New Rules for Foreign Investor Licensing in Saudi Arabia

Foreign investors planning to do business in Saudi Arabia must first register with وزارة الاستثمار before starting any investment activity, Once registration is complete, investors can issue their commercial registration and obtain the other required licences.

Applications are submitted online through the Ministry's e-services portal (Invest Saudi). The process follows clear stages: classifying the intended activity, gathering and legalising documents, submitting the application online, Ministry review, and finally licence issuance. When documents are complete, processing typically takes between 3 and 10 business days.

Fees and validity

The published 2026 figures list an investment licence issuance fee of 2,000 ريال سعودي a first-year investor-services subscription of 10,000 ريال سعودي, and 60,000 ريال سعودي The investment licence can be issued for a period of up to five years. It is worth noting that the licence fee may be waived or suspended in some cases during 2026, though the exact current charge should be confirmed directly with the Ministry.

Payments are made through SADAD using biller code 108, with a payment deadline of 60 days after the invoice is issued. Guidance also notes that a foreign investor should hold an investment certificate valid for at least 30 days in order to proceed with establishing a company under an investment licence.

The clearer process matters for the many expat entrepreneurs and companies looking to enter the Saudi market, as it sets out exactly what to prepare and how long approvals may take. For assistance, the official contact numbers are 8002449990 inside the Kingdom and +966115065777 from outside the Kingdom.

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