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Set up your company in Saudi Arabia, and keep it compliant

From MISA registration and Commercial Registration to portal setup and ongoing licence management, established and kept in good standing.

Overview

A single, managed path to trading in the Kingdom

Setting up in Saudi Arabia means moving through several authorities in the right order, MISA, the Ministry of Commerce, ZATCA, and the labour platforms. Miss a step and the whole timeline slips. PROMISE manages the full sequence, one team, accountable from first application to ongoing compliance.

100%
Foreign ownership, most sectors
~2 wks
Typical MISA approval
30 yrs
RHQ tax relief (renewable)
Annual
CR confirmation (2025 reform)
What’s the difference

MISA registration and CR, two steps, not one

MISA registration

Your permission, as a foreign investor, to own and operate a business in Saudi Arabia.

Commercial Registration

Your company’s trade registration with the Ministry of Commerce, what makes the entity official.

MISA lets you in; the CR brings your company into existence. We handle both, in order.
Choosing your structure

Which entity is right for you

Most foreign investors choose one of three. We advise on the best fit before anything is filed.

LLC

The most common choice, a separate Saudi entity, 100% foreign ownership in most sectors, one to 50 partners.

Branch

Keeps the parent’s name and identity; faster to set up, limited to the parent’s activities.

Regional HQ (RHQ)

For groups managing regional operations from the Kingdom, with substantial incentives.

Larger or capital-raising ventures may use a Joint Stock Company (JSC); we’ll flag it if it suits you.

Regional Headquarters

One of the region’s strongest incentive packages

If you manage operations across the Middle East, basing your RHQ in the Kingdom unlocks major incentives, and is increasingly expected of firms working with the Saudi government.

Explore RHQ Setup
  • 30-yr renewable tax relief: 0% CIT & WHT on qualifying activities.
  • 10-yr Saudization exemption for the RHQ entity.
  • Work-visa-limit exemption, 250 visas from day one.
  • Premium Residency eligibility for up to three executives, subject to the programme’s criteria.
  • Access to government tenders; public bodies increasingly require suppliers to base a regional HQ in the Kingdom.
  • These are the programme’s terms, subject to eligibility and not guaranteed. They apply to the licensed RHQ entity that meets and maintains the programme’s conditions, including economic-substance requirements, and do not extend automatically to subsidiaries or affiliates. Operating conditions apply (for example, starting activity within six months and building a senior team in year one).
Ready to operate, not just registered
Setup & compliance

Ready to operate, not just registered

A CR alone doesn’t let you hire, pay, or invoice. We complete the activation that turns a registered entity into a working business.

  • ZATCA tax registration (CIT / VAT / Zakat) and e-invoicing.
  • Labour platforms, Qiwa, Muqeem, GOSI, Mudad.
  • National Address, Chamber membership, bank-account support.
  • Ongoing licences & annual confirmation, we track every deadline.
How the process works

From decision to operating, step by step

1

Consultation

We confirm your activity, entity type, and sector conditions.

2

MISA registration

We prepare and file via the Invest Saudi portal.

3

Incorporation & CR

We draft the Articles and secure the CR.

4

Post-incorporation

Tax, labour platforms, National Address, banking.

5

Ongoing management

Renewals, annual confirmations, compliance.

Well-prepared setups commonly reach operating status within a few weeks to a few months, depending on entity type, activity, attestation, and bank onboarding.

Common questions

Answers before you commit

Can a foreigner own 100%?

In most sectors, yes, through MISA registration. A limited set of restricted activities carry conditions, which we confirm before you commit.

How long does it take?

MISA is often cleared within a couple of weeks; the full journey commonly runs a few weeks to a few months, with bank onboarding often the longest step.

Minimum capital?

It depends entirely on your activity. Many service activities have no set minimum; some regulated sectors require capital held as working capital, not a fee.

LLC or branch?

An LLC is a separate Saudi entity with broad flexibility; a branch is an extension of your parent, limited to its activities. We advise before filing.

Do I need an RHQ?

Not every company does, but if you manage regional operations, it offers major incentives and is increasingly expected for government contracts.

Can you keep us compliant after setup?

Yes, licence renewals, annual confirmations and multi-authority monitoring run under our monthly corporate services package.

Ready to establish your company in Saudi Arabia?

Request a consultation and we’ll map the fastest compliant route for your business.

Request a Consultation