Zakat platform: The trusted digital solution for paying Zakat in Saudi Arabia
A call to facilitate the digital performance of the third pillar of Islam
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has renewed its call for all individuals to pay their Zakat voluntarily and conveniently through the reliable digital channels provided by the government, namely the “Zakat” smartphone application and the official platform website (zakaty.zatca.gov.sa). This call comes as part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to promote digital transformation and facilitate the performance of this great Islamic obligation for citizens and residents, ensuring that it reaches its rightful recipients with complete transparency and ease.
The historical context and digital transformation of Zakat in the Kingdom
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has given it significant attention since its founding, establishing specialized government institutions to oversee its collection and distribution. With the launch of Vision 2030, government services have undergone a qualitative shift towards digitalization. In this context, the “Zakat” platform was launched in 2017 to serve as the official and reliable digital arm for collecting zakat from individuals. The platform represents a natural evolution of the state’s efforts to regulate this important pillar, transforming the process from traditional procedures to a fully integrated digital environment characterized by efficiency, speed, and security, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to harnessing technology to serve religion and society.
The importance of the platform and its local and regional impact
Locally, the importance of the “Zakat” platform lies in strengthening trust between zakat payers and government entities. By directly linking the platform to the social security beneficiary lists at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, “Zakat” ensures that funds are accurately directed to the most deserving groups, such as families in need of housing, families of divorced women, and prisoners. This not only contributes to achieving social solidarity and combating poverty but also increases the efficiency of resource allocation. Regionally, the “Zakat” initiative offers a leading model for other countries on how to modernize zakat systems and leverage financial technology to enhance transparency and broaden community participation in organized charitable work.
Integrated features for calculating and paying Zakat
The Zakat platform offers a range of innovative services that make calculating and paying Zakat more accurate and easier. The platform allows users to calculate the Zakat due on various types of assets, including cash, gold and silver, stocks, investment funds, and commercial real estate. One of its key features is a gold Zakat calculator that links to global gold prices and takes into account the purity of the precious metal, ensuring accurate calculations. Users can also save their Zakat-eligible assets in their personal accounts for easy calculation in future years, receiving official invoices for every payment. The platform supports multiple secure payment methods, including SADAD, Apple Pay, and Mada, providing a seamless and reliable experience from start to finish, all under the supervision of specialists in Zakat jurisprudence and accounting.
