Business Setup in Saudi Arabia with Expert Guidance
Accelerate your company formation process in Saudi Arabia and completely integrate your business with full foreign ownership
Why Choose Us
Zero Setup and Growth Gaps
Your company setup, compliance, and talent needs — all handled under one roof, end-to-end
50+ On-Ground Experts
Local team and a dedicated account manager for your business, AstroLabs will hand all your business expansion needs
850+ KSA Expansions
Across 30 industries
Strategic Access
Tap into our network of 10K+ decision-makers: MCIT, Aramco, Sabic, Riyad Bank & more
Get Your License in 10 Days
Fully Operational within 3 Months
Check Your Company’s Eligibility
Get a free assessment to confirm if your business qualifies for 100% foreign ownership in Saudi Arabia
Apply for Your Saudi Business License
MISA, CR and all required licenses are submitted and processed on your behalf from our local team, ensuring full compliance from the start
Obtain General Manager Visa
Your General Manager's visa process is fast-tracked through us with complete QVP
Activate Bank Account
Open your corporate bank account through AstroLabs network of bank partners
Unlock Your Business Potential with These 3 Stages for Forming and Registering Your Company in Saudi Arabia
1. Establish your entity (Estimated 1 month to complete):
- Obtain a MISA Investor License:
To legally establish your business in Saudi Arabia, you must first obtain a one-year license from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) - Name Reservation:
Reserve your company's name with the relevant authority. - Draft Local Articles of Association (AoA):
Draft and notarize your Articles of Association (AoA). The Articles of Association template is set up by law and companies are only able to adjust their general manager’s powers. - Commercial Registration (CR):
Obtain your Commercial Registration (CR) certificate which officially recognizes your company as a legal entity in Saudi Arabia. - Chamber of Commerce (CoC) Registration:
Finally, you must register with the Chamber of Commerce (CoC).
2. Authorization to Recruit (Estimated 2 months to complete):
- Obtain a Company seal:
Procure a company seal that includes your CR number and company name. - Register with The Ministry of Labor and GOSI:
Register with the Ministry of Labor and enroll in the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) to be able to hire and manage staff in KSA. - Register a National Address: By registering your company’s physical location in KSA, it will be listed in the national database for legal correspondence.
- Issue a GM Visa:
The next step is securing a visa for your General Manager (GM) of your new entity based in Saudi. - Finally for this phase:
Registration with the General Authority of Zakat and Tax (GAZT) and VAT registration.
3. Visa Process and Opening a Corporate Bank Account (Estimated 3 months to complete):
- Activate the Chamber of Commerce (CoC) Account
- Issuing the General Manager’s Iqama: Obtain health insurance for the GM, schedule the GM's medical check-up (the GM must visit KSA for this step), and secure the GM's Iqama.
- Register with the Muqeem portal for streamlined visa and residency management
- Register with the Absher portal for an array of e-government services
- Register with the Qiwa portal for business services designed for SMEs
- Register with the Mudad Portal to manage essential municipal services for your company
- Open a Corporate Bank account
Choose the Right Company Structure for Your Business Setup in Saudi Arabia
A successful business setup in Saudi Arabia starts with selecting the right legal structure. Whether you're launching a startup or expanding a global brand, the entity type you choose will impact ownership, operations, and compliance.
Here are the most common options:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC):
A go-to structure for business setup in Saudi Arabia, especially for foreign investors. Offers flexibility and liability protection and allows full foreign ownership in many sectors. - Branch of a Foreign Company:
Perfect for established businesses looking to enter the Saudi market under their existing brand and structure. - Joint Stock Company:
Best suited for larger operations planning to raise capital or go public. - Sole Establishment:
Ideal for individual entrepreneurs in sectors that allow 100% foreign ownership.
Company Formation in Saudi Arabia for Foreigners:
Company formation in Saudi Arabia for foreigners has become easier and more accessible than ever, with various benefits, including:
- 100% foreign ownership in most sectors
- Fast-track MISA licensing
- Strong demand in tech, consulting, retail, and industrial sectors
- Strategic location for regional expansion
- Residency and visa services for founders and team members
Checkout- Business setup in Saudi from US and Company formation in Saudi from UK
AstroLabs supports various types of Saudi business licenses based on your industry and business model. Here’s a list of the key license categories:
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What’s Included in Your Business Setup
Complete Authority Liaison
Seamless government coordination
100% Foreign Ownership
Full control of your Saudi entity
Compliance Support
Ongoing PRO, GRO, and HR services
Critical Elements Every Business Must Know Before Entering Saudi Arabia
Key Requirements for Company Formation in Saudi Arabia
Below is the list of documents required to initiate the company setup process:
For Startups
- Commercial Registration (attested by MOFA and the Saudi Embassy)
- Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (attested by MOFA and the Saudi Embassy)
- A letter of intent, startup brief, and pitch deck
- A support letter from a VC firm or a licensed incubator
For Established Businesses
- Commercial Registration (attested by MOFA and the Saudi Embassy)
- Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (attested by MOFA and the Saudi Embassy)
- An audited financial statement
Costs of Setting Up a Business in Saudi Arabia
Incorporation/Setup Costs: Approximately SAR 550,000 ($146,700) for the first year, including labor, office, compliance, and services.
Breakdown of Key Cost Items:
- Company formation via service provider: SAR 150,000 ($40,000)
- Hiring a GM and one Saudi national: SR375,000 ($100,000).
- Securing a co-working space: SAR 20,000 ($5000)
- Compliance & renewal costs (licenses, government portals): SAR 75,000
- Third-party services (accounting, payroll, PRO): SAR 25,000 ($20,000)
Taxation:
- VAT: 15%
- Corporate tax (for non-Saudis): 20%
- Withholding taxes: 5‑20%
How to Open a Business Bank Account in Saudi Arabia
Opening a corporate bank account is a required part of establishing a fully compliant and operational business in Saudi Arabia. Discover the key documents you’ll need to ensure a smooth account opening process.
Documentation Requirements
To open a corporate account, you generally need:
Primary business documents
- MISA (Ministry of Investment) license
- Commercial Registration (CR) of the Saudi entity
- Proof of national address
- VAT certificate
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (AOA), including a resolution or power of attorney for account signatories
Personal documents
- Iqama (residency permit) of the General Manager
- Physical IDs (for Saudis/GCC nationals)
- Saudi SIM card tied to authorized signatories’ IDs
Parent company documents (if foreign-owned)
- Attested Articles of Association/Memorandum
- Active and attested parent company commercial license
- Ownership structure chart (names, passports, nationalities, ownership percentages)
- IDs of shareholders/beneficial owners
Timeline & Funding
- Opening a business account typically takes 1–4 weeks, depending on the complexity of your company structure.
- After approval, you typically need to fund the account within 60 days or risk account closure.
- For foreign businesses, the minimum capital requirement is SAR 25,000.
Who We Help?
AstroLabs and SAB partnered to launch a streamlined market-entry solution for international firms – integrating company setup, ecosystem access, and banking infrastructure.
AstroLabs launched a digital banking apprenticeship within BSF, embedding tech-trained juniors into the bank. The program featured 10 participants and resulted in multiple hires.
Structured innovation program that engaged MAF’s business units with 14 selected startups out of 196 applications – driving digital transformation and internal innovation pipelines.
Unlock your business potential with these 3 stages for forming and registering your company in Saudi Arabia
1. Establish your entity (Estimated 1 month to complete):
- Obtain a MISA Investor License:
To legally establish your business in Saudi Arabia, you must first obtain a one-year license from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) - Name Reservation:
Reserve your company's name with the relevant authority. - Draft Local Articles of Association (AoA):
Draft and notarize your Articles of Association (AoA). The Articles of Association template is set up by law and companies are only able to adjust their general manager’s powers. - Commercial Registration (CR):
Obtain your Commercial Registration (CR) certificate which officially recognizes your company as a legal entity in Saudi Arabia. - Chamber of Commerce (CoC) Registration:
Finally, you must register with the Chamber of Commerce (CoC).
2. Authorization to Recruit (Estimated 2 months to complete):
- Obtain a Company seal:
Procure a company seal that includes your CR number and company name. - Register with The Ministry of Labor and GOSI:
Register with the Ministry of Labor and enroll in the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) to be able to hire and manage staff in KSA. - Register a National Address:
By registering your company’s physical location in KSA, it will be listed in the national database for legal correspondence. - Issue a GM Visa:
The next step is securing a visa for your General Manager (GM) of your new entity based in Saudi. - Finally for this phase:
Registration with the General Authority of Zakat and Tax (GAZT) and VAT registration.
3. Visa Process and Opening a Corporate Bank Account (Estimated 3 months to complete):
- Activate the Chamber of Commerce (CoC) Account
- Issuing the General Manager’s Iqama: Obtain health insurance for the GM, schedule the GM's medical check-up (the GM must visit KSA for this step), and secure the GM's Iqama.
- Register with the Muqeem portal for streamlined visa and residency management
- Register with the Absher portal for an array of e-government services
- Register with the Qiwa portal for business services designed for SMEs
- Register with the Mudad Portal to manage essential municipal services for your company
- Open a Corporate Bank account
Choose the Right Company Structure for Your Business Setup in Saudi Arabia
A successful business setup in Saudi Arabia starts with selecting the right legal structure. Whether you're launching a startup or expanding a global brand, the entity type you choose will impact ownership, operations, and compliance.
Here are the most common options:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC):
A go-to structure for business setup in Saudi Arabia, especially for foreign investors. Offers flexibility, liability protection, and allows full foreign ownership in many sectors. - Branch of a Foreign Company:
Perfect for established businesses looking to enter the Saudi market under their existing brand and structure. - Joint Stock Company:
Best suited for larger operations planning to raise capital or go public. - Sole Establishment:
Ideal for individual entrepreneurs in sectors that allow 100% foreign ownership.
Company Formation in Saudi Arabia for Foreigners:
Company formation in Saudi Arabia for foreigners has become easier and more accessible than ever, with benefits like-
- 100% foreign ownership in most sectors
- Fast-track MISA licensing
- Strong demand in tech, consulting, retail, and industrial sectors
- Strategic location for regional expansion
- Residency and visa services for founders and team members
Checkout- Business setup in Saudi from US and Company formation in Saudi from UK
AstroLabs supports various types of Saudi business licenses based on your industry and business model. Here’s a list of the key license categories:
AstroLabs was Wa'ed's suggestion as the go-to-market entry partner in KSA. The team at AstroLabs had in-depth knowledge about the Kingdom's procedures and the newly issued laws and enabled a very efficient and effective expansion for us.
Michael de Lagarde
CEO
We were attracted by the team’s turnkey solution and how helpful they were. The team has been nothing short of wonderful. Not only were they exceptionally professional, responsive and thorough, but they consistently went above and beyond to help us, particularly during COVID. I am so impressed.
Michael de Lagarde
CEO
AstroLabs is proactive and highly responsive, they drive tasks and take ownership over the process. As a Saudi market entry partner, they facilitated and supported our company towards achieving our goals of establishing our entity in KSA and beyond.
Michael de Lagarde
CEO
We had a unique experience with AstroLabs, we engaged with them a long time ago because Saudi has always been our target market, Faloos was built for the Saudi market and we wanted local support. We understood the value of having people on the ground, and knew the people that would help move us forward with our process.
Michael de Lagarde
CEO
AstroLabs provided invaluable support in our strategic entry into Saudi, which is one of the largest markets in MENA. PRO work can look complicated, but with the help of their on-ground specialists, AstroLabs made our whole expansion journey quick and efficient. They simplified the process remarkably.
Michael de Lagarde
CEO
AstroLabs are the perfect partners to launch your business in Saudi. They set-up our company and got us the needed residency for our team. They understood our priorities and made sure that the job was done on time. We highly recommend them.
Michael de Lagarde
CEO
I would recommend any company that is looking to expand to Saudi to find a local market entry partner like AstroLabs who can identify the needs from the authorities and use their local know-how to fast-track the process of expansion for businesses.
Michael de Lagarde
CEO
I want to praise the excellent work AstroLabs did in issuing my Iqama and finalizing the rest of the company setup in the Kingdom. I know how tedious the process is but with the AstroLabs know-how, patience, agility, and connections within the ecosystem.
Michael de Lagarde
CEO
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Insights & Resources
Stay updated with the latest market trends and business insights
Reports
February 24, 2025
First Business Success Index Reveals Factors for Thriving in Saudi Arabia
The updated 2025 report draws on 1,200+ international companies to introduce the first Saudi Success Index, identifying localization, compliance, and market integration as top success drivers, while urgency to enter increased by 33% YoY.
Reports
February 7, 2024
Business Expansion Activity Across Saudi Arabia Sees 4X Increase Since 2018
The 2023 Saudi Market Entry Report analyzed responses from 660 high-growth firms, revealing a fourfold acceleration in market entry timelines (from 8–12 months down to ~2 months), and that 91% of entrants hire local talent within 4 months.
Reports
November 25, 2024
Saudi Construction Sector Guidebook: 30+ Regulations, Licenses & Key Stakeholders Mapped
AstroLabs releases the first comprehensive guide to Saudi Arabia’s construction sector, outlining over 30 regulatory requirements, licensing steps, and key public and private stakeholders. Designed for local and international players, this guide simplifies entry into one of the Kingdom’s fastest-growing industries and aligns with Vision 2030 development priorities.
News & Media
June 16, 2025
UK’s NayaOne Enters Saudi Market with AstroLabs
Announcement of the first fully Saudi‑hosted NayaOne platform, accelerating fintech sandbox deployments in weeks and reinforcing UK–Saudi digital collaboration.
News & Media
June 26, 2025
Italy’s PRONUR Enters Saudi Arabia with AstroLabs
PRONUR, a renewable energy engineering firm, enters KSA with AstroLabs support—aligning with Vision 2030’s energy diversification and sustainability targets.
News & Media
May 26, 2025
AstroLabs and SAB Accelerate Expansion Opportunities in Saudi
AstroLabs partners with Saudi Awwal Bank to offer integrated market entry support—including licensing, financing, and compliance—aimed at fast-growing international companies.
Guides
December 9, 2024
Company Formation in Saudi Arabia in 2025: A Full Guide
This comprehensive, step-by-step guide covers entity selection, licensing options, document requirements, and setup workflows for companies entering the Saudi market in 2025.
Guides
December 15, 2024
How to Get a Foreign Investment (MISA) License in Saudi Arabia
A clear walkthrough of obtaining foreign investment licenses—covering license types, entity structures, required documentation, and application processes.
Guides
November 29, 2024
Vision 2030 Goal Surpassed: 540+ Firms Gain RHQ License in Saudi
Over 540 global businesses have set up their Regional Headquarters in Saudi—surpassing the 2030 target early—highlighting the RHQ incentives such as 0% withholding tax and Saudization exemptions.
Webinars
November 26, 2025
How to Win Projects in Saudi: Bidding and Tendering Process
Join us for an insightful session focused on how to win governmental projects in Saudi Arabia by navigating the bidding and tendering process. Our experts will walk through the key tender platforms, registration steps, required documents, and practical tips to increase your chances of winning bids.
We’ll end with an open Q&A, so you can ask your specific questions and better understand how to approach tenders in Saudi Arabia.
Webinars
November 12, 2025
Saudi Business Expansion: 2025 Recap and What’s Ahead in 2026
Get ready to unlock the Saudi market! Join us as we dive into the biggest trends, opportunities, and lessons from 2025, and explore what’s on the horizon for 2026. Our experts will share insider tips on market entry, winning strategies, and building a strong local presence.
Whether you’re planning to expand to Saudi Arabia or aiming to grow your existing footprint, this webinar will give you actionable insights to stay ahead. Stick around for the live Q&A to get your burning questions answered and take your expansion plans to the next level!
Webinars
October 29, 2025
Saudi Business Registration: Advantages of Having a Local Entity
Join our bite-sized webinar, featuring a fireside chat with two of our experts as they explore the benefits of establishing a local entity in Saudi Arabia. Learn why having a local presence is crucial for winning contracts, attracting clients, and building a strong regional network.
Webinars
September 17, 2025
Navigating Saudi Regulations: A Guide to 100% Foreign-Owned Entities
Join us for an insightful webinar where we explore the regulatory landscape of expanding your business to Saudi Arabia, with a focus on setting up 100% foreign-owned entities. Learn about the step-by-step setup process, explore the different types of licenses available, and uncover the top five success factors for market entry. Gain valuable insights and expert guidance to ensure a smooth, compliant, and successful entry into the Saudi market.