IFRS 18 timeline in Saudi Arabia: what is due and when

IFRS 18 becomes mandatory for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027 and applies retrospectively. For a company with a 31 December year end, that makes 2026 the year whose figures will be restated, and the first quarter of 2027 the first period reported on the new basis.

1. The dates

1. 1

   26 December 2024

   SOCPA endorsed IFRS 18 for use in Saudi Arabia, with early application permitted.

2. 2

   1 January 2026

   Start of the comparative year. 2026 figures need to be captured so they can be presented in IFRS 18 categories.

3. 3

   30 June 2026

   The Capital Market Authority announced its decision for listed joint-stock companies.

4. 4

   Periods beginning on or after 1 April 2026

   Listed joint-stock companies disclose a preliminary assessment of the expected impact in their interim or annual statements. The board follows up the company’s progress.

5. 5

   During 2026 (optional)

   A listed company may announce IFRS 18 statements on the Tadawul website. Its approved statements stay on IAS 1.

6. 6

   1 January 2027

   Mandatory application. The third edition of the IFRS for SMEs Standard takes effect on the same date for companies on that framework.

7. 7

   First quarter 2027 interim statements

   First statements on the IFRS 18 basis: new categories and subtotals, the first quarter of 2026 restated, and a reconciliation of the restated comparative to the amounts previously presented.

8. 8

   Annual statements for 2027

   First annual IFRS 18 statements: 2026 restated and reconciled line by line, the management-defined performance measures note, and the Saudi financing disclosures.

2. What has to be ready, and by when

3. Points that are still open

• The Authority’s announcement refers to joint-stock companies listed on the Saudi Exchange and does not name the parallel market, Nomu, separately. A Nomu company should confirm its position with its adviser.
• The international board expects to publish an exposure draft in late 2026 on charges that substitute for income taxes, which bears on how zakat is presented. It is not final.
• We found no IFRS 18 guidance from the Saudi Central Bank, the Insurance Authority or ZATCA as at 6 November 2026.

4. How Entry Post helps

Entry Post prepares the IFRS 18 impact study, restates the comparatives, and builds the disclosure templates and the board and audit-committee briefing. Most impact studies take 4–6 weeks. If we are your auditor, our role stays within what independence rules allow; otherwise we work alongside your auditor.