Business Setup Costs in Saudi Arabia
A transparent overview of government fees, capital requirements, and advisory costs for setting up a company in Saudi Arabia.
Please note: All figures are estimates based on 2025/2026 government fee schedules and typical advisory ranges. Actual costs vary by activity type, company structure, and scope of services. Fees quoted are indicative in both SAR and USD. We provide a fixed-price quote before any work begins.
Government fees breakdown.
| Fee Item | SAR (approx.) | USD (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MISA foreign investment license | SAR 2,000–10,000 / yr | $530–2,670 / yr | Annual renewal; varies by activity |
| Commercial Registration (CR) | SAR 1,200–3,000 | $320–800 | One-time + annual renewal ~SAR 1,200 |
| Chamber of Commerce membership | SAR 500–1,500 / yr | $130–400 / yr | Annual |
| ZATCA registration | No fee | — | Free registration; VAT compliance ongoing |
| National address (Wasel) | SAR 100–300 | $27–80 | Annual |
| Municipality / municipal fees | SAR 1,000–5,000 | $265–1,330 | Varies by city and activity |
| Document legalisation (per doc) | SAR 500–1,500 | $130–400 | Notarisation + apostille + embassy |
Minimum capital requirements.
| Entity / Activity | Minimum Capital (SAR) | Minimum Capital (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| General LLC (most sectors) | SAR 500,000 | ~$133,000 |
| Branch office | None (most cases) | — |
| Construction company | SAR 500,000–5,000,000 | ~$133k–1.3M |
| Industrial / manufacturing | SAR 1,000,000+ | $267,000+ |
| Financial services | Varies (SAMA regulated) | — |
| Professional services | SAR 500,000 (typical) | ~$133,000 |
Capital requirements are set at incorporation and must be deposited in a Saudi corporate bank account after CR is obtained.
Annual running costs.
Below is a typical breakdown of annual operating costs and advisory fees.
Typical annual operating costs (excluding staff)
- MISA license renewal: SAR 2,000–10,000 (~$530–2,670)
- Commercial Registration renewal: SAR 1,200–2,000 (~$320–530)
- Chamber of Commerce: SAR 500–1,500 (~$130–400)
- Corporate income tax: 20% on Saudi-sourced profits (no tax on zero profit)
- VAT: 15% on applicable goods and services
- Zakat: 2.5% on Saudi national shareholders' portion only
- Accounting & audit (mandatory): SAR 3,000–15,000+ depending on size
Advisory fees
- MISA license application: from USD 1,500
- Full setup package (MISA + CR + secondary registrations): from USD 4,500
- Custom quote for complex structures, multiple entities, or industry-specific requirements
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