Publish Your App on App Store & Google Play in Saudi Arabia 2026

Saudi Businesses Have Until August 31, 2026 to Update Their Android Apps

If you're a Saudi business owner with an existing Android app — or planning to launch one — there's a hard deadline you cannot ignore: August 31, 2026. On that date, Google Play will enforce new API level requirements that could make your app invisible to new users on modern Android devices if you don't comply. Saudi Arabia's smartphone penetration exceeds 90% and Android commands the majority of the market, meaning this deadline directly affects every Saudi SMB with a customer-facing app. This guide gives you the exact steps to publish or update your business app on both the App Store and Google Play.

Google Play's 2026 API 36 Requirement: What It Means for Your Business

Google annually raises its API requirements to push developers toward the latest Android capabilities. For 2026, the rules are:

• New apps and updates submitted after August 31, 2026 must target API 36 (Android 16) or higher.
• Existing apps that are not updated must target at least API 35 (Android 15) to remain visible to new users on devices running newer Android versions.
• What happens if you miss the deadline? Your app disappears from search results for any new user on an Android 16+ device. Existing users keep the app — but you stop reaching new customers entirely.

Google offers an extension request option until November 1, 2026, but it is not guaranteed and requires a written justification. With the August 31 deadline two weeks away, the time to act is now.

Step-by-Step: How to Publish on Google Play

1. Create a Google Play Developer account: Pay the one-time $25 (approximately SAR 94) fee at play.google.com/console. For business accounts, submit your commercial registration (CR) documents and your international D-U-N-S number during identity verification.
2. Meet the API 36 requirement: For any new app or update, your Android App Bundle must target API 36. Update the targetSdkVersion to 36 in your Gradle config, or use a modern app-building platform that handles this automatically.
3. Run a 14-day closed test: Google requires a closed testing period of at least 14 days with a minimum of 12 opted-in testers before a new app can apply for full production access.
4. Complete your store listing: Write descriptions in both Arabic and English, upload at least 8 screenshots including Arabic-language screens for the Saudi market, and provide a 512×512 icon.
5. Fill out app content declarations: Complete Google's questionnaire on target audience, content rating, privacy policy, and data safety section. Any missing section blocks publication.
6. Submit for review: New apps typically take 3–7 business days. Updates are usually reviewed in 1–3 days.

Step-by-Step: How to Publish on the Apple App Store

1. Join the Apple Developer Program: The annual fee is $99 (approximately SAR 371). Register at developer.apple.com using your Apple ID and business information.
2. Build with the latest Xcode: Your iOS app must be compiled with the current stable Xcode release targeting a recent iOS version. Apple enforces minimum iOS targets similarly to Google's API requirements.
3. Set up your certificates: In the Apple Developer Console, create an App ID, a Distribution Certificate, and a Provisioning Profile — the digital credentials that authorize your app's distribution.
4. Prepare App Store Connect: Add Arabic and English metadata — name, description, keywords (critical for Saudi search discovery), screenshots in iPhone and iPad sizes, and a 1024×1024 icon.
5. Beta test via TestFlight: Upload your build and invite testers before submitting for review. TestFlight catches critical bugs before they reach App Review and cause rejections.
6. Submit for App Review: Most business apps are reviewed within 24–72 hours. Apps with payment functionality or location services may take longer.

Saudi-Specific Requirements You Cannot Skip

Beyond the standard publishing steps, apps targeting Saudi users must meet several local requirements:

• Full Arabic RTL support: Arabic localization is not just translation. Navigation flows, icon placement, and content hierarchy must be designed right-to-left from the ground up. A mirrored English layout frustrates users and drives poor ratings in the Saudi market.
• PDPL compliance: Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law requires explicit user consent for data collection, an Arabic privacy policy, and data residency considerations — cross-border data transfers require justification.
• Local payment integration: Saudi users expect Mada, STC Pay, and Apple Pay. An app without Mada support will see significant checkout drop-off in the Saudi market.
• CITC regulations: Apps providing telecommunications or financial services may require a license from the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CITC).

For context on the mobile opportunity: Saudi Arabia's e-commerce market is projected to reach USD 31.29 billion in 2026, driven largely by mobile-first shoppers. See our earlier analysis of why repeat customers in Saudi Arabia prefer apps over mobile browsers for the behavioral data behind this shift.

How Watily Solves This

Building a native app that meets API 36 requirements, supports Arabic RTL, complies with PDPL, and integrates local payment gateways typically costs between SAR 80,000 and SAR 200,000 for a simple app in Saudi Arabia — plus 20–30% of that annually in maintenance. That is before the publishing overhead of managing two developer accounts and ongoing compliance.

Watily's mobile app design platform handles all of this for Saudi SMBs without requiring a development team. You get a fully bilingual iOS and Android app already compliant with Saudi market requirements, published to both stores — so you can focus on your customers, not your codebase.

The August 31 deadline is two weeks away. Start with Watily today and have your app live on the App Store and Google Play before the deadline hits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to publish an app on Google Play and the App Store?

Google Play charges a one-time developer account fee of $25 (approximately SAR 94). The Apple Developer Program costs $99 per year (approximately SAR 371). These are platform fees only — separate from the cost of building the app itself. A simple business app in Saudi Arabia typically costs between SAR 80,000 and SAR 200,000 when developed by an agency.

How long does app review take on the App Store and Google Play?

Google Play reviews new apps within 3–7 business days; updates are typically reviewed in 1–3 days. Apple's App Review takes 24–72 hours for most business apps. Apps with payment features, location access, or age-restricted content may take longer. A rejection adds days to the timeline, so submitting a complete, policy-compliant build is critical.

What is the Google Play API 36 deadline and who does it affect?

Starting August 31, 2026, all new app submissions and updates on Google Play must target API 36 (Android 16). Existing apps that have not been updated must target at least API 35 to remain visible to new users on modern Android devices. Apps below this threshold will no longer appear in Play Store search results for users on Android 16+ phones — a growing segment of the Saudi market. An extension to November 1, 2026 can be requested but is not guaranteed.

Do I need an Arabic version of my app to publish in Saudi Arabia?

Google and Apple do not legally require Arabic localization to list an app in the Saudi Arabia storefronts. However, apps without full Arabic RTL support consistently see lower ratings, higher uninstall rates, and fewer conversions in the Saudi market. Saudi users strongly prefer Arabic-language interfaces, and a broken or absent RTL layout signals low quality. For any app targeting Saudi consumers, native Arabic support is a commercial necessity, not a preference.