How Foreign Investors Open a Company in Saudi Arabia

Foreign investors looking to establish a company in Saudi Arabia can now follow a clearer, largely digital path in 2026, beginning with an investment license from وزارة الاستثمار and ending with a Commercial Registration (CR) issued through the Saudi Business Center and Ministry of Commerce.

The first step is obtaining the MISA investment license, applied for through the investment ministry's online channel. In a notable 2026 change, the fees for issuing and renewing the MISA license are currently suspended. Before applying, investors must prepare attested parent-company documents — commercial registration, articles of association, a board resolution, and passport copies — then legalize them and translate them into Arabic.

Once the license is approved, investors reserve a trade name, prepare the Articles of Association, and register the company to obtain the Commercial Registration. Reported CR issuance fees in 2026 range roughly from SAR 1,200 for an LLC up to around SAR 2,000, with some services reported between SAR 1,825 and SAR 2,100 depending on entity and service type. A publication fee of about SAR 500 plus VAT also applies.

After the CR is issued, businesses complete post-registration setup with the Chamber of Commerce, ZATCA, GOSI, قوى, مقيم, and a national address. Chamber of Commerce membership is reported at SAR 2,000 to SAR 3,000 annually, with an annual confirmation fee of about SAR 1,200 for an LLC. Typical first-step government costs — excluding office, attestation, translation, and capital — are reported at roughly SAR 1,700 to SAR 2,500.

Why it matters: the company-establishment service path is often completed within 72 hours, though document attestation can take longer. For the wider community, the streamlined process and suspended license fees signal Saudi Arabia's continued push to make market entry easier for foreign businesses and entrepreneurs.

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