The number of active commercial registrations in Saudi Arabia climbed past 1.9 million by the end of the second quarter of 2026, reflecting continued momentum in the Kingdom's business environment. Total active registrations reached 1,918,512, made up of 1,280,505 establishments and 638,007 companies.
More than 71,000 new commercial registrations were issued during the quarter alone, underlining steady growth in the number of businesses operating across the country.
A unified register without expiry
The commercial register now operates as a single national record that does not carry an expiry date. Traditional renewal has been replaced by an annual data confirmation, which businesses complete electronically. The annual confirmation costs the same amount as the applicable registration fee.
Registration fees vary by legal form: SAR 500 for a sole proprietorship, SAR 1,000 for a general or simple limited partnership, SAR 1,200 for a limited liability company, and SAR 1,600 for a joint-stock company, a simplified joint-stock company, or a foreign-company branch. Updating registered data costs SAR 100 a detailed registration extract costs SAR 100, and reserving a trade name costs SAR 200.
How to register
Applications and annual confirmations are handled electronically through the Saudi Business Center under the Ministry of Commerce. Typical steps include selecting the legal form and business activities, reserving a trade name where required, providing the necessary ownership and identification details, submitting the application, paying electronically, and receiving the commercial registration digitally.
For expat entrepreneurs and foreign investors, the process usually requires obtaining the applicable وزارة الاستثمار licensing approval before completing the commercial registration. The simplified, expiry-free system is designed to make it easier for residents and companies alike to start and maintain a business in the Kingdom.
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