Saudi Arabia Issues 9,018 Investment Licenses in Q2 2026

Saudi Arabia issued 9,018 investment licenses during the second quarter of 2026, a 252% increase compared with the same period a year earlier, The result follows 7,627 licenses in the first quarter, bringing the total for the first half of 2026 to 16,645 licenses.

The sharp rise reflects continued momentum in attracting foreign capital to the Kingdom under رؤية السعودية 2030. For residents and business owners, the numbers point to a growing pool of new companies and activities entering the local market.

How the process works

Foreign investors must first complete registration with وزارة الاستثمار before carrying out any investment activity in Saudi Arabia. Once the Ministry confirms the registration, the investor can then issue a commercial registration and obtain the activity-specific licenses required from the relevant Saudi authorities.

Under the current MISA Investor Guide, there is no fixed service fee for the registration itself. The Ministry determines any applicable annual-update charge or financial consideration upon approval. Any assessed amount for the registration service must generally be paid within 15 business days of notification, otherwise the registration becomes void.

For applicable licensing categories, the Ministry sets the financial consideration for the full requested period, and non-payment within the specified period causes the license to expire. A service manual lists SAR 2,000 for a maximum of five years, along with SAR 10,000 for first-year subscription to investor-relations services; subsequent subscription charges may reach SAR 60,000

Applications and investor support are handled through وزارة الاستثمار's official electronic services and Investor Care. Investors inside Saudi Arabia can reach Investor Care on 8002449990, or from outside the Kingdom on +966 11 506 5777, and by email at investorCare@misa.gov.sa.

---

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