their strategic performance.
Vocal point for receiving all SEZs applications
Apply standardized comprehensive methodology to raise to the Council of Minister for approval
Our Economic Cities
ecosystem governance model
As the umbrella regulator, ECZA creates the perfect regulatory framework and facilitates the Master Developer to build and operate the ECs. We form an integrated partnership with the Master Developer, providing efficient integrated government services, and assist with investment attraction activities.
Our Special Economic Zones
ecosystem model
As the enabler and umbrella regulator, ECZA creates the regulatory framework and facilitates the Relevant Entity to build and operate the SEZs.
We serve our ambitious mandate via six ecosystem components:
- Strategies, SEZ evaluation and licensing
- Incentives and exemptions
- Framework and guidance
- Regulations
- Interoperability
- Performance management
How we achieve
our goals
ECZA’s strategy rests on three key pillars:
01
Enable ECs and SEZs and unlock their competitiveness.
02
Streamline the oversight role in ECs and track the strategic performance of SEZs ecosystem.
03
Build a distinct and sustainable organization.
We are aligned
with Vision 2030
on every front
Vision 2030 aims to position Saudi Arabia as an investment powerhouse at the crossroads of three continents, and ECZA is contributing to Saudi Arabia’s vision on multiple levels.
ECZA plays an active role in achieving Vision 2030 goals by:
Attracting foreign investments
Enhancing and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship
Upgrading the quality of services offered in Saudi cities
Supporting ease of doing business
Establishing logistics centers and enhancing their performance
Developing and diversifying leisure opportunities to meet the needs of residents
Fostering economic relations with international partners
Improving the local, regional, and global linkages of trade and transport networks
"Establishing Special Zones and rehabilitating Economic Cities." Vision 2030’s strategic objective 3.1.7.
ECZA also contributes to many of the Vision Realization Programs (VRPs) directly to:
- National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP)
- 8 SEZs established by 2025 is one of NIDLP’s KPIs
And indirectly to:
- Quality of Life Program
- Housing Program
- Public Investment Fund Program
- Fiscal Sustainability Program
- Doyof Al Rahman Program
- Privatization Program
- Human Capability Development Program
- National Transformation Program
Successful SEZs are crucial to many of Saudi Arabia’s national strategies:
- The National SEZs strategy
- The National Investment Strategy
- The National Industrial Strategy
- The National Transportation and Logistics Strategy
- GCC States Economic Agreement
Additional National Strategies which ECZA contributes to:
- National Exports Strategy
- National Localization Strategy
- Premium Residency Center Strategy
- Madinah Region Strategy
- National Statistical Development Strategy
Our Products
Our two unique products:
- Special Economic Zones - A Special Economic Zone is a geographically delimited area that facilitates specific economic activities by providing competitive advantages and legislative frameworks that differ from the base economy, while complying with the Kingdom’s obligations under international treaties.
- Economic Cities - ECs are full fledge cities that are funded, developed and operated by the private sector under government oversight and enablement. ECs offer various and comprehensive businesses (Industrial & Services), residential and entertainment solutions with elevated standards.
Our Partners
