Company formation in Saudi Arabia

Company Formation In Saudi Arabia

Set up your business in Saudi Arabia with full ownership.

Saudi Arabia lets foreign investors own 100% of a company in most sectors, and Vision 2030 is opening tourism, entertainment, logistics, technology and manufacturing to new entrants. Set Hub handles the full process from Dubai: the MISA investment licence, commercial registration, Articles of Association, national address, and the tax, chamber and labour registrations that follow. Once the company exists, we arrange investor and employee visas and introduce you to Saudi banks. Comparing with the UAE? See mainland company formation in Dubai.

Who sets up in Saudi Arabia with us:

UAE companies opening a Saudi branch or subsidiary to serve local clients.
Foreign groups that need a Saudi entity to bid for government and large corporate work.
Entrepreneurs who want a Saudi LLC alongside their UAE company.

How to set up a company in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia allows 100% foreign ownership in most business activities, and Vision 2030 is opening sectors such as tourism, entertainment, logistics and technology to foreign investors. Set Hub handles the licensing and registration steps for you, then helps with visas and your bank account once the company is formed.

Setup steps

Choose your business activities. They decide which company type and licences you need.
Apply for the MISA investment licence. Foreign investors need a licence from the Ministry of Investment (MISA).
Reserve your company name and get it approved.
Prepare and notarise your Articles of Association with the Ministry of Commerce.
Apply for Commercial Registration (CR), which confirms your company is legally registered to operate.
Register your national address and complete the post-registration steps (tax, chamber of commerce and labour registrations).

Company types in Saudi Arabia

Limited Liability Company (LLC): the most common choice; owners’ liability is limited to their share capital.
Simple Joint Stock Company: a flexible structure for start-ups that can have a single shareholder.
Joint Stock Company: owned by shareholders, suited to larger businesses raising capital.
Limited Partnership: general partners manage the business with unlimited liability; limited partners only invest.
General (joint liability) partnership: two or more partners share liability for the firm’s obligations.

Documents you will need

If you are setting up through an existing company, prepare these, attested and translated into Arabic:

Parent company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association
Certificate of incorporation and trade licence
Audited financial statements for the last full year
Board resolution approving the Saudi company
Power of attorney for the person handling the setup

Tax at a glance

Corporate income tax is 20% on the share of profits owned by foreign shareholders (Saudi and GCC-owned shares pay zakat instead), there is no personal income tax, and VAT is 15%.

Costs depend on your activities, the number of shareholders and your office requirements. Get your personalised pricing for your Saudi company.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Saudi partner?

Not for most activities. The Ministry of Investment (MISA) allows 100% foreign ownership, with a short list of restricted activities where conditions or a local partner apply. We check your activity before you start.

How long does Saudi company formation take?

Several weeks from document attestation to commercial registration, depending on the activity and how quickly the parent-company documents are attested and translated.

What is the MISA licence?

The investment licence issued by the Ministry of Investment that allows a foreign-owned company to operate in Saudi Arabia. It is renewed annually.

What taxes apply?

20% corporate income tax on the foreign-owned share of profits (Saudi and GCC shares pay zakat), 15% VAT, withholding tax on some payments abroad, and no personal income tax.

Can I get a Saudi residence visa as the owner?

Yes. The investor can apply for an iqama once the company is registered, and the company can sponsor employees subject to Saudisation (Nitaqat) rules.

What does it cost?

It depends on the activity, the number of shareholders and your office. Get your personalised pricing and we will itemise the government fees.

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Company formation in Saudi Arabia