A call to facilitate the digital performance of the third pillar of Islam
The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has renewed its call to all individuals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to utilize the advanced digital services offered by the “Zakat” platform, whether through its smartphone application or its official website (zakaty.zatca.gov.sa). This platform allows individuals to pay their Zakat voluntarily, conveniently, and reliably, ensuring that it reaches its beneficiaries registered on social security lists directly.
Historical background and context of digital transformation
Zakat is a fundamental pillar of Islam, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always given it great importance by organizing its collection and distribution mechanisms to ensure the fulfillment of its Sharia objectives in social solidarity. With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a prosperous economy and a vibrant society, digital transformation has emerged as one of the most important pillars for developing government services. The “Zakat” platform is a practical embodiment of this vision, moving the zakat payment process from traditional methods to a transparent, efficient, and user-friendly digital space, thus enhancing the trust of zakat payers and ensuring that funds reach the most deserving groups as quickly as possible.
Integrated features for calculating and paying Zakat
The Zakat platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools that make it easy for users to accurately calculate their Zakat due. These tools include calculators for various types of Zakat-eligible assets, such as cash, gold and silver, stocks, investment funds, and real estate for sale. The gold Zakat calculator is particularly noteworthy for its direct link to global prices of the precious metals, taking into account the gold's purity. After completing the calculation, users can pay securely using multiple options, including SADAD, Apple Pay, and Mada, with an official invoice generated for each transaction. The platform also offers additional services such as Zakat due date reminders and the ability to save Zakat-eligible asset data for easier calculation in future years.
Local impact and importance of the platform
The importance of the “Zakat” platform lies in its direct impact on strengthening the social welfare system in the Kingdom. Since its launch approximately nine years ago, the platform has successfully collected over 904 million riyals, which has been directed entirely and directly to social security beneficiaries under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The platform allows zakat payers to choose the category they wish to direct their zakat to, such as families most in need of housing, families of divorced women, or families of prisoners, thus enhancing the sense of community participation and ensuring that support is directed to priority areas. This direct and automated link eliminates any possibility of manipulation and guarantees complete transparency, thereby strengthening citizens' trust in official government channels for fulfilling this religious obligation.
