New Company Rules Issued for Saudi Special Economic Zones

The Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA) Board issued on 2 July 2026 new Companies Rules, Companies Register Rules, and Trade Names Rules for four Special Economic Zones: Jazan, Ras Al-Khair, King Abdullah Economic City, and the Cloud Computing Special Economic Zones. The move gives businesses operating inside these zones a dedicated legal framework separate from the general system.

Under the new rules, companies licensed to operate in these zones are exempt from the general Companies Law and the Commercial Registration and Trade Names Regulations. Instead, they follow the SEZ-specific rules. Firms must be Saudi-nationality limited liability companies (LLCs), whether single-member or multi-member, with their principal headquarters located inside the relevant zone and registered in a dedicated Companies Register maintained in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce.

A company gains legal personality once registered in the SEZ Companies Register, and actions taken before registration are attributed to it afterwards, provided related costs are assumed. To establish an entity, investors must obtain an ECZA license for the specific zone, incorporate a Saudi LLC with a head office inside the zone, and register in the SEZ Companies Register.

The Ministry of Commerce e-service for establishing companies under an ECZA license enables online incorporation within 72 hours and is available in both Arabic and English. Current official service fees are SAR 1,600 for a joint-stock or simplified joint-stock company, SAR 1,200 for an LLC, and SAR 1,000 for a general or limited partnership, plus SAR 500 in publication fees, with 15% VAT applied. Payment is made through the Ministry's online channels linked to the service.

Trade names must be registered in the SEZ Companies Register to obtain a commercial registration certificate, though a name can be reserved temporarily with the registrar without immediate registration. For investors and business owners, the framework offers clearer procedures and faster setup within Saudi Arabia's growing special economic zones.

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