Eng. Suhail bin Muhammad Abanmi, Governor of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), opened the new ZATCA Academy in Riyadh in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Head of Customs Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain, and His Highness Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization.

The Governor of ZATCA noted that the new ZATCA Academy building is part of its efforts to develop training facilities that contribute to t​he provision of a suitable environment for training and qualification in line with the variety of areas and responsibilities of ZATCA in accordance with best practices, and will, in turn, have a positive impact on training outputs, increase the effectiveness of the programs provided, guarantee the quality of those programs, realizing the strategic goals of ZATCA. ZATCA Academy seeks to be a leader in supporting the development of the necessary knowledge and skills, and in providing learning and development solutions, in line with the ZATCA's strategic objectives, he said, noting that the Academy is an important stream in the development and training processes of the ZATCA's employees and its partners and specialized in its fields of business.

The primary goals of ZATCA Academy are to provide a unique and distinct method for ensuring the continuous learning and development of ZATCA employees, as well as to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure continuous professional development, and to qualify leaders with leadership skills, as well as to provide professional consultancy and to develop the knowledge level of their employees in the fields of zakat, tax, and customs.

The Academy provides a wide range of programs and services, including behavioral, leadership, technical development, professional certificate support programs, e-learning, English language development programs, and field trips to global expert houses and specialized conferences, all of which benefit staff and target groups from outside the body at the local and regional levels.

The Academy's launch coincides with the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Conference, which features more than 50 speakers from around the world and includes 15 panel discussions and a working paper covering all aspects of zakat, tax, and customs work, as well as an accompanying exhibition featuring more than 50 public and private sector participants.