The rise of Saudi SILZ Riyadh marks one of the most ambitious logistics transformations in the region. Built beside King Khalid International Airport, the zone spans 3 million square meters and offers something few global hubs can match: a 50-year tax holiday and a system built for 4-hour customs clearance. It is designed to move goods with speed, cut red tape, and anchor Riyadh as a logistics force connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa within eight-hour flights.
The Incentive Package and Why Saudi SILZ Riyadh Resets the Rules
SILZ (Special Integrated Logistics Zone) delivers 50 years of 0% corporate income tax on qualifying logistics activities. This sits alongside exemptions from VAT, withholding tax, and customs duties for goods staying inside the zone. Companies receive 100% foreign ownership, relaxed labor requirements, and no restrictions on capital repatriation.
These benefits target long-term industrial and logistics growth. They support Saudi Arabia’s plan to diversify under Vision 2030, while giving global players cost predictability for half a century. With Riyadh’s warehouse stock reaching 28.9 million sqm in 2025 and industrial facilities hitting 16.2 million sqm, the zone plugs directly into a logistics market expanding at speed.
Read Also: AI & Bonded Zones Drive Saudi Logistics Infrastructure Growth
The Apple/Amazon Effect
Industry giants are already shaping how SILZ will function. Apple chose the zone for its first regional distribution center, using build-to-suit options to cut handling time. Lenovo invested in a 200,000 sqm manufacturing facility only 15 minutes from the airport, reinforcing Saudi SILZ Riyadh as a strategic hub for tech and high-value goods.
This “Apple/Amazon effect” signals credibility. As air cargo in Saudi Arabia is projected to grow 13% annually to reach 2.2 million tons by 2030, multinational firms see SILZ as a chance to redesign supply chains around faster, cheaper, airport-linked operations. Their presence attracts second-tier suppliers, service providers, and logistics partners who want to plug into the same ecosystem.
A New Supply Chain Gate for Smaller Firms
Smaller logistics and transport firms stand to benefit just as much. SILZ offers one-stop administrative services, flexible Saudization rules, and simple onboarding for companies that need to scale without heavy upfront cost.
SMEs gain bonded access to the airport, no customs duties for zone-bound goods, and tax relief that lowers barriers to entry. With 267% growth in logistics facilities nationwide since 2021 and over 101 million delivery orders processed in Q2 2025 alone, demand for transport partners, maintenance providers, and value-added operators is rising fast.
The coming 40 new logistics centers across 100 million sqm by 2030 means SMEs can integrate into global supply chains through SILZ instead of operating on the margins.
Read Also: Saudi Port Expansion & Maritime Logistics Growth Under Vision 2030
Saudi SILZ Riyadh Offers The 4-Hour Clearance Promise
Saudi Arabia’s “Clearance Within Two Hours” program already cuts customs time from eight days to under two hours through pre-submission systems and integrated agency reviews. SILZ amplifies this with a bonded corridor to King Khalid Airport and electronic clearance through platforms like FASAH, aligning closely with the zone’s 4-hour promise.
Eighty percent of national declarations now clear in under 48 hours, showing the system’s momentum toward fully frictionless trade.
Saudi SILZ Riyadh is A New Gateway for Expansion and Insight
Saudi SILZ Riyadh is becoming the core of a logistics model built on speed, tax relief, and airport-anchored access to global markets. Businesses exploring opportunities in the zone—and those preparing to enter the region—can gain deeper strategic insight by engaging Saudi Arabia Logistics by Eurogroup Consulting. With 40 years of distinguished experience and a strong focus on market research in the Kingdom, Eurogroup Consulting provides the guidance needed to understand fast-changing markets and build winning strategies.
