MISA Investment Licence Fees Suspended for 2026

Investors looking to enter or stay in the Saudi market in 2026 face a lighter cost at the licensing stage: government fees for issuing and renewing investment licences through وزارة الاستثمار are currently suspended for most applicants. Files now proceed with SAR 0 payable at the application or renewal stage.

Rather than paying upfront, applicants sign an undertaking to settle registration and annual update fees later, once a new fee schedule is issued. No official date has been announced for reinstating or revising these fees, so the current arrangement remains in force until further notice.

What this means in practice

Before the suspension, published fee structures varied widely. Common references included a standard licence fee of around SAR 12,000 while some categories could reach roughly SAR 62,000 Other guides listed SAR 2,000 000 in the first year and SAR 60,000 annually thereafter. These figures now serve only as legacy benchmarks and are generally not collected while the suspension applies.

Investment registrations are typically issued or renewed with annual validity, with initial terms of up to five years under older schedules. Clean renewal files submitted through the MISA Investor Portal usually process within 3 to 10 business days.

Commercial Registration (CR) is separate and still carries fixed government fees: around SAR 1,600 for joint-stock or simplified joint-stock companies, SAR 1,200 for limited liability companies, and SAR 1,000 for general partnerships. CR renewal is annual and must stay active and aligned with tax and employment systems for the MISA registration to remain effective.

All licence issuance, renewal, and amendments are handled through the MISA Investor Portal, where applicants submit documents, track status, and view any fee notices or undertakings. Commercial Registration is managed through the Saudi Business Center and Ministry of Commerce portal.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving