the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The Kingdom of Spain, desiring to conclude a Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, have agreed as follows:


CHAPTER I

SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION

Article 1

PERSONS COVERED



This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.


Article 2

TAXES COVERED


1. This Convention shall apply to taxes on income and on capital imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income and on capital all taxes imposed on total income, on total capital, or on elements of income or of capital, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, taxes on the total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises, as well as taxes on capital appreciation.

3. The existing taxes to which this Convention shall apply are in particular:

a) in the case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

i) the Zakat and
ii) the income tax, including the natural gas investment tax;

(hereinafter referred to as “Saudi Arabian Tax”).

b) in the case of the Kingdom of Spain:

i) the income tax on individuals;
ii) the corporation tax;
iii) the income tax on non residents;
iv) the capital tax; and
v) local taxes on income and on capital;

(hereinafter referred to as “Spanish Tax”);

4. This Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes which are imposed by either Contracting State after the date of signature of this Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of significant changes that have been made in their respective taxation laws.



CHAPTER II

DEFINITIONS


Article 3

GENERAL DEFINITIONS


1. For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

a) the term “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” means the territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which also includes the area outside the territorial waters, where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exercises its sovereign and jurisdictional rights in their waters, sea bed, sub-soil and natural resources by virtue of its law and international law;;

b) the term “Spain” means the Kingdom of Spain and, when used in a geographical sense, means the territory of the Kingdom of Spain, including inland waters, the territorial sea and any area outside the territorial sea upon which, in accordance with international law and on application of its domestic legislation, the Kingdom of Spain exercises or may exercise in the future jurisdiction or sovereign rights with respect to the seabed, its subsoil and superjacent waters, and their natural resources


c) the terms “a Contracting State” and “the other Contracting State” mean the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or the Kingdom of Spain, as the context requires;

d) the term "person" includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;

e) the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;

f) the terms "enterprise of a Contracting State" and "enterprise of the other Contracting State" mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;

g) the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a Contracting State which has its place of effective man¬agement in a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

h) the term "competent authority" means:

i) in the case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: the Ministry of Finance represented by the Minister of Finance or his authorised representative.
ii) in the case of the Kingdom of Spain: the Minister of Economy and Finance or his authorised representative;

i) the term "national" means:

i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State;
ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State.


2. As regards the application of this Convention at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which this Convention applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

Article 4

RESIDENT


1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "resident of a Contracting State" means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that State and any political subdivision or local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State or capital situated therein.

2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:

a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both Contracting States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (centre of vital interests);

b) if the Contracting State in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State in which he has an habitual abode;

c) if he has an habitual abode in both Contracting States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State of which he is a national;

d) if he is a national of both Contracting States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State in which its place of effective management is situated.


Article 5

PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT


1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "permanent establishment" means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

2. The term "permanent establishment" includes especially:

a) a place of management;
b) a branch;
c) an office;
d) a factory;
e) a workshop, and
f) a mine, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.

3. A building site, a construction, assembly or installation project, or supervisory activities in connection therewith, constitutes a permanent establishment but only where such site, project or activities continue for a period or periods exceeding in the aggregate of more than six months within any 12-month period.

4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article the term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include:

a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery ;

c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;

d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the enterprise;

e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character;

f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in subparagraphs (a) to (e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, where a person –other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies- is acting on behalf of an enterprise and has and habitually exercises, in a Contracting State an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in that Contracting State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph.

6. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this article, an insurance enterprise of a Contracting State shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it collects premiums in the territory of that other State or insures risks situated therein.

7. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.

8. The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.


CHAPTER III

TAXATION OF INCOME

Article 6

INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY


1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

2. The term "immovable property" shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting or use in any other form of immovable property.

4. Where the ownership of shares or other rights directly or indirectly entitles the owner of such shares or rights to the enjoyment of immovable property, the income from the direct use, letting or use in any other form of such right to the enjoyment may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the immovable property is situated.

5. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of this Article shall also apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7

BUSINESS PROFITS


1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment.

2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.

3. In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.

4. No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

5. For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

6. Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.



Article 8

SHIPPING AND AIR TRANSPORT


1. Profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

2. If the place of effective management of a shipping enterprise is aboard a ship, then it shall be deemed to be situated in the Contracting State in which the home harbour of the ship is situated, or, if there is no such home harbour, in the Contracting State of which the operator of the ship is a resident.

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.


Article 9

ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES


1. Where

a) an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or

b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State,

and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.

2. Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that Contracting State and taxes accordingly profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other Contracting State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first mentioned Contracting State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other Contracting State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.


Article 10

DIVIDENDS


1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 5 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends.

Notwithstanding the provision of sentence above, the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident shall exempt from tax the dividends paid by that company to a company (other than a partnership) which is a resident of the other Contracting State, as long as it holds directly at least 25 per cent of the capital of the company paying the dividends.

This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which the dividends are paid.

3. The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares, “jouissance” shares or “jouissance” rights, mining shares, founders' shares or other rights, not being debt claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of article 7 or article 14, as the case may be shall apply.

5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.


Article 11

INCOME FROM DEBT-CLAIMS


1. Income from debt-claims arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. However, such income from debt-claims may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that Contracting State, but if the beneficial owner of the income from debt-claims is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 5 per cent of the gross amount of the income from debt-claims.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, income from debt-claims arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other State if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the income from debt-claims and

a) the income from debt-claims is paid by the Government of the first mentioned Contracting State, or political subdivision or a local authority thereof; or

b) the income from debt-claims is paid to the Government of the other Contracting State, or political subdivision or a local authority thereof, the central bank or other banks or any financial institution wholly owned by the other Contracting State.

4. The term " Income from Debt-Claims " as used in this Article means income from debt claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures, as well as all other income assimilated to income from money lent by the taxation laws of the State in which the income arises. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as income from debt-claim for the purpose of this Article.

5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the income from debt-claims, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the income from debt-claims arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt- claim in respect of which the income from debt-claims is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be shall apply.

6. Income from debt-claims shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying such income, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which such income is paid was incurred, and such income is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such income shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

7. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the income from debt-claims, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.


Article 12

ROYALTIES


1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that Contracting State, but if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 8 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.

3. The term "royalties" as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematographic films, or films or tapes used for radio or television broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.



Article 13

CAPITAL GAINS


1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

3. Gains from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

4. a) Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares or any other kind of participation deriving more than 50 per cent of their value directly or indirectly from immovable property situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

b) Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares or other rights, which directly or indirectly entitle the owner of such shares or rights to the enjoyment of immovable property situated in a Contracting State, may be taxed in that State.

5. Gains from the alienation of shares, other than those mentioned in paragraph 4 a) of this Article, forming part of a substantial participation in the capital of a company resident in a Contracting State and non listed in a Stock Exchange of either of the Contracting States, may be taxed in that Contracting State. A person is considered to have a substantial participation when this participation is, at least, 25 per cent of the capital of that company.

6. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this Article shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.


Article 14

INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES

1. Income derived by an individual who is a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that Contracting State unless he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities. If he has such a fixed based the income may be taxed in that other Contracting State, but only so much of it as is attributable to that fixed base.

2. The term “professional services” includes especially, independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15

DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES


1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 16, 18 and 19, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first mentioned State if:

a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned, and

b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and

c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or fixed base which the employer has in the other State.

3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.



Article 16

DIRECTORS' FEES


Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.


Article 17

ARTISTES AND SPORTSPERSONS


1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.

3. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from activities exercised in the other Contracting State as envisaged in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, shall be exempt from tax in that other Contracting State if the visit to that other Contracting State is supported wholly or mainly by public funds of the first-mentioned Contracting State, a political subdivision or a local authority thereof, or takes place under a cultural agreement or arrangement between the Governments of the Contracting States.



Article 18

PENSIONS

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State.


Article 19

GOVERNMENT SERVICE


1.
a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

b) However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that other State and the individual is a resident of that State who:

(i) is a national of that State; or
(ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

2.
a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

b) However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that other State.

3. The provisions of Articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, and to pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.


Article 20

STUDENTS

1. Payments which a student or business apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

2. Payments received by a student or business apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned Contracting State solely for the purpose of his education or training and which constitute remuneration in respect of services performed in the first mentioned Contracting State are not taxable in the first mentioned State, provided that the services are connected with his education or training and are necessary for maintenance purposes.


Article 21

TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS

1. Remunerations which a teacher or researcher, who is or was resident in a Contracting State prior to being invited to the other Contracting State for the purpose of teaching or conducting research, receives in respect of such activities shall not be taxed in that other Contracting State for a period not exceeding two years.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to remuneration received in respect of research work undertaken not in the public interest but principally for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.


Article 22

OTHER INCOME

1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.


CHAPTER IV

TAXATION OF CAPITAL

Article 23

CAPITAL

1. Capital represented by immovable property referred to in Article 6, owned by a resident of a Contracting State and situated in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2. Capital represented by movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or by movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

3. Capital represented by ships and aircraft operated in international traffic and by movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships and aircraft shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

4. Capital constituted by shares, or other rights in a company or any other body of persons, the assets of which consist principally of, or of rights in, immovable property situated in a Contracting State or by shares or other rights which entitle its owner to a right of enjoyment of immovable property situated in a Contracting State, may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the immovable property is situated.

5. All other elements of capital of a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.



CHAPTER V

METHODS FOR ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

Article 24

ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

1. In the case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia double taxation shall be eliminated as follows:

a) Where a resident of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia derives income or owns capital which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in Spain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall deduct the amount paid in Spain, as a tax specified in Article 2 of this Convention, against the tax levied in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The amount of such deduction, however, shall not exceed the amount of the tax on that income or capital computed in accordance with the taxation laws and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

b) Where in accordance with any provision of this Convention income derived or capital owned by a resident of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is exempt from tax in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income or capital of such resident, take into account the exempted income or capital.

c) In the case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the methods for elimination of double taxation will not prejudice to the provisions of the Zakat collection regime as regards Saudi nationals.


2. In the case of the Kingdom of Spain, double taxation shall be eliminated following either the provisions of its internal legislation or the following provisions in accordance with the internal legislation of Spain:

a) Where a resident of Spain derives income or owns elements of capital which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain shall allow:

i) as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the income tax paid in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;

ii) as a deduction from the tax on the capital of that resident, an amount equal to the tax paid in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the same elements of capital;

iii) the deduction of the tax effectively paid by the company distributing the dividends levied on those profits out of which the dividends are paid in accordance with the internal legislation of Spain.

Such deduction shall not, however, exceed that part of the income tax or capital tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable, as the case may be, to the income or the same elements of capital which may be taxed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

b) Where in accordance with any provision of this Convention income derived or capital owned by a resident of Spain is exempt from tax in Spain, Spain may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income or capital of such resident, take into account the exempted income or capital.

c) Where a resident of Spain derives income or owns elements of capital which in accordance with the provisions of this Convention may be taxed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain will exclusively eliminate double taxation with respect to the tax mentioned in Article 2 paragraph 3 subparagraph a) letter ii).



CHAPTER VI

SPECIAL PROVISIONS


Article 25

MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE


1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with this Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.

3. The competent authorities of both Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of this Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in this Convention.

4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs. When it seems advisable in order to reach agreement to have an oral exchange of opinions, such exchange may take place through a Commission consisting of representatives of the competent authorities of the Contracting States.

5. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may by mutual agreement settle the appropriate mode of application of this Convention and, especially, the requirements to which the residents of a Contracting State shall be subjected in order to obtain, in the other State, the tax reliefs or exemptions provided for by this Convention.


Article 26

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is forseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2.

2. Any information received under paragraph 1 of this Article by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph 1, or the oversight of the above. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.


3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;

c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public).

4. If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with this Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other State may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 of this Article but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.


Article 27

MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.


CHAPTER VII

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 28

ENTRY INTO FORCE

1. Each Contracting State shall notify the other, through diplomatic channels that the internal procedures required by each Contracting State for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with. The Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the fourth month following the date of receipt of the later of the notifications.

2. The provisions of the Convention shall apply:

(a) with regard to taxes withheld at source, in respect of amounts paid on or after the first day of January next following the date upon which the Convention enters into force; and

(b) with regard to other taxes, in respect of taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January next following the date upon which the Convention enters into force.


Article 29

TERMINATION

1. This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention, through diplomatic channels, by giving written notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year beginning on or after the expiration of a period of five years from the date of its entry into force.

2. In such event the Convention shall cease to apply:

(a) with regard to taxes withheld at source, in respect of amounts paid after the end of the calendar year in which such notice is given; and
(b) with regard to other taxes, in respect of taxable years beginning after the end of the calendar year in which such notice is given.


In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.


Done at Madrid on 4 Jumada II, 1428H corresponding to19 June,2007 in two originals in the Arabic, Spanish and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence between any of the texts, it shall be resolved in accordance with the English text.


For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia For the Kingdom of Spain


Ibrahim A. Al-Assaf Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé
Minister of Finance Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation



PROTOCOL


At the moment of signing the Convention between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Spain for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, the undersigned have agreed upon the following provisions which shall be an integral part of the Convention.

I. When applying the provisions of Articles 6 to 21 of this Convention a Contracting State has the exclusive right to tax and according to its internal law and due to its territorial taxation system does not tax the income, it may be taxed by the other Contracting State as if the Convention had not entered into force.

II. Ad Articles 2, 4, 23, 24, 28 and 29
The provisions concerning taxes on capital shall only apply to the extent that both Contracting States levy a tax on capital (net wealth tax).

III. Ad Article 3.1 d)

Both Contracting States consider the term “person” includes the State itself, its political sub-divisions or local authorities and foundations.

IV. Ad Article 4.1

The term “resident” also includes a legal person organised under the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that is generally exempt from tax in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is established and maintained in that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia either:

i) for a religious, charitable, educational, scientific, or other similar purpose; or

ii) To provide pensions or other similar benefits to employees pursuant to a plan.

V. Ad Article 5, paragraphs 1 and 2

Concerning the interpretation of these paragraphs, it is understood that the furnishing of services, as well as any other kind of business, shall be covered within the scope of this Article, provided that conditions established in paragraph 1 are met.



VI. Ad. Article 5. 4 a) and b)

The use of facilities for the purpose of delivery will not be considered a permanent establishment provided that these facilities are not used as sales-outlets in the Contracting State where these facilities are situated.

The maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of delivery will not be considered a permanent provided that these goods or merchandise are not sold in the Contracting State where the stock is situated.

VII. Ad. Article 7
1. The term “business profits” includes, but is not limited to, income derived from manufacturing, mercantile, banking, insurance, from the operation of inland transportation, the furnishing of services and the rental of tangible personal movable property. Such a term does not include the performance of personal services by an individual either as an employee or an independent capacity.
2. The business profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the exportation of merchandise to the other Contracting State shall not be taxed in that other Contracting State. Where export contracts include other activities carried on through a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State profits derived from such activities shall be taxed in the other Contracting State in accordance with this Article.


VIII. Ad Article 7.3

a) The taxable base shall be calculated in accordance with the internal legislation of each Contracting State along the lines of the principles contained in this paragraph.

b) The term “expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment” provided for in this paragraph, means the expenses directly connected with the activity of the permanent establishment.


IX. Ad Article 10

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Convention, where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State has a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State, that other Contracting State may tax any remittances or deemed remittances of profits transferred by the permanent establishment to the company which is a resident of the first-mentioned Contracting State; The tax so charged shall not exceed 5 per cent of the remittances or deemed remittances of profits transferred.

X. Ad. Article 26

As long as the domestic laws of both Contracting States so allow, both Contracting States shall exchange any information held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or relating to ownership interest in a person.

XI. Ad. Article 26, paragraph 2

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, information received by a Contracting State may be used for other purposes when such information may be used for such other purposes under the laws of both States and the competent authority of the supplying State authorises such use.

XII. In case the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia introduces an income tax applicable to its nationals who are resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or the existing tax will be modified accordingly, then the two Contracting States shall enter into negotiations in order to introduce in the Convention an Article on non-discrimination.



In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.



Done at Madrid on 4 Jumada II, 1428H corresponding to19 June,2007 in two originals in the Arabic, Spanish and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence between any of the texts, it shall be resolved in accordance with the English text.


For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia For the Kingdom of Spain


Ibrahim A. Al-Assaf Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé
Minister of Finance Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation