Foreign Companies: Documents Needed to Set Up in Saudi

Oct 27, 2026•2 min read

Foreign companies looking to establish operations in Saudi Arabia must first obtain an investment registration from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) through its electronic portal, followed by incorporation on the Ministry of Commerce platform.

Applicants need to submit several authenticated documents. These include a commercial registration certificate and the articles of incorporation, both translated into Arabic by a certified translation office and authenticated by the Saudi embassy, along with financial statements for the latest fiscal year and documents proving compliance with activity-specific licensing. A GCC partner's identity document is required if the partner's details are not recorded in Absher.

The authentication sequence generally runs through the issuing-country authority, the Saudi embassy or mission, and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An apostille may be accepted for documents covered by the applicable convention. Notably, Premium Residency holders are exempt from submitting the foreign commercial registration and financial statements.

Fees and timelines

MISA investment registration fees are not fixed; the payable amount is notified after approval and must be settled within 15 business days, or the application is treated as void. The registration must remain valid for at least 30 days when used for incorporation, which requires a valid MISA registration on the Ministry of Commerce platform.

Ministry of Commerce incorporation fees are SAR 1,200 for a limited liability company, SAR 1,000 for a general or limited partnership, and SAR 1,600 for a joint-stock or simplified joint-stock company. A publication fee of SAR 500 applies, plus 15% VAT on applicable fees. Branch registration is listed at SAR 600 for a foreign company and SAR 400 for a partnership.

Incorporation documents may include draft articles of association, partner resolutions or powers of attorney, proof of paid capital, and a bank certificate for cash contributions, while in-kind contributions require a certified valuation report. The minimum issued capital for the investment-license incorporation service is SAR 500,000, with at least one quarter paid. Regulated activities require relevant approvals from bodies such as the Saudi Central Bank or the Capital Market Authority.

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