Razi IsmailBusiness Consultant
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Home / Company Formation

Set up your company in Saudi Arabia.

From the MISA investment licence and Commercial Registration to ZATCA, GOSI and your first set of books. One accountant handles the setup and the compliance that follows.

Discuss your company on WhatsApp See the process
What I handle

Every registration your new company needs.

Each business is different, so I start by working out which licences and registrations apply to your activity, and then take care of them.

MISA investment licence

Licence applications for foreign investors, with the business activities and ownership set out correctly from the start.

Commercial Registration (CR)

Trade name reservation, Articles of Association and registration with the Ministry of Commerce.

Government registrations

National Address, Chamber of Commerce and municipal (Balady) licence, where your activity requires them.

ZATCA, zakat and VAT registration

Registering the new company for zakat, tax and VAT, and setting up e-invoicing for Fatoora.

Employer setup

GOSI, Qiwa and Muqeem accounts so you can hire, run payroll and sponsor staff.

Bank account and accounting setup

Support with opening the corporate bank account, then a chart of accounts and books ready from day one.

The process

From your documents to a working bank account.

Six steps, always in this order, and each one unlocks the next. At every stage you know what is done, what comes next and what I need from you. Once the company is live, I keep your accounting, VAT and zakat in order.

A client signing business registration documents in a folder
1

Document attestation

Your shareholder and company documents are authenticated in your home country, through apostille or the Saudi embassy, then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and translated into Arabic.

PassportsParent company CR & articlesBoard resolutionPower of attorney
2

MISA investment licence

The Ministry of Investment licence that lets foreign shareholders own and run a company in the Kingdom, issued for your chosen business activities.

Activity selectionOwnership structureMISA application
3

Commercial Registration

Trade name reserved, Articles of Association drafted and notarised, and the Commercial Registration (CR) issued by the Ministry of Commerce.

Trade nameArticles of AssociationCR certificate
4

Government platforms

National Address registered and the company activated on Balady, Qiwa, GOSI, ZATCA and Muqeem, so it can operate, hire and pay tax.

National AddressBalady / EjarQiwaGOSIZATCAMuqeem
5

Visas & residency

The General Manager visa and iqama are issued, then visas for your founding team.

GM visaIqamaTeam visas
6

Corporate bank account

Your operating account is opened with a Saudi bank, meeting the bank's and SAMA's compliance checks.

Bank onboardingCompliance documentsAccount activation
Entity types

Choosing the right structure.

The structure affects ownership, liability, licensing and how you report. We choose it together before anything is filed.

Limited Liability Company

Most common choice

Suits most trading, services and consulting businesses, with Saudi or foreign shareholders.

Branch of a foreign company

For existing companies abroad

Lets an overseas company operate in the Kingdom under its own name.

Sole establishment

For Saudi and GCC nationals

A simple structure owned by one person, often used for small businesses.

Joint Stock Company

For larger ventures

For businesses that need a larger shareholder base or plan to raise capital.

Regional Headquarters

For multinational groups

For groups managing their Middle East operations from Saudi Arabia under the RHQ programme.

Questions

Company formation, answered.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Saudi Arabia?

For many business activities, yes, under a MISA investment licence. Some activities are restricted or have extra conditions, so the first thing I check is whether your activity is open to full foreign ownership.

Which documents will I need?

It depends on who the shareholders are. Individuals usually need passport copies. Corporate shareholders usually need their commercial registration, articles and recent financial statements from their home country, attested and translated where required. I give you an exact list once the structure is agreed.

How long does company formation take?

It depends on the entity type, the activity and how quickly documents are ready. Once we discuss your plans, I can give you a realistic timeline for your case.

Do I need to be in Saudi Arabia to set up a company?

Much of the process can be handled remotely with the right documents and authorisations. Some steps, such as opening a bank account, may need a shareholder or manager present.

What happens after the company is registered?

The company has ongoing obligations: bookkeeping, VAT returns, zakat declarations, financial statements on Qawaem and keeping licences valid. I can handle these as your accountant, so setup and compliance stay with one person.

Saudi regulations change regularly. The information on this page is general guidance, and requirements for your business will be confirmed during our consultation.

Contact

Planning a business in Saudi Arabia? Let's talk.

Tell me what the business will do and who the owners are, and I'll come back with the right structure and next steps.

Phone & WhatsApp+966 53 997 0289LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/raziismailEmail[email protected]
LocationJeddah, Saudi Arabia

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