Saudi Arabia — The Most Advanced Compliance in XiKey
From Phase 1 QR codes to Phase 2 real-time invoice submission — XiKey handles every aspect of ZATCA compliance automatically.
Saudi VAT — 15% Since July 2020
Saudi Arabia raised its VAT rate from 5% to 15% in July 2020 as part of COVID-19 fiscal measures. XiKey applies the correct rate automatically and generates ZATCA-compliant invoices with all required fields: seller name, VAT registration number, timestamp, invoice total, and VAT amount.
- Standard VAT rate: 15% on all taxable supplies
- Zero-rated supplies: exports, medical care, educational services
- Exempt supplies: residential rent, local passenger transport
- VAT-exclusive and VAT-inclusive pricing modes
- VAT return preparation reports (monthly/quarterly)
ZATCA E-Invoicing — Phase 1 & Phase 2
XiKey fully supports both phases and manages the e-invoice lifecycle from generation through archival.
Phase 1 — Generation
Effective: December 4, 2021
All tax invoices must be generated electronically in a structured format and include a ZATCA QR code. XiKey generates the QR code automatically using TLV (Tag-Length-Value) encoding, Base64 compressed, containing: seller name, seller VAT number, invoice timestamp, invoice total (VAT-inclusive), and VAT amount.
- Automatic QR code generation (TLV/Base64)
- Printed on every simplified tax invoice
- Offline capable — no internet required
- Standard and simplified invoice formats
Phase 2 — Integration
Wave-based from January 1, 2023
Invoices must be submitted in real time (or near real time) to ZATCA's Fatoorah portal for clearance before issuance (standard invoices) or reporting within 24 hours (simplified invoices). XiKey integrates with the ZATCA API and manages the submission queue, retry logic, and archival automatically.
- Real-time clearance for B2B standard invoices
- 24-hour reporting for B2C simplified invoices
- Automatic UUID and cryptographic stamp per invoice
- Offline queue with auto-retry on connectivity restore
- Full audit archive (ZATCA requires 6-year retention)
Invoice Types in Saudi Arabia
XiKey supports all ZATCA-approved invoice types with automatic handling for each format.
Standard Tax Invoice
Required for B2B transactions above SAR 1,000. Must include buyer's name, VAT registration number, and itemized line amounts. Subject to ZATCA Phase 2 clearance before delivery to buyer.
Simplified Tax Invoice
Used for B2C transactions. Does not require buyer details. Must display a ZATCA QR code. Reported to ZATCA within 24 hours in Phase 2. The most common format in retail POS.
Credit Notes & Debit Notes
When goods are returned or an invoice is adjusted, XiKey generates a ZATCA-compliant credit note linked to the original invoice UUID. Debit notes handle upward adjustments. Both are submitted to ZATCA with reference to the original cleared invoice.
Features Specific to Saudi Arabia
Fine-grained details built for the Saudi market — not found in generic POS systems.
Cash Rounding (0.05 SAR)
Saudi Arabia has eliminated coins below 5 Halalah (0.05 SAR). XiKey automatically rounds cash transactions to the nearest 0.05 SAR, prints a "Cash Rounding" line on receipts, and records the adjustment separately in accounting — with configurable English and Arabic rounding label text.
Hijri Calendar
XiKey supports the Islamic (Um Al-Qura) Hijri calendar alongside the Gregorian calendar. Invoice dates can display in Hijri, Gregorian, or both formats. Date pickers in Admin use the Hijri calendar when Arabic mode is active.
Full Arabic RTL Interface
The entire POS interface, receipts, reports, and invoices are available in Arabic with full right-to-left layout. Arabic product names, customer names, and supplier names are stored and printed correctly. Bilingual receipts print both Arabic and English side by side.
PDPL Data Protection
XiKey complies with Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) issued by SDAIA. Customer data is collected only with consent, stored with role-based access control, and subject to configurable retention policies. Data subject requests (access, deletion, correction) are managed through the Admin portal.
Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Built-in currency configuration in XiKey for the Saudi Arabian market.
Currency Specifications
| Symbol (Arabic) | ر.س |
| Symbol (International) | SAR |
| Sub-unit | Halalah (1 SAR = 100 Halalah) |
| Decimal Places | 2 |
| Cash Rounding | 0.05 SAR (nearest 5 Halalah) |
| Formatting Example | 1,250.75 ر.س |
Multi-Branch ZATCA Compliance
Each XiKey branch can hold its own ZATCA device ID and cryptographic keys. When a business operates multiple branches — each with its own cash registers and POS terminals — each branch submits independently to ZATCA under its own registration. The Sync Agent consolidates data at HQ for unified reporting while maintaining branch-level ZATCA compliance.
Per-Branch ZATCA Device
Unique device ID and crypto key per location
Independent Invoice Sequences
Each branch maintains its own numeric series
Centralized Compliance Monitoring
HQ Admin dashboard monitors all branches
Ready to get started in Saudi Arabia?
XiKey is deployed in retail businesses across Saudi Arabia. Our team in Jeddah provides onboarding, ZATCA registration support, and ongoing compliance updates as ZATCA requirements evolve.