Company incorporation in Saudi Arabia
Whether you’re setting up a new company, opening a branch, or establishing a Regional Headquarters, PROMISE handles your incorporation from the MISA investment licence to Commercial Registration, correctly the first time.
Start with the right setup
Incorporation is the moment your business becomes a recognised presence in the Kingdom. Two decisions shape everything that follows: how you enter the market, and the legal form your entity takes. Both affect your liability, your ownership, and what you’re allowed to do, so they’re worth getting right before anything is filed. Below we set out the routes, the legal forms, the process, and the documents involved. Whichever fits, PROMISE prepares and files it and coordinates every authority.
Your route into the market
Foreign investors typically enter through one of four routes, each registered with the Ministry of Investment (MISA).
New company (subsidiary)
A brand-new Saudi entity that you own, with its own legal personality and liability ring-fenced from the parent. Most commonly formed as an LLC, and open to 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. Best for: most investors wanting a permanent, fully owned presence.
Branch of a foreign company
Registers your existing company to operate directly in Saudi Arabia, keeping the parent’s name and identity. The parent remains responsible, and activities are limited to the parent’s licensed scope. Best for: established firms extending their existing business into the Kingdom.
Representative office
A non-trading presence for market study, liaison, and promotion. By law it cannot sign contracts, trade, or earn revenue, it exists to represent the parent, not to do business. Best for: testing the market before committing to full operations.
Regional Headquarters (RHQ)
A dedicated MISA licence for directing group operations across the region, itself established as a company or a branch, with its own workforce and programme incentives. Best for: multinationals centralising regional management in the Kingdom.
Explore RHQ SetupThe legal form your company takes
If you set up a new company, it is constituted under one of the forms in the Saudi Companies Law. The three most relevant to foreign investors are:
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
The most common form, flexible and fully ownable, from a single shareholder (a One-Person LLC) up to 50 partners. Beyond 50, it converts to a joint stock company.
Joint Stock Company (JSC)
Capital divided into shares with more formal governance, suited to larger ventures, institutional investment, or a future public listing.
Simplified Joint Stock Company (SJSC)
A newer, flexible form introduced by the current Companies Law, popular with start-ups and investors for its light capital rules and adaptable share structure.
We recommend and set up the right form for your route, ownership, and growth plans, you don’t need to decide this alone.
Can you own 100%?
In most sectors, yes. Under the current Investment Law, full foreign ownership is available across the majority of activities through the MISA investment licence, which replaced the former foreign-investment licence. A limited set of restricted or excluded activities carry conditions or require a Saudi partner. We confirm exactly what applies to your activity before you commit, so there are no surprises later.
Two steps, not one document
The MISA investment licence and the Commercial Registration (CR) are two sequential steps, not the same thing. The MISA investment licence is the permission for a foreign investor to operate in the Kingdom, issued by the Ministry of Investment. The Commercial Registration is the company’s trade registration with the Ministry of Commerce, the record that formally brings your entity into existence. You obtain the MISA licence first, then register the company and secure its CR.
In between sits your Articles of Association, drafted and notarised to constitute the company. PROMISE prepares and files each step in the right order, MISA, then the trade name and Articles, then the CR and Chamber of Commerce membership, so nothing is filed out of sequence.
What to prepare
Exact requirements depend on your route and activity, but most incorporations need: the parent company’s Commercial Registration or certificate of incorporation; its Memorandum and Articles of Association; audited financial statements for the most recent year; passports of the shareholders, directors, and proposed General Manager; and a board resolution to establish the entity plus a Power of Attorney for your local representative. Foreign documents typically need to be attested in the country of origin, legalised by the Saudi embassy, and translated into Arabic by an approved translator. We give you a precise checklist and manage the attestation and translation.
How much capital?
It depends on your activity and legal form. Many service activities need little or no share capital, while some regulated sectors require a set minimum. Where capital is required, it is working capital held in your own company account, not a fee. Because these thresholds vary by activity and change over time, we confirm the exact figure that applies to you before you commit (indicative amounts only, confirm at time of application).
How incorporation works, step by step
Route & legal form
We confirm the right entry route and legal form, and check any conditions on your activity.
MISA investment licence
We prepare and submit your registration with the Ministry of Investment.
Trade name & Articles
We reserve your trade name and draft the Articles of Association, notarised as required.
Commercial Registration (CR)
We incorporate the entity and secure its CR with the Ministry of Commerce, then activate Chamber of Commerce membership.
Post-incorporation setup
Tax (ZATCA), labour platforms, National Address, and corporate bank-account support, so you’re ready to operate, not just registered.
For a well-prepared file, MISA registration is often cleared within about two weeks, with the full journey to operating status commonly running from a few weeks to a few months, depending on your activity, document attestation, and bank onboarding (bank onboarding is typically the slowest step).
Why companies choose PROMISE for incorporation
Done once, done right
A rejected filing or the wrong setup costs weeks. We prepare your incorporation correctly the first time.
Every authority coordinated
MISA, the Ministry of Commerce, ZATCA, and the labour platforms, handled in the right order by one team.
Ready to operate
You get an entity that’s ready to trade, with ongoing licence management to keep it compliant afterwards.
Answers before you commit
Can I set up a company with a single owner?
Yes. Saudi Arabia allows a One-Person LLC, a limited liability company with a single shareholder, as well as multi-partner LLCs of up to 50 partners.
What happens if my LLC grows beyond 50 partners?
An LLC is capped at 50 partners. Beyond that, it converts to a joint stock company, which we can advise on and manage.
What’s the difference between a branch and a representative office?
A branch can carry out the parent company’s licensed activities and generate revenue. A representative office cannot trade or earn revenue, it exists for market study, liaison, and promotion only.
Is the MISA investment licence the same as the Commercial Registration?
No. They are two sequential steps. The MISA investment licence is the permission for a foreign investor to operate, issued by the Ministry of Investment. The Commercial Registration (CR) is the company’s trade registration with the Ministry of Commerce, obtained after the licence. We handle both.
Do I need a Saudi partner?
In most sectors, no, 100% foreign ownership is available through the MISA investment licence. A limited set of restricted activities require a local partner or carry conditions, which we confirm for your specific activity.
Ready to incorporate in Saudi Arabia?
Request a consultation and we’ll recommend the right route and form, then handle the filing.
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