How to Register a Company in Saudi Arabia via Najiz (2026)

You can register a company in Saudi Arabia almost entirely online — and in 2026, Najiz is the platform that ties it all together. It's where you draft and notarise your Articles of Association, issue your Commercial Registration (CR), and manage the entity afterwards — all linked to Balady, GOSI and the wider government services ecosystem. For a straightforward Saudi-owned LLC, the whole process can be done in days, not weeks.

This guide walks you through the exact steps, the real costs in SAR, and the decisions you need to make before you touch a single form — whether you're a Saudi national, a resident holding an Iqama, or a foreign investor setting up in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam. It's never been easier: the reforms under Saudi Vision 2030 have pushed almost everything online, and platforms like Qiwa now handle the employment side once you're up and running.

The short answer: how company registration works in Saudi Arabia

At a high level, you'll choose a legal structure, reserve a trade name, notarise your company contract, issue your CR, register with the Chamber of Commerce, get a municipal licence, then handle tax, GOSI and banking. Saudi and GCC nationals go straight to registration. Foreign investors first need an investment licence from the Ministry of Investment (MISA) before the CR stage.

Before you start: what you need to decide first

Choose your legal structure

The structure you pick affects your annual CR fee, your liability and how easily you can bring in partners. The most common options and their main annual CR fees in 2026 are:

• Limited Liability Company (LLC) — typically around SAR 1,200/year. The default choice for most SMEs and foreign investors.
• Sole proprietorship — typically around SAR 200/year. Simple, but you carry unlimited personal liability.
• Partnership — typically around SAR 800/year.
• Simplified joint stock company — typically around SAR 1,600/year. Popular with startups planning to raise capital.
• Foreign branch — typically around SAR 2,000/year.

Each additional ISIC business activity you add costs roughly SAR 100, and a sub-CR (branch) is about SAR 100/year.

Do you need a MISA foreign investment licence?

This is the single biggest fork in the road. If your company will have any foreign ownership, you generally need a MISA investment licence before you can issue a CR. Saudi and GCC nationals skip this step and go directly to the CR process. The MISA licence in Year 1 typically ranges from around SAR 2,000 to SAR 12,000, depending on your activity and investor profile.

Step-by-step: how to register a company in Saudi Arabia via Najiz

Step 1 — Log in with Nafath

Access Najiz using your Nafath digital identity — the same secure login you use across Absher and other government services. Foreign investors will already have gone through MISA first and will link that licence here.

Step 2 — Reserve your trade name

Reserve a unique trade name that complies with the naming rules (no restricted words, not already taken). This is quick and done online. Have two or three backups ready in case your first choice is rejected.

Step 3 — Draft and notarise the Articles of Association

For an LLC, your Articles of Association (the company contract) are drafted, notarised and filed directly through Najiz. This is the founding document that establishes the company as a legal entity. Notarisation of a standard LLC contract usually costs in the range of SAR 300 to SAR 1,000, depending on length and complexity. If your contract needs certified translation, budget a further SAR 1,000–3,000.

Step 4 — Issue your Commercial Registration (CR)

Once the contract is notarised, you issue your CR electronically. The service fee for issuing the CR is around SAR 500, delivered immediately online, and then you pay the annual CR fee based on your structure (about SAR 1,200 for an LLC). The CR is the official registration that records your company on the commercial register and lets it trade legally.

Step 5 — Register with the Chamber of Commerce

Membership of the Chamber of Commerce is required to activate your CR fully. For a common category this typically costs around SAR 800 to SAR 2,000 for Saudi-owned firms, and can run higher for foreign entities.

Step 6 — Get your municipality (Balady) licence

If you operate from a physical premises — an office, shop or warehouse — you'll need a Balady municipal licence. Costs vary by city and activity, typically around SAR 500 to SAR 2,000 for Saudi-owned businesses, and higher for larger commercial premises.

Step 7 — Register for tax, GOSI and open a bank account

Finally, register for VAT (registration itself is free) and Zakat/tax obligations, enrol staff with GOSI, and open a corporate bank account. Najiz's integration with GOSI and Balady means much of this data flows automatically once your CR is live. If you're hiring, you'll manage staff contracts and Saudization through Qiwa from here.

How much does it cost in 2026?

Saudi-owned LLC — first-year government costs

• CR issuance service fee — around SAR 500
• Annual CR fee (LLC) — around SAR 1,200
• Chamber of Commerce membership — around SAR 800–2,000
• Balady municipality licence — around SAR 500–2,000
• Articles of Association notarisation — around SAR 300–1,000
• VAT registration — free

For a simple Saudi-owned LLC, plan for a few thousand riyals in first-year government fees, before office rent, visas and professional help.

Foreign-owned company — first-year government costs

Foreign investors should budget more. First-year government fees usually total around SAR 12,000 to SAR 15,000, before professional service fees, rent and visas. A typical breakdown:

• MISA investment licence — around SAR 2,000–12,000 in Year 1
• Commercial Registration (LLC) — around SAR 1,200–2,000
• Municipality (Balady) licence — around SAR 1,000–5,000
• Chamber of Commerce membership — around SAR 1,000–3,000
• Notarisation and translation of Articles of Association — around SAR 1,000–3,000

How long does it take?

For a Saudi-owned LLC with your documents ready, the online steps can often be completed within a few days. Foreign investors add time for the MISA licence and any certified translations up front — realistically a couple of weeks from start to an active, bank-ready company. The biggest delays usually come from trade-name rejections and incomplete Articles of Association, so prepare those carefully.

Once you're registered, your next moves are usually an office and a bank account. Browse commercial properties in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on Saudi Living to find your premises, and explore our wider business guides on Saudi Living for help with licences and corporate banking.

FAQs

Can I register a company in Saudi Arabia entirely online?

Yes. Through Najiz you can reserve a trade name, notarise your Articles of Association and issue your Commercial Registration electronically, with the CR delivered immediately online. Physical steps are minimal for a standard LLC.

Do I need a MISA licence as a foreign investor?

Generally yes. Any company with foreign ownership needs a Ministry of Investment (MISA) investment licence before issuing a CR. Saudi and GCC nationals go straight to registration without one.

What is the annual CR fee for an LLC in 2026?

The main annual Commercial Registration fee for an LLC is typically around SAR 1,200, plus about SAR 100 per additional ISIC activity and about SAR 100 per year for each sub-CR (branch).

How much does it cost to set up as a foreigner?

First-year government fees for a foreign-owned company usually total around SAR 12,000–15,000, before professional fees, office rent and visas. The MISA licence alone can range from about SAR 2,000 to SAR 12,000 in Year 1.

Is a physical office required?

If you operate from premises you'll need a Balady municipal licence tied to that address. Some activities allow flexible arrangements, but most commercial businesses will need a registered office in a city like Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam.

How much does notarising the Articles of Association cost?

Notarising a standard LLC contract through Najiz usually costs around SAR 300 to SAR 1,000, depending on the length and complexity of the contract.

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