How Foreign Companies Register With the Ministry of Commerce

Oct 25, 2026•2 min read

Foreign-owned companies looking to incorporate in Saudi Arabia can now complete the full process online through the Ministry of Commerce's electronic services on the Saudi Business Center platform, with the commercial registration and articles of association recorded in a single incorporation service.

Before incorporating, investors must hold a valid investment license, which generally needs at least 30 days remaining when used for company-registration services. Applicants log in through National Unified Access/Nafath or the platform's permitted email login, then select a legal form — limited liability company, joint-stock company, simplified joint-stock company, general partnership, or limited partnership.

The application requires the investment license, proposed company name, articles of association, partners' and managers' details, capital information, business activities, address, and corporate documents. The activities listed must match those authorized by the investment license. The service is normally completed within 72 hours.

Fees and what comes next

Commercial-registration fees are SAR 1,200 for a limited liability company, SAR 1,600 for a joint-stock or simplified joint-stock company, and SAR 1,000 for a general or limited partnership. An articles-of-association and publication fee of SAR 500 applies, plus 15% VAT on applicable fees. For a limited liability company, the listed total is SAR 1,700 before VAT, with SAR 255 VAT producing SAR 1,955 before any separately charged government or professional fees.

The incorporation service also links or initiates business-file opening with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Zakat, Tax and Customs registration, and Social Insurance registration. The commercial registration is maintained through annual confirmation of company data rather than a fixed validity period. Annual confirmation fees are SAR 1,200, SAR 1,600, and SAR 1,000 respectively, with VAT where chargeable. Confirmation is submitted electronically and generally completed immediately after payment when the registration is active, with payment made by card or SADAD.

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