Last updated: September 2026.
Google's Googlebook laptops go on sale in the US on October 4, 2026, and in six more countries a day later. Saudi Arabia isn't one of them. There is no Saudi price, no Saudi release date and no Google Store in the Kingdom, so for now the practical way to get a Googlebook is to buy the US model and ship it in.
This guide gives the real landed cost in riyals, explains what's different about a US unit, and helps you decide whether to buy now or wait.
See the Googlebooks we ship to Saudi Arabia
The cost: no customs duty, 15% VAT
Laptops come into Saudi Arabia duty-free. The GCC common customs tariff lists "laptop computer weighing not more than 10 kg" at 0%, and Saudi Arabia is a member of the WTO agreement on IT products. ZATCA does charge 15% VAT on all imports, including goods with 0% duty, so VAT is the number to plan for.
The riyal is pegged at 3.75 to the dollar, which makes the conversion simple:
| Model | US price from | In riyals | 15% VAT, roughly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Googlebook 14 | $899 | about SAR 3,370 | SAR 505 |
| Dell XPS Googlebook | $999 | about SAR 3,750 | SAR 560 |
| Lenovo Googlebook 15 | about $1,100 | about SAR 4,120 | SAR 620 |
| HP Googlebook 14 | about $1,300 | about SAR 4,870 | SAR 730 |
| ASUS Googlebook 14 | $1,299 | about SAR 4,870 | SAR 730 |
VAT is usually charged on the declared value including shipping, so the real figure will be a little higher than the table. Your courier may also charge a clearance fee. The SAR 1,000 duty exemption for personal shipments doesn't change anything here, because laptops have no duty to begin with, and VAT applies either way.
Can you buy one locally?
Not yet. Saudi Arabia is not on any Googlebook launch list, Google has no Saudi storefront, and when we searched Amazon.sa for Googlebook in September 2026 it returned no results. HP's Saudi Googlebook page doesn't exist either. If a local listing appears before the models officially launch in the Gulf, it will be a unit imported by a reseller from a launch country, much like the US units we ship.
Arabic on a Googlebook
The Gemini app is available in Saudi Arabia and supports Arabic, so the core assistant works in your language. Google hasn't said which countries and languages get the newest Googlebook features, such as Magic Pointer and Rambler. Its fine print only says "select countries and languages to users 18+".
The keyboard is the bigger practical difference. A US Googlebook has a US English layout with no Arabic letters on the keys. You can switch the input language to Arabic and type normally if you touch-type, or add keyboard stickers.
Buy now or wait for a Saudi launch?
An official Saudi release, if one comes, would bring three things a US unit can't:
- An Arabic keyboard with both scripts on the keys.
- Local warranty service. With a US unit, Dell and HP only offer service where the same model is sold, Lenovo's international warranty works only where the product is sold and serviced, and Acer and ASUS offer international programmes with conditions. Until the models are sold in the region, expect warranty repairs to be difficult.
- Possibly the bundled offers. The free year of Google AI Pro is limited to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
Against that, there is no date. Google hasn't named a single Middle East country. If you want a Googlebook in 2026, and you're comfortable with an English keyboard and a US warranty, buying the US model now is the practical route.
Charging in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia runs at 230V and 60Hz, and new buildings use Type G sockets. Googlebooks charge over USB-C. ASUS rates its charger for 100 to 240V, and USB-C laptop chargers are normally universal, but check the label on yours. You'll need a US-to-Type G plug adapter.
Ordering a Googlebook to Saudi Arabia
- Choose a model on our Googlebook page and enter your Saudi address at checkout, where you'll see the shipping cost.
- We buy it from a US retailer. Pre-orders ship after the US release on October 4.
- Pay the 15% VAT when your courier asks for it.
For specs and prices of all five models, see our guide to buying a Googlebook outside the US. There's also an Arabic version of this guide, and a separate guide for the UAE.
