From India to Saudi Arabia
Business Setup in Saudi Arabia from India
Set up your business in Saudi Arabia with a tailored, step-by-step guide designed for Indian companies.
Company Formation from India to Saudi Arabia in Sector-Specific Markets
Expand Your Indian Business to the Kingdom with Confidence: AstroLabs supports Indian companies through out their journey of company formation in Saudi Arabia, from obtaining your MISA license to managing commercial registration, business licensing, and workforce compliance, with localized support at every stage.
Expanding Your Business from India to Saudi Arabia in Sector-Specific Markets
India and Saudi Arabia maintain strong and steadily growing bilateral ties, with trade spanning key sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and advanced technologies. In FY 2024–25, total India, Saudi trade reached approximately US $41.88 billion, comprising $11.76 billion in Indian exports and $30.12 billion in imports.
Construction & Engineering
With $1.2 trillion in real estate and infrastructure projects underway, Saudi Arabia is actively inviting foreign contractors and project managers. Indian EPC firms and suppliers are increasingly securing contracts by setting up Saudi legal entities with commercial activity licenses.
Information Technology
Saudi Arabia’s IT market is expected to reach $76 billion by 2029. Indian tech companies are in high demand, particularly for AI, big data, and cybersecurity solutions. Securing the right MISA license for tech activities enables fast market entry
Healthcare & Pharma
The Kingdom’s healthcare sector is expanding rapidly. Indian pharma and medtech companies are setting up local distribution arms through commercial registration and sector-specific business licenses.
Company Formation in Saudi Arabia from India: Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Prepare Company Documents
Start by gathering essential documents, including:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (MoA and AoA)
- Audited financial statements
- Board resolution to expand into Saudi Arabia
These documents must be legalized and translated into Arabic.
Step 2: Obtain MISA License
Apply for an investment license from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA). This step officially allows your foreign entity to operate in the Kingdom.
Step 3: Register with Government Entities
You'll need to complete registration with multiple Saudi governmental bodies:
- Ministry of Commerce (MoC) - for commercial registration
- Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority - for tax compliance
- General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI)
- Chamber of Commerce
- Saudi Post - to obtain a national address
You’ll also need to choose a physical office space to meet the national address requirement.
Step 4: National Address Management:
Ensuring accurate updates and renewals on the SPL portal.
Step 5: Appoint a General Manager and Obtain an Iqama
Foreign companies in Saudi Arabia must register on core platforms to ensure legal compliance:
- Muqeem: employee sponsorship management
- Absher: government services portal
- Qiwa: workforce management
Mudad: wage protection and payroll compliance
Step 6: Open a Corporate Bank Account
Once your business is legally registered and operational, open a Saudi corporate bank account to handle transactions, payroll, and vendor payments.
Step 7: Hire and Issue Visas
Hire local employees in line with Saudi Arabia’s Saudization (Nitaqat) quota system. For international hires, you’ll need to issue work visas under the company’s sponsorship.
Avoid Common Cases of Non-Compliance in Saudi Arabia with AstroLabs’ GRO Solutions
Missed Deadlines
Fines and delays from late renewals or submissions
Operational Interruptions
Incomplete or outdated official documents causing business interruptions
Amendment Needs
Challenges in updating business activities, management structures, or shareholder details
Portal Issues
Delayed updates to key government platforms like SPL or CoC
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 | | | | |