Saudi New Investment Licenses Surge 252% in Q2 2026

Saudi Arabia issued 9,018 new investment licenses during the second quarter of 2026, a 252% increase compared with the same period a year earlier, reflecting a strong pace of new business activity across the Kingdom. The figure excludes licenses linked to corrections under the National Anti-Commercial Concealment Program (Tasattur), meaning it represents genuine new investment.

About 66% of the new licenses were concentrated in three sectors: wholesale and retail trade, construction, and manufacturing. Wholesale and retail trade licenses rose roughly 285% year on year, manufacturing was up about 284%, and construction climbed around 218%. Agriculture recorded the highest growth of all, surging about 736%.

The Q2 momentum builds on a solid start to the year. In the first quarter of 2026, وزارة الاستثمار issued 7,742 investment licenses, a 68% annual rise, also excluding Tasattur-related corrections. Construction accounted for around 2,506 licenses, wholesale and retail trade about 1,592, and manufacturing roughly 969.

What it means for businesses

Foreign or mixed-ownership entities working in regulated sectors need an investment license from وزارة الاستثمار, alongside a valid commercial registration (CR) from the Ministry of Commerce. By Q2 2026, the Kingdom recorded roughly 1.9 million active commercial registrations, with more than 71,000 new CRs issued during the quarter.

Commercial registrations are generally obtained through the Ministry of Commerce electronic portal, with identity verification handled via national unified digital identity platforms. As of 2026, base government CR fees typically range between SAR 200 and SAR 600 with Chamber of Commerce membership usually starting around SAR 200 to SAR 300 plus smaller service fees for steps such as name reservation and amendments. Many registrations are valid for one Gregorian year.

The rising license numbers point to broadening investor confidence and easier entry into the Saudi market, aligning with the goals of رؤية السعودية 2030 to diversify the economy and expand private-sector participation.

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