Professional License in Saudi Arabia
Launch your legal, engineering, architecture, or consulting firm in Saudi Arabia with 100% ownership. AstroLabs provides comprehensive setup support.
Establish a Consultancy or Advisory Practice with 100% Ownership
The Professional License, issued by the Ministry of Investment (MISA), enables individuals and firms to offer specialized professional services in Saudi Arabia covering legal, accounting, tax, engineering, architectural, and advisory disciplines. The license reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to attracting international expertise and enhancing service quality across key economic sectors, and encourages foreign professionals to set up their business in Saudi Arabia. This license is a powerful entry point for foreign professionals and firms looking to establish a presence in the rapidly growing Saudi services market.
License Information: Professional License in KSA
Foreign professionals seeking to operate in Saudi Arabia under a professional license span a wide range of sectors, and offer different structures, ownerships and requirements.
Who Should Apply for the Professional License?
Law Firms & Legal Practitioners: Legal professionals and firms offering consultancy must also obtain Ministry of Justice approval. Engineering & Architectural Consultancies: Firms in these fields can apply under two pathways: with a local partner or, for 100% foreign ownership, meet higher investment and experience thresholds. Tax, Accounting & Advisory Firms: Include services such as audit, financial advisory, tax consultancy, and more. Specialist Consultancy Practices: Covering marine, mining, environmental, technical, and business consulting fields.
License Structure & Ownership Options
Option A: With Saudi Partner Requires minimum 25% Saudi ownership, fulfilled by an experienced local partner. Suitable for professional practices looking for market entry with local expertise. Option B: 100% Foreign Ownership (Engineering Firms Only) To qualify for full ownership, engineering firms must meet all the following criteria: Operate at least four international branches Have share capital of SAR 10 million in one branch Maintain a minimum of 7 years’ professional experience
Requirements & Documentation
1. Commercial Registration (CR) copy, duly certified by Saudi Embassy 2. Last-year financial statements, embassy-certified 3. Partner/company professional licenses (engineer, lawyer, etc.) 4. For imports/exports, endorsement from relevant bodies (e.g., Ministry of Justice for lawyers) 5. For full ownership route: proof of 4 international branches, SAR 10 million capital, and 7 years' experience
Company Formation in Saudi Arabia: Step-by-Step Process
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.
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 | | | | |