Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia does not plan to raise the fees imposed on expatriates during 2019, the finance minister said.

The oil-rich kingdom will not increase fuel prices, but it will review oil prices in the next year, Mohammed Al-Jadaan added.

The government seeks to provide the best investment solutions for citizens, the official noted, indicating that the 2019 budget is expected to support economic growth and boost cooperation with the private sector, in addition to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The GCC nation previously noted that each expatriate would pay SAR 300 in any enterprise where foreign workers are equal or less than Saudi personnal, and each expatriate will pay SAR 400 if the number of foreign workers exceeds Saudis.

In July 2017, Saudi Arabia started raising monthly fees from expats’ companions with an annual rise of SAR 100, as companions will pay SAR 100 in the first year, and SAR 200, SAR 300, and SAR 400, respectively.

On Tuesday, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz said that the 2019 budget is the largest in the kingdom's history.