{"id":8887,"date":"2022-08-30T12:55:31","date_gmt":"2022-08-30T12:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/?p=8887"},"modified":"2024-09-11T08:30:03","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T08:30:03","slug":"how-to-set-up-a-foreign-company-in-saudi-arabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/news\/how-to-set-up-a-foreign-company-in-saudi-arabia\/","title":{"rendered":"HOW TO SET UP A FOREIGN COMPANY IN SAUDI ARABIA?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saudi Arabia economy is experiencing growth in all industry sectors and along with its natural resources, geographic and cultural location between three continents it is an attractive destination for doing business. As a result of this growth, the country has gained a solid economic foothold, becoming one of the top twenty largest economies in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In line with the Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi government has worked to encourage foreign investors to invest into the Kingdom. Therefore, this will have a knock-on effect by raising the country\u2019s economic level and diversify income sources away from oil and gas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign companies can establish subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia with 100 percent ownership or they have the option to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/company-formation-saudi-arabia\/\">set up a company in Saudi Arabia<\/a> and partner with a Saudi national.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The most common <a href=\"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/company-formation-saudi-arabia\/business-license-types\/\">business licenses in Saudi Arabia<\/a> to establish a company include:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limited Liability Company (LLC)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joint Stock Company (JSC)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign company branch<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or any other legal form approved by the authority<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row title=&#8221;BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION&#8221; style=&#8221;3d&#8221; gradient_color_1=&#8221;turquoise&#8221; gradient_color_2=&#8221;blue&#8221; gradient_custom_color_1=&#8221;#dd3333&#8243; gradient_custom_color_2=&#8221;#eeee22&#8243; gradient_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; custom_background=&#8221;#ededed&#8221; custom_text=&#8221;#666666&#8243; outline_custom_color=&#8221;#666666&#8243; outline_custom_hover_background=&#8221;#666666&#8243; outline_custom_hover_text=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; shape=&#8221;rounded&#8221; color=&#8221;grey&#8221; size=&#8221;md&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; button_block=&#8221;&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; i_align=&#8221;right&#8221; i_type=&#8221;typicons&#8221; i_icon_fontawesome=&#8221;fas fa-adjust&#8221; i_icon_openiconic=&#8221;vc-oi vc-oi-dial&#8221; i_icon_typicons=&#8221;typcn typcn-chevron-right&#8221; i_icon_entypo=&#8221;entypo-icon entypo-icon-note&#8221; i_icon_linecons=&#8221;vc_li vc_li-heart&#8221; i_icon_monosocial=&#8221;vc-mono vc-mono-fivehundredpx&#8221; i_icon_material=&#8221;vc-material vc-material-cake&#8221; i_icon_pixelicons=&#8221;vc_pixel_icon vc_pixel_icon-alert&#8221; custom_onclick=&#8221;&#8221; link=&#8221;url:%2Fcontact-us%2F&#8221; custom_onclick_code=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column][vc_btn title=&#8221;BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION&#8221; style=&#8221;3d&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; i_align=&#8221;right&#8221; i_type=&#8221;typicons&#8221; i_icon_typicons=&#8221;typcn typcn-chevron-right&#8221; add_icon=&#8221;true&#8221; link=&#8221;url:%2Fcontact-us%2F&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #029c7e;\">WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR SETTING UP A FOREIGN COMPANY WITH 100% OWNERSHIP IN KSA?<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign companies must be in existence for 1+ years with positive audited financials \u2013 applies to an LLC and JSC entity type.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign companies must have at least 3+ years with profitable audited financials \u2013 applies to a foreign branch setup.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paid-up capital requirements will vary depending on business activity and legal entity structure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paid-up capital must be deposited to a local Saudi bank account once the entity is registered with the authorities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #029c7e;\">WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SETTING UP A COMPANY IN SAUDI ARABIA?<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A copy of the commercial registration\/trade license and the memorandum and articles of association is to be duly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resolution with powers to open the subsidiary must be duly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Documents relating to the appointed general manager of the new Saudi entity must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The foreign company audit report is required to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Embassy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign company legal documents must be in Arabic language or officially translated into Arabic and certified, notarized, and attested.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #029c7e;\">WHAT ARE THE LICENSE TYPES AVAILABLE FOR SAUDI COMPANY REGISTRATION?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>The eight main license types that foreign investors can consider registering a Saudi company include:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Services Investment license<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; activities such as e.g., installation, maintenance and repair, recycling, cleaning, construction of residential and non-residential buildings, commodity brokerage, testing and examination, research and development, designing and programming software, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Industrial Investment license &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">activities such as e.g., all industrial related, such as heavy and light industries and transformative industries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Professional Investment license<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; activities for example engineering consultancies, IT consultancies, technical consulting, training consulting, translation services, investment, and advisory services, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trading Investment license &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">activities such as e.g., wholesale, retail, and online sales of products.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic and Technical Liaison Offices &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">activities such as e.g., representation before government, associations, trade unions, clubs, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Agricultural Investment License<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211;<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">activities for instance cultivation, raising and production of chickens, beekeeping and honey production, cultivation of spices, aromatic crops and drug and pharmaceutical crops, breeding of camels and similar animals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scientific\/Technical Investment License<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; activities of scientific offices of pharmaceuticals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Real Estate Investment License<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; activities such as e.g., real estate development of residential buildings using modern methods of construction, buying, selling, subdividing of land and real estate, and on-the-map selling activities, management and leasing of real estate with own or leased property (non-residential)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #029c7e;\">WHAT IS AN EXTERNAL APPROVAL &amp; IS THIS REQUIRED FOR MY SAUDI COMPANY REGISTRATION?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on your business activity and the day-to-day running of your business, it may require additional approval from a supervising authority.\u00a0 An external approval is a validation\/approval from a third-party governmental establishment permitting a business to do some sort of activity or action. The most common types of external approvals are \u2013 No Objection Certificates (NOC) and approval letters. For example, should you wish to set up a school and apply for a service license, the government education authority will require external approvals i.e., the Ministry of Education. A company must meet the prerequisites and provide the correct educational experience and qualifications of staff to receive NOC and approvals from the education authority to be licensed and for the business e.g., school and its staff to operate correctly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #029c7e;\">TOP SUPERVISING GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below we have listed some of the main external approval authorities in Saudi Arabia. Depending on your selected business activity, your Saudi company may require NOC and approvals.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Health\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Commerce and Industry\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical and Vocational Training Corporation\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Education<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Commission for Audiovisual Media\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transport General Authority\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication and Information Technology Commission\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saudi Food and Drug Authority\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Municipal Rural Affairs and Housing\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Authority of Civil Aviation\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saudi Ports Authority\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Sport\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Tourism\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Entertainment Authority\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High Commission for Industrial Security\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saudi Energy Center<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #029c7e;\">TAKEAWAY<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some various procedures and requirements ought to be prepared and take into consideration to successfully <a href=\"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/company-formation-saudi-arabia\/\">set up and operate a company in Saudi Arabia<\/a>. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creation Business Consultants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will help you throughout the entire company incorporation process. From\u00a0initial tax advice, designing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the right structure for your company<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, guidance on selected business activities, drafting the correct documentation, representing and registering your KSA company with the authorities, receiving your MISA license and Commercial Registration (CR) to all post CR processes including visa, Iqama, and banking support. Our team of experts will simplify the process and handle all the red tape involved with your Saudi company registration so you can focus on your business. Contact a member of our team to learn more about setting up a company and corporate services in Saudi Arabia. Email us at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:info@creationbc.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">info@creationbc.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or call <a href=\"tel:+966545112494\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">+966 54 511 2494<\/a><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;12267&#8243; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; style=&#8221;vc_box_circle_2&#8243; onclick=&#8221;custom_link&#8221; link=&#8221;https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/scott-cairns\/&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]<strong>Scott Cairns,<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Managing Director<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/scott-cairns-5001a95\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-6611\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/download.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"37\" height=\"37\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/download.png 225w, https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/download-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/download-80x80.png 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 37px) 100vw, 37px\" \/><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243;][vc_tta_accordion spacing=&#8221;1&#8243; active_section=&#8221;0&#8243; collapsible_all=&#8221;true&#8221;][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;ARTICLE UPDATES LOG&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1682511105393-b019fb54-a8b8ba4d-d027&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>This Article was researched and written on Aug 30th, 2022 by Rehan Abid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This Article was reviewed and updated on Oct 12th, 2023 by <a href=\"\/scott-cairns\/\">Scott Cairns<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Saudi Arabia economy is experiencing growth in all industry sectors and along with its natural resources, geographic and cultural location between three continents it is an attractive destination for doing business. As a result of this growth, the country has gained a solid economic foothold, becoming one of the top twenty largest economies in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8892,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sa-company-setup"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8887"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19446,"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8887\/revisions\/19446"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creationbc.com\/en-sa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}