Company Registration
Company Registration in Saudi Arabia
The full process for registering your company with the Ministry of Commerce — from MISA license to operational status.
Full Process
The full registration process.
From foreign investment license to operational status — the main stages most companies follow. First step: MISA License.
- 01
MISA Foreign Investment License
Obtain your MISA license first. This authorises foreign ownership and defines your permitted business activities.
- 02
Trade Name Reservation
Reserve your company trade name through the Ministry of Commerce (Maroof) portal. Name must comply with Saudi naming rules.
- 03
Commercial Registration (CR)
Register your company as a Saudi legal entity with the Ministry of Commerce. Obtain your CR certificate.
- 04
Chamber of Commerce Registration
Register your company with the local Chamber of Commerce in your chosen city (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, etc.).
- 05
National Address Registration
Register your business address through the Saudi Post (Wasel) national address system.
- 06
ZATCA Registration
Register with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) for VAT and corporate income tax purposes.
- 07
GOSI / HRSD Registration
Register with GOSI (social insurance) and HRSD (Human Resources and Social Development) for employee management.
- 08
Qiwa, Muqeem & Mudad
Register on the Qiwa labour platform, Muqeem for expatriate workers, and Mudad for salary protection compliance.
What You Need
Registration requirements.
Gather these before you start to avoid delays.
- Valid MISA foreign investment license
- Corporate documents (notarised, apostilled, legalised)
- Shareholder and director passports
- Proof of minimum share capital (SAR 500,000 for most LLCs)
- Saudi national address (physical or virtual)
- Agreed company name (compliant with Saudi naming rules)
- Defined business activity classification (ISIC codes)
Entity Types
Company types.
Choose the structure that best fits your ownership, liability, and sector.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
The most common structure for foreign investors. Separate legal entity, limited liability, can be 100% foreign-owned. Minimum capital SAR 500,000.
Branch Office
Extension of a foreign parent company. No minimum capital requirement. Parent retains full legal liability. Faster to establish.
Joint Venture
Shared ownership between foreign and Saudi parties. Required in certain restricted sectors. Can provide access to local networks and government contracts.
Professional Company
For licensed professionals (lawyers, engineers, consultants). Special licensing requirements apply in addition to standard CR process.
Regional Headquarters (RHQ)
For multinational corporations establishing a regional base in Riyadh. Special MISA designation with specific incentives and requirements.
Holding Company
Saudi holding structure for companies owning multiple entities. Used for group structuring and cross-border wealth planning.
Expert support
We handle the registration journey.
From MISA application to commercial registration, ZATCA, GOSI, and labour platforms — we manage each step so you can focus on your business plan.
- MISA licence preparation and submission
- Trade name reservation and CR filing
- ZATCA, GOSI, HRSD and labour platform registration
- Ongoing compliance and renewal support
Get Started
Begin your journey to the Kingdom.
Schedule a confidential consultation. No obligation. No generic advice.