GET STARTED WITH AN

INVESTMENT LICENSE

Doing business in Saudi Arabia has never been easier, thanks to the recent reforms that have reduced red tape, bureaucracy, and streamlined the clearance process to speed up investment realization.

The Ministry of Investment \(MISA\) is a "one-stop-shop" for companies interested in investing in Saudi Arabia.

Business Day to obtain your investment license

Documents required for an investment license

WHAT TYPE OF

BUSINESSES

CAN APPLY FOR AN

INVESTOR LICENSE?

All licenses are issued based on the principle of fair and equal treatment, allowing international investors to enjoy the same rights and obligations as local investors.

Limited liability company (LLC)

Limited liability one-person company

Joint stock company

Foreign company branch

Solidarity professional company

TYPES OF LICENSES INVESTORS

CAN APPLY FOR IN SAUDI ARABIA

Agricultural license

Agricultural license

This license is issued to companies in the agricultural field.

Audiovisual media license

Audiovisual media license

This license is issued to companies in the audio and visual fields.

Commercial license

Commercial license

This license is issued to companies in the wholesale and retail trading field.

Consulting license for engineering offices

Consulting license for engineering offices

This license is issued to companies providing engineering consultation services within the Kingdom.

Consulting license for technical & economic communication offices

Consulting license for technical & economic communication offices

This license is issued to economic and technical country representation offices.

Entrepreneur license

Entrepreneur license

This license is issued to entrepreneurs who wish to establish technology and innovative companies with expansion and growth potential within the Kingdom.

License for a scientific and technical office

License for a scientific and technical office

This license is issued to companies with offices providing scientific and technical services to agents, distributors and consumers of their products.

License for serving agents and providing workers services

License for serving agents and providing workers services

This license is issued to companies providing domestic labor placement services and temporary employment agencies for households.

Industrial license

Industrial license

This license is issued for all types of industrial activities, such as heavy and light industries and manufacturing.

Mining license

Mining license

This license is issued to companies in the mining field.

Printing & publishing license

Printing & publishing license

This license is issued to companies in the printing and publishing fields.

Professional license with Saudi shareholder

Professional license with Saudi shareholder

This license is issued to companies conducting professional services in the Kingdom with a Saudi partner.

Real estate license

Real estate license

This license is issued to companies in the real estate field.

Services license

Services license

This license is issued for service activities including: construction, administrative investment, information technology, tourism, training, healthcare, insurance and re-insurance, education, advertising and media, logistic services, organizing exhibitions, catering and food services, financial services, aviation and handling services.

Transport license

Transport license

This license is issued for bus public transportation within cities, metro public repetition , and other public transport activities.

ONLY 2 DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED

TO RECEIVE AN INVESTOR LICENSE

Only documents are needed to acquire an investor license

For the issuance of investment licenses, two documents are required:

Copy of the commercial registration of the entity in its original country, authenticated by a Saudi Embassy

Financial statements for the last year, prepared by an internationally acclaimed legal office and authenticated by a Saudi Embassy

*Additional documents may be required depending on the business activity and the required license type.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

DEPENDING ON THE LICENSE ACTIVITY

Services for public buses or metros within cities license

  • 3 additional documents required
  • Licensing entity: Ministry of Transport

Audiovisual media license

  • 1 additional document required
  • Licensing entity: General Commission for Audiovisual Media

Printing and publishing license

  • 1 additional documents required
  • Licensing entity: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Entrepreneurship license

  • 2 additional documents required
  • Licensing entity: Ministry of Investment

Consulting license for engineering offices

  • 1 additional documents required
  • Licensing entity: Ministry of Investment

Temporary licenses for the execution of a government/semi-government contract

  • 1 additional documents required
  • Licensing entity: Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs

Temporary certificate to submit proposals for government projects

  • 5 additional documents required
  • Licensing entity: Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs

INVESTOR JOURNEY

STAGE
Issuance of Investment License

Requirements

The Company's commercial registration certified by the Saudi Embassy

The last year financial statements for certified by the Saudi Embassy

Responsible Provider

STAGE
Documentation of Memorandum of Association

Requirements

Branches of foreign companies must submit a decision to open the branch in the Kingdom only to complete the issuance of the Commercial Register.

Responsible Provider

STAGE
Issuance of commercial Registration

Requirements

Commercial registration of the parent company

Decision of the Board of directors of opening a branch ( branches of foreign companies only)

Memorandum of Association (for new companies)

Appointing the general director

Proof of the owners and general director's ID

Responsible Provider

STAGE
Open Files

Requirements

Obtaining a file of the General Authority of Zakat and Tax

Obtaining a file of Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Development

Obtaining a file of The General Organization for Social Insurance

Responsible Provider

STAGE
Issuance of General Directors Visa

Requirements

A letter of appointing the general director

Proof of the general director's ID

Responsible Provider