MISA Foreign Investment Licence: Types & Requirements

Non-Saudi investors looking to run a licensed business in the Kingdom must first obtain a foreign investment licence issued by وزارة الاستثمار through its e-services portal, the official channel for new investor registration and related services.

The current investor guide lists several licence and activity categories, including commercial with a Saudi partner, 100% foreign commercial, communications, professional with a Saudi partner, 100% foreign engineering consulting, 100% foreign legal, land transportation, and real estate development.

Minimum-capital requirements vary by activity. The guide shows SAR 26,666,667 for commercial activity with a Saudi partner, SAR 30,000,000 for 100% foreign commercial, and SAR 10,000,000 for land transportation. Some activities replace a fixed capital figure with sector conditions: 100% foreign engineering consulting requires a presence in four countries and ten years of experience, while 100% foreign legal activity requires an approval letter from the Ministry of Justice.

Documents and application steps

Typical documents for foreign investors include a commercial registration certificate from the home country, audited financial statements, a board resolution approving the Saudi investment, and legalized or translated documents where applicable. An application usually starts by choosing the activity, preparing legalized company documents, then submitting the investment registration request through the ministry's e-services. After approval, the investor completes the company's Saudi registrations with the relevant government bodies

The material available does not show an official fee schedule in Saudi Riyals for the licence itself, so an exact 2026 government fee cannot be confirmed. There is also no single universal validity period, as validity depends on the licence type and activity conditions. Recent 2025/2026 guidance keeps the e-services route in place and applies stricter sector conditions for certain 100% foreign activities — details investors should review before applying.

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