RIYAD: King Salman has ordered monthly payments of more than $260 (£190) for the next year. The kingdom has roughly doubled domestic petrol prices and introduced a 5% tax on most goods and services, including food and utility bills. The Saudi government wants to reduce its dependence on oil following recent turbulence in the crude oil market.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also introduced a 5% sales tax.
The Saudi royal decree says citizens using private health and educations services will be exempt and the state will also pay tax on their first home purchase. It also says military personnel serving on the front lines with Yemen will also receive a one-off payment of more than $1,000.
n 2016 Saudi Arabia announced it was cutting public sector pay to bring down spending, but last year reversed the cuts.
About two-thirds of working Saudis are employed in the public sector. Their salaries and allowances accounted for 45% of government spending in 2015 and contributed towards a record deficit.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have already taken other steps to boost government coffers. In Saudi Arabia this included a tax on tobacco and soft drinks as well as a cut in some subsidies offered to locals. In the UAE road tolls have been increased and a tourism tax introduced.
