Business Setup & Licensing Guide

INVESTMENT GUIDE

Everything you need to know to start investing in Saudi Arabia.

GET STARTED WITH AN

INVESTMENT LICENSE

Doing business in Saudi Arabia has never been easier, thanks to the recent reforms that have reduced red tape ,bureaucracy, and streamlined the clearance process to speed up investment realization.
The Ministry of Investment \(MISA\) is a "one-stop-shop" for companies interested in investing in Saudi Arabia.

WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESSES CAN APPLY FOR AN INVESTOR LICENSE?

All licenses are issued based on the principle of fair and equal treatment, allowing international investors to enjoy the same rights and obligations as local investors.

TYPES OF LICENSES INVESTORS

CAN APPLY FOR IN SAUDI ARABIA

Agriculture license

Agricultural license

This license is issued to companies in the agricultural field.

Consulting license for technical & economic communication offices

This license is issued to economic and technical country representation offices.

Industrial license

This license is issued for all types of industrial activities, such as heavy and light industries and manufacturing.

Real estate license

This license is issued to companies in the real estate field.

Audiovisual media license

This license is issued to companies in the audio and visual fields.

Entrepreneur license

This license is issued to entrepreneurs who wish to establish technology and innovative companies with expansion and growth potential within the Kingdom.

Mining license

This license is issued to entrepreneurs who wish to establish technology and innovative companies with expansion and growth potential within the Kingdom.

Services license

This license is issued for service activities including: construction, administrative investment, information technology, tourism, training, healthcare, insurance and re-insurance, education, advertising and media, logistic services, organizing exhibitions, catering and food services, financial services, aviation and handling services.

Commercial license

This license is issued to companies in the wholesale and retail trading field.

License for a scientific and technical office

This license is issued to companies with offices providing scientific and technical services to agents, distributors and consumers of their products.

Printing & publishing license

This license is issued to companies in the printing and publishing fields.

Transport license

This license is issued for bus public transportation within cities, metro public repetition , and other public transport activities.

Consulting license for engineering offices

This license is issued to companies providing engineering consultation services within the Kingdom.

License for serving agents and providing workers services

This license is issued to companies providing domestic labor placement services and temporary employment agencies for households.

Professional license with Saudi shareholder

This license is issued to companies conducting professional services in the Kingdom with a Saudi partner.

ONLY 2 DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED

TO RECEIVE AN INVESTOR LICENSE

2 For the issuance of investment licenses,
two documents are required:

1 Copy of the commercial registration of the entity in its original country, authenticated by a Saudi Embassy

2 Financial statements for the last year, prepared by an internationally acclaimed legal office and authenticated by a Saudi Embassy

*Additional documents may be required depending on the business activity and the required license type.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

DEPENDING ON THE LICENSE ACTIVITY

INVESTOR JOURNEY

1 Requirements

The Company's commercial registration certified by the Saudi Embassy

The last year financial statements for certified by the Saudi Embassy

Responsible Provider

2 Requirements

Branches of foreign companies must submit a decision to open the branch in the Kingdom only to complete the issuance of the Commercial Register.

Responsible Provider

3 Requirements

Commercial registration of the parent company
Decision of the Board of directors of
opening a branch ( branches of foreign companies only)
Memorandum of Association (for new companies)
Appointing the general director
Proof of the owners and general director's ID

INVESTMENT GUIDE

Everything you need to know to start investing in Saudi Arabia.

GET STARTED WITH AN

INVESTMENT LICENSE

Business Day

Documents

WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESSES CAN APPLY FOR AN INVESTOR LICENSE?

All licenses are issued based on the principle of fair and equal treatment, allowing international investors to enjoy the same rights and obligations as local investors.

Limited liability company (LLC)

Limited liability one-person company

Joint stock company

Foreign company branch

Solidarity professional company

TYPES OF LICENSES INVESTORS

CAN APPLY FOR IN SAUDI ARABIA

Agriculture license

Agricultural license

Consulting license for technical & economic communication offices

Consulting license for technical & economic communication offices

Industrial license

Industrial license

Real estate license

Real estate license

Audiovisual media license

Audiovisual media license

Entrepreneur license

Entrepreneur license

Mining license

Mining license

Services license

Services license

Commercial license

Commercial license

License for a scientific and technical office

License for a scientific and technical office

Printing & publishing license

Printing & publishing license

Transport license

Transport license

Consulting license for engineering offices

Consulting license for engineering offices

License for serving agents and providing workers services

License for serving agents and providing workers services

Professional license with Saudi shareholder

Professional license with Saudi shareholder

ONLY 2 DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED

TO RECEIVE AN INVESTOR LICENSE

2

For the issuance of investment licenses, two documents are required:

1

Copy of the commercial registration of the entity in its original country, authenticated by a Saudi Embassy

2

Financial statements for the last year, prepared by an internationally acclaimed legal office and authenticated by a Saudi Embassy

*Additional documents may be required depending on the business activity and the required license type.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

DEPENDING ON THE LICENSE ACTIVITY

SERVICES FOR PUBLIC BUSES OR METROS WITHIN CITIES LICENSE

AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA LICENSE

PRINTING AND PUBLISHING LICENSE

ENTREPRENEURSHIP LICENSE

CONSULTING LICENSE FOR ENGINEERING OFFICES

TEMPORARY LICENSES FOR THE EXECUTION OF A GOVERNMENT/SEMI-GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR GOVERNMENT PROJECTS

INVESTOR JOURNEY

1

STAGE

Requirements

The Company's commercial registration certified by the Saudi Embassy

The last year financial statements for certified by the Saudi Embassy

Responsible Provider

2

STAGE

Requirements

Branches of foreign companies must submit a decision to open the branch in the Kingdom only to complete the issuance of the Commercial Register.

Responsible Provider

3

STAGE

Requirements

Commercial registration of the parent company Decision of the Board of directors of opening a branch ( branches of foreign companies only) Memorandum of Association (for new companies) Appointing the general director Proof of the owners and general director's ID

Responsible Provider

Limited liability
company (LLC)

For the issuance of investment licenses,
two documents are required:

Commercial registration of the parent company
Decision of the Board of directors of
opening a branch ( branches of foreign companies only)
Memorandum of Association (for new companies)
Appointing the general director
Proof of the owners and general director's ID