Tourism Business Setup in Saudi Arabia
Learn about the different license types and regulatory requirements for establishing a tourism business in Saudi Arabia.
Starting a Tourism Business in Saudi Arabia
Recognized as the fastest-growing G20 country in the UN World Tourism Barometer, Saudi Arabia welcomed over 116 million visitors in 2024.
With a government target of 150 million annual visitors by 2030, the Kingdom offers unprecedented opportunities for global companies setting up a business in Saudi Arabia.
The 20-Step Roadmap to Tourism Business Setup in Saudi Arabia
Establishing Legal Foundations ( Projected timeline: 1 month)
To establish your business, first obtain a service license from MISA, then reserve your company name and draft the Articles of Association (AoA). Once approved, secure your Commercial Registration (CR) certificate and register with the Chamber of Commerce (CoC) to complete the setup process.
Authorization and Hiring (Projected timeline: 2 months)
Next, obtain a company seal and register with the Ministry of Labor (MoL). Then, enroll with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), secure a national address registration, issue a visa for the General Manager, and complete tax registration to ensure full compliance.
Residency & Banking (4–6 Months)
Finally, activate your Chamber of Commerce (CoC) account, obtain health insurance for the General Manager, and complete their medical check-up. After that, issue the GM’s Iqama (residency permit), register on the Muqeem, Absher, Qiwa, and Mudad portals, and open a corporate bank account with a Saudi bank to begin operations.
Three Essential Licenses
Tourist Accommodation Facilities License
Covers hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, and residential tourism facilities.
Requirements:
- Valid Commercial Registration (CR) with “tourism accommodation operation” and ISIC code
- License from MoMRAH or other competent authority
- Civil Defense permit
- Integration with Shomoos and NTMP guest registration systems
- MEWA approval for agricultural land properties
- National Center for Vegetation Development approval (for vegetation zones)
- Management agreement documentation (for management companies)
Issuance Timeline: 5 days
Travel and Tourism Services License
Required for operating general travel services and tour operations.
Requirements:
- Valid CR including “travel and tourism” activity
- MoMRAH license
- Service provider website registration
Financial Guarantee:
- SAR 800,000 – General Travel & Tourism Services
- SAR 50,000 – Tour Operation Services
(Guarantees must be final, unconditional, issued by a local bank, valid for the license period plus 60 days, and cannot be cancelled without Ministry of Tourism approval.)
Issuance Timeline: 2 days
Touristic Services Office License
For specialized tourism providers offering consultancy, booking, or related services.
Requirements:
- CR registration
- MoMRAH approval
- Website registration
Financial Guarantee:
- SAR 800,000 – General Services
- SAR 50,000 – Tour Operation Services
Issuance Timeline: 2 days
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 | | | | |