Consulting Business Setup in Saudi Arabia
Discover the registration requirements and key steps to navigate the setup process in the Kingdom's rapidly growing consulting sector.
Kickstart Your Consulting Business in Saudi Arabia
With Vision 2030 driving diversification across sectors, Saudi Arabia offers consulting firms abundant opportunities to support government initiatives, private sector growth, and mega-project development.
Foreign consultants setting up a business in Saudi Arabia can leverage their global expertise to tap into the Kingdom's expanding professional services market, contributing to strategic planning, operational excellence, and sustainable growth across industries.
Why Global Firms Are Flocking to Saudi Arabia’s IT Consulting Sector
Market Size
Saudi Arabia’s ICT sector is the largest in MENA, exceeding $48B in 2024.
Government Investment
Over $24.8B invested in digital infrastructure in the past six years, with more multibillion-dollar projects underway
Vision 2030 Impact
The Kingdom aims to expand the IT sector by 50% and add SAR 50B ($11B) to GDP by 2030.
AI Economy Growth
AI is projected to contribute $135B to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030.
The Setup Process
First Stage: Legal Entity Establishment (1 Month)
- Obtain a MISA Investor License (valid for one year)
- Reserve company name
- Draft & notarize Articles of Association (AoA)
- Secure Commercial Registration (CR) from the Ministry of Commerce
- Register with the Chamber of Commerce (CoC)
Second Stage: Authorization & Hiring (2–3 Months)
- Obtain the official company seal
- Register with the Ministry of Labor
- Enroll with GOSI for employee insurance
- Register the business National Address
- Issue a General Manager (GM) visa
- Register with ZATCA for VAT compliance
Key Compliance Areas
Tax Filing with ZATCA
File your annual tax returns through ZATCA (formerly GAZT) to remain compliant with Saudi tax regulations.
Business License Renewals
Be vigilant about renewing your Commercial Registration (CR), MISA license, and the GM’s Iqama, as well as any other required approvals.
Government Platform Management
Keep your accounts active and updated on Muqeem, Qiwa, and Mudad platforms to ensure smooth compliance and reporting
Payroll and HR Compliance
Regularly report payroll and social insurance obligations, keeping salary records and GOSI registrations current.
Saudization (Nitaqat) Requirements
You must meet local hiring (Saudization) targets based on your industry and company size. Failing to comply can lead to restrictions or operational penalties.
AstroLabs Advantage
| Offering | AstroLabs | Corporate Services Companies offering PRO & GRO | Law Firms | In-House |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40+ on-ground local team of experts |  |  | | |
| Government portal management and compliance support | | | | |
| Full management of your company licenses and certificates | | | | |
| Management of registered employees across the employee journey, from hiring to ongoing management | | | | |
| Full suite of support: PRO, GRO, HRs support and access to a pool of Saudi talent | | | | |
| National Address Registration with varied coworking and private office locations | | | | |
| Seamlessly manage GRO services online using a digital platform | | | | |
| Corporate bank account opening | | | | |
| Access to a community of 700+ high-growth businesses in Saudi Arabia | | | | |
| Extended media and exposure support through press releases, social media coverage and articles | | | | |
| Opportunity-matchmaking with potential partners in governmental entities and corporates | | | | |
| Access to global and regional events such as BIBAN, LEAP, Seamless, etc | | | | |