Set up your Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia
The Regional Headquarters (RHQ) programme lets multinationals manage their Middle East operations from the Kingdom, with a distinct incentive package and dedicated government support. PROMISE assesses your eligibility and handles the RHQ licence end to end.
A regional base, backed by the government
The RHQ programme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Investment (MISA) and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, created under Vision 2030 to make the Kingdom the region’s headquarters hub. An RHQ is a unit of a multinational group, established in Saudi Arabia to support, manage, and give strategic direction to the group’s branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates across the Middle East and North Africa.
An RHQ is set up as its own legal presence, either a Saudi company or a registered branch of the foreign parent, and is licensed specifically for headquarters activities, not for general commercial trading.
Why multinationals may choose an RHQ
These incentives apply only to the licensed RHQ entity that meets and maintains the programme’s current conditions, including economic-substance requirements and, for the tax relief, income from qualifying RHQ activities. They do not extend automatically to subsidiaries or affiliates, and the programme’s terms can change. We confirm your eligibility and model the real benefit for your group before you commit.
Tax relief on qualifying activities
Under the programme’s current rules, a licensed RHQ may benefit from 0% corporate income tax and 0% withholding tax on its qualifying RHQ activities, for a 30-year renewable term, subject to meeting and maintaining the conditions (terms can change).
Relief from Saudization
A qualifying RHQ entity may receive a time-limited exemption (indicated at 10 years) from Saudization (Nitaqat) requirements, subject to the programme’s current rules.
Work-visa allocation
An RHQ may be exempt from the standard work-visa limit, with a large allocation reported from day one (indicative figures only, confirm at time of application).
Premium Residency eligibility
A number of the RHQ’s executives may be eligible for Premium Residency, subject to the programme’s criteria.
Government tenders
Government bodies increasingly expect suppliers to base a regional headquarters in the Kingdom above certain thresholds, so an RHQ may support eligibility for public contracts, depending on the contracts you pursue.
Practical perks for staff
Some professional-accreditation requirements may be waived and dependent benefits expanded, subject to the programme’s current rules.
Is your group eligible?
The programme is for multinational groups. In broad terms, to qualify a group generally needs a genuine multinational presence (operating in at least two countries besides Saudi Arabia and the country of its global headquarters, through subsidiaries or branches) and a real regional role (the RHQ will actually support, manage, and direct the group’s operations across the MENA region, not just hold a licence). The precise test can shift, so we assess your group structure against the current rules and tell you honestly whether an RHQ fits, before any application.
Market entry advisoryWhat an RHQ does
RHQ work falls into two groups, and you choose the optional activities that match how your group actually runs.
Mandatory activities
Strategic direction (setting and monitoring regional strategy, aligning the group, reviewing performance) and core management functions (business planning, budgeting, coordination, and reporting).
Optional activities
Support functions the group can add, such as HR, finance and treasury, marketing support, legal, compliance, IT, logistics, and R&D. The official list is broad and can change.
What the programme expects
An RHQ is a real regional base, so the programme sets conditions the entity must meet under its current rules. The main ones:
Start on time
Begin the mandatory headquarters activities within about six months of the licence, and add several optional activities within the first year (indicative, confirm at time of application).
Build a real team
Employ a minimum full-time headcount in the first year, including senior executives (the programme currently indicates at least 15 staff and 3 executives, subject to change).
Stay within scope
The RHQ directs and supports the group, it does not carry out general revenue-generating trade, which the group runs through its other licensed entities.
We map these commitments to your plans up front, so there are no surprises after the licence is granted, and we manage the ongoing compliance that keeps the incentives in place.
From eligibility to operating
Eligibility & benefit assessment
We check your group against the programme’s current rules and model the real incentive value for you.
RHQ licence & entity
We secure the RHQ licence from MISA and establish the underlying company or branch.
Commercial Registration & setup
CR, government portals, tax, and bank-account support, the full activation.
Activities & team
We help you stand up the mandatory and optional activities and the required senior team on time.
Ongoing compliance
We keep the RHQ’s conditions and reporting current, so the incentives stay in place.
Timelines depend on your group structure, document attestation, and bank onboarding, so we give you a realistic view up front rather than a fixed day-count.
Why companies choose PROMISE for RHQ setup
A straight read
We tell you honestly whether an RHQ fits your group, and model the benefit conditionally, not as a guarantee.
Licence and entity handled
We secure the RHQ licence and establish the underlying company or branch, coordinating every authority.
Conditions kept current
We manage the programme’s ongoing conditions and reporting, so your incentives stay in place. One team, from eligibility to ongoing compliance.
Answers before you commit
Does my company need an RHQ to win Saudi government contracts?
Government bodies increasingly expect their suppliers to base a regional headquarters in the Kingdom above certain thresholds. Whether it applies to you depends on the contracts you’re pursuing, so we assess your specific situation.
Is the RHQ tax relief really 0%?
Under the programme’s current rules, it offers 0% corporate income tax and 0% withholding tax on the RHQ’s qualifying activities, for a 30-year renewable term, provided the licensed entity meets and maintains the conditions. It applies to the RHQ entity, not automatically to your subsidiaries or affiliates, and the terms can change, so we model exactly what it means for your group.
Can an RHQ trade or generate revenue?
An RHQ is licensed for headquarters activities, directing and supporting the group, not for general commercial trade. Revenue-generating operations run through the group’s other licensed entities, which we can also set up.
How many staff does an RHQ need?
The programme currently indicates a minimum full-time headcount in the first year, including senior executives (around 15 staff and 3 executives, subject to the programme’s current rules). We help you plan and meet it.
Considering a Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia?
Request a consultation, we’ll tell you honestly if it fits, and handle it end to end if it does.
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