Registering a Company in Saudi Arabia | MISA (SAGIA) License KSA

KSA Company Setup & Registration

Sovereign PPG provide professional consultancy and step-by-step guidance on the incorporation process in Saudi. Ensuring good corporate governance from the outset and providing advice on the common pitfalls to be avoided.

The main steps to consider are primary and secondary registrations, residency (Iqama) for the General Manager, authorisation to hire employees and bank account opening. We can support with the entire process including the initial legalisation and attestation of the required documents at the Saudi Embassy in the foreign investor’s country, right through to the issuance of the Commercial Registration and entity portal registrations in-Kingdom.

Why Incorporate in Saudi Arabia with us?

Our physical presence in the Kingdom, together with our strong regional presence across the Gulf region – in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha and Muscat – and our global office network spanning Europe, Asia and Africa, has enabled us to assist businesses from five continents to set up and deliver on their commercial plans in the Saudi market.

What are the Company Types possible in Saudi Arabia?

Commercial registration (and supporting licences) is issued by the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia (MISA) and the Ministry of Commerce (MoC). MISA, which was formerly
Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), facilitates investment opportunities for foreign and local businesses and individuals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As MISA is the registration authority, business licenses in Saudi Arabia can often be referred to as a MISA license or a SAGIA license.

Registration through MISA (SAGIA) is the first step in setting up a business in Saudi Arabia. Essentially, MISA is the gateway to recognition and permission to operate in the Kingdom. MISA’s primary goal is to facilitate and encourage both foreign and local investment.

The principal business entities in the Kingdom include Limited Liability Company (LLC), Joint Stock Company (JSC) and Branch of a foreign entity. However, the most common is the Limited Liability Company (LLC) for which 100% Foreign Ownership is permissible through MISA.

It is the most popular form of legal entity and attracts the most interest and traction from foreign investors. Why? Because 100% Foreign Ownership is applicable from day one. This makes it appealing to foreign investors, benchmarked against other 100% Foreign Owned initiatives in the wider GCC region. However, some activities e.g. Engineering & Consultancy do require a Saudi National Shareholder to be active in the business and become a true 25% Shareholder.

MISA recognises the following legal entities:

5 KSA Entity Types

Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the Gulf region and is becoming an increasing viable destination for foreign investors and companies to expand into to take advantage of the growing Saudi market.

Recent regulatory changes in the Kingdom have also significantly increased the attractiveness for companies to set up - allowing 100% foreign ownership through the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) platform.

This process, however, can be arduous and time consuming and using a Corporate Service Provider based in the Kingdom that can oversee the formation from initial registration to full operation will save time and money whilst the business concentrates on its expansion objectives and strategy. PRO Partner Group have their own on the ground PRO and Operations support service team to assist with all critical government registrations and industry sector specific regulatory approvals and well versed to assist fully in the KSA company formation process.

Limited Liability Co (LLC) - 100% foreign ownership permissible through MISA

A limited liability company (LLC) is popular among foreign investors into Saudi Arabia (KSA), individual personal liability for each shareholder is limited to their contribution to the share capital.

A LLC is one of the most common forms of legal entity opted for by foreign investors when making market entry to the Kingdom and is well regarded and widely used.

The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) offers foreign ownership of a company in the KSA without a local partner and minimal government restriction. MISA registration/license is required for a business to establish with 100% foreign ownership in Saudi Arabia. Read more

Limited liability One-Person Company

It is now possible to setup a Single Shareholder Limited Liability Company in Saudi Arabia (KSA) – meaning that a limited liability company (LLC) can be formed by a single shareholder who holds 100% of the shares, has the rights and powers of the General Manager, Board of Directors and Shareholders General Assembly. This also means that the liability of the company lies with the individual shareholder, limited to their contribution to the share capital – assuming their intentions and practices are appropriate. Read more

Joint Stock Company in KSA

A Joint Stock Company (JSC) is likely the most regulated company type in Saudi Arabia (KSA). Through regulatory requirements for incorporation and the degree of control/involvement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). The liability of a JSC lies with each shareholder, limited to their contribution to the share capital. Read more

Foreign company branch set up in KSA

These branches are considered to be an extension of their parent company. Branches can be established relatively quickly in comparison to LLCs and JSCs.

A branch can be permitted by MISA licensing to perform a full range of activities. The branch can engage in both public and private sector projects and can promote/solicit its MISA licensed activity throughout the Kingdom. Otherwise, branches are not allowed to conduct promotion, marketing or trading activity. Read more

Solidarity professional company / Sole Establishment in KSA

A sole establishment/proprietorship in Saudi Arabia (KSA) is referred to as an establishment.

This company type is suitable for small businesses. An establishment has an individual/sole trader, who has unlimited personal liability for the business and the licence is issued in their name – a company or corporate body cannot own the business. The sole proprietorship is not a legal entity and refers to the business owner who is personally liable. Read more

Download our below free guide on setting up and Doing Business in Saudi Arabia:

Testimonials

PRO Partner Group and their team have good experience in their field and are always reachable and there to support, we would recommend them for your company's needs.

FIFA

I greatly appreciated the professionality, efficiency, kindness, understanding, patience, and great team spirit displayed by the PPG team. A special mention to Ms. Jade Wong and Ms. Roxanne Villar who were my points of contact. The team promptly answered all my questions and provided sound advice and reliable contacts for further business support. I highly recommend working with PPG. You will receive a personal, practical, efficient, very professional service.

Frinsa del Noroeste

I would highly recommend using PRO Partner Group for company incorporation in Qatar. The PRO Partner Group team communicated with me in a timely and professional manner. I look forward to a long working relationship with the PPG/VPQ team. Abdullah Aksakal General Manager & Owner

Coffee Down Under Qatar

PRO Partner Group provide a bespoke, timely and professional service. They have consistently supported Hertel in all of our business requirements in a very timely and professional manner. All emails are responded in matter of hours, excellent!

AMB Hertel

PRO Partner Group are an excellent partner for new companies in Qatar. A special mention to Paulina and Nadia for being particularly great in responding to all emails and phone calls. Their communication is excellent and provided clarity around technical matters.

WSG Technical Services

Always professional and excellent service, I highly recommend the PRO Partner Group team for all business set up and visa services.

Shaw Contract

We have experienced fast and professional service from the team at PRO Partner Group - their staff always provide competent and on-time replies to queries

Field International Middle East

PRO Partner Group is an extremely competent organisation, that understands the process of setting up a company in the region, and can alleviate the pains of trying to do it on your own. The team involved was extremely well informed and provided prompt service to all inquiries.

AMETEK GmbH

I was extremely satisfied with the service provided by PRO Partner Group; they always provided quick and friendly responses and were very patient as I had (and have) so many questions being new to having a business in the UAE. If you would like to start a company in the UAE then you can find no better resource than PPG! I highly recommend their services.

Breathe Yoga

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Golden State Foods

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Coffey

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Hydraulic Analysis Group

PRO Partner Group were able to provide excellent guidance and support to us as we established our new company in Abu Dhabi. At every step we were given detailed information by their knowledgeable team which gave us full confidence in their abilities and the peace of mind we needed.

WJ Groundwater Abu Dhabi

We are extremely satisfied with the level of service PRO Partner Group provided for our company registration and business set up. Communication was always on point with very fast and concise responses. We would definitely recommend PRO Partner Group to anyone who wants to form a business in the UAE.

Global Tech Hub

We were very satisfied with the service provided by PRO Partner Group. They were very professional and reliable and offered fast and efficient processing of all documents. We would use the service again in the future and would highly recommend PRO Partner Group.

Harley Street Medical Centre

We have had a good experience with PRO Partner Group. Communication from them has always been a strong point and they completed tasks in a timely manner. Their process is also very user friendly for expat companies. We would recommend any expat company looking to set-up in the region contact PRO Partner Group.

WT Partnership

I’m really pleased with all aspects of the PRO services delivered by PRO Partner Group for our company. The service offered was faultless and I am extremely satisfied with the delivery of our visa applications. The team were dedicated to our needs and have become a trusted partner.

GMCS

PRO Partner Group have been great to work alongside and have always been very proactive and informative during the setup of our company in Abu Dhabi and the transfer of ownership of our Dubai company. They are always quick to answer our enquiries and provide thorough feedback when required. PRO Partner Group have offered the most professional PRO and company formation services that I have experienced in the GCC region, I see a great future for PRO Partner Group and they come highly recommended.

Survival Systems International

We had an excellent experience with PRO Partner Group. The team were tremendously knowledgeable and communicated with us throughout every step of the process. We were extremely pleased with the speed of conversion and will certainly recommend PRO Partner Group!

Ischebeck Titan

Despite setting up a company in the UAE being time consuming and laborious, PRO Partner Group are professional in their approach and offer great support throughout the process. The team is highly proactive and knowledgeable, offering effective advice and finding solutions to issues faced throughout the process. PRO Partner Group offers valuable support to businesses setting up in the UAE, I would definitely recommend them.

Cru Wine Holdings

The service which PRO Partner Group offered was beyond our expectations, the team are very attentive and professional. PRO Partner Group are great to work with and are highly knowledgeable in their field. Overall, we had a very efficient and pleasing experience.

ShawContract

PRO Partner Group is knowledgeable, professional and responsive. The team always provide a detailed response to emails and calls and completed tasks in a timely manner. Amazing service!

Malaak

PRO Partner Group is our PRO Services provider for almost 2 years now and is always prompt in responding to our queries related to Government related transactions. They have been very helpful in various labor and immigration affairs we’ve had and provide the best solution or approach in the most cost effective way. Special thanks to their Government Liaison Specialist, Mary Ann for a job well done and making sure our visas, labor permits, government requirements are completed in a timely manner.”

bfound

Great service, friendly and knowledgeable staff, helped my company with visa applications, trade licence updates and changes, office relocation and many other PRO and company services. Highly recommended.

Thorlux Lighting

PRO Partner Group has been a big help to us in establishing our company in the UAE. PRO Partner Group are always available and attentive to respond to all our queries, highly professional employees had assisted us and are always there to guide us through a potentially complex process. Highly recommended firm to assist on all corporate related works.

EcoRenew Group

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PORR AG

Kaplan Genesis is extremely satisfied with the service provided by PRO Partner Group, Very professional and great customer service and support. Special mention to Libbie (Opperation Manager) who steered our HR Deptartment through over 20 new visa and residency applications, including my own in a personable and very efficient manner. We would highly recommend using the PRO Partner Group to the company looking to get assistance with Company Formation, Government Liaison Services in the UAE

Kaplan Genesis

Working with PRO Partner Group has been an excellent experience. From onboarding them into our company, handing over tasks and formally establishing a working relationship, everyone on their team has been fantastic to work with. I can only recommend them to any small to midsize company in the region trying to get the best HR team possible.

OCS International Finance

PRO Partner Group have been a huge support to me and my business, they’ve not only assisted in the incorporation process of my company in Dubai but also provide on an ongoing basis a fully professional and trusted service covering all areas associated with my company commitments, from providing valuable guidance on the most suitable activity for my business, office search, finding the right local sponsor and handling all of the ongoing post-licensing procedures such as visa applications for me and my team. I would highly recommend PRO Partner Group; they are a very professional and highly recommended company.

Purpose

PRO Partner Group have helped us negotiate the sometimes opaque processes surrounding company set up and registration and at all times have been responsive and efficient. I would highly recommend Pro Partner Group to any other company looking to get assistance with PRO service, Company Formation in the UAE.

Fenergo

PRO Partner Group is well aware about the setup processes and they know what they are doing. They are very efficient and they have a great people working for them. The team is very helpful and they updated me every single step of the way. If you are looking for a premium local partner who is reliable, I would highly recommend PRO Partner Group

Werfen

Group Reel would like to thank PRO Partner Group very much for keeping good cooperation and relationships throughout the year. PRO Partner Group has a wonderful team, who act at a genuine professional level at all times.

Reel

PRO Partner Group has provided excellent support in relation to MRC Global’s Abu Dhabi based entity. Their staff are knowledgeable, professional and helpful and have proven expertise within the areas they cover. We are very pleased with their work.

MRC Global

We are very Thankful to PRO Partner Group and extremely satisfied about the way of processing on the each stage. The team was very helpful and they have done a good job to complete the task within one day. The team went over and above by dropping the documents at our premises. Thank you PRO Partner Group!

RSK

PRO Partner Group offer an extremely excellent, efficient, and professional service. The team were highly knowledgeable and acted very quickly to establish our Foreign Branch Office in Dubai including acquiring all paperwork and visas on time without cutting corners. I highly recommend using their services.

Alger-Triton

PRO Partner Group offered an excellent service they were very professional, efficient, reliable and so friendly. The staff were extremely helpful even on weekends and had a great understanding assessing any issues, managing the full process in a timely manner. Even when it involved areas out of the scope of work for PPG they still assisted and went the extra mile.

Creating Retail Emotions

We experienced a great service very professional with detailed communication throughout each stage of the process. There were a few complications due to the complexity of the set up but not due to PRO Partner Group who handled everything professionally and completed everything in a timely manner.

EFM Global Logistics

We were extremely satisfied with the service at PRO Partner Group. They promptly identified that we were going to use the wrong trade license before meeting them and advised us the correct one to use. This knowledge of the market helped us to be able to do more, save money and operate our business in a better way. Their fast, efficient and a speedy process meant we got our trade license much faster and were up and running in Dubai very quickly. We highly recommend PRO Partner Group.

SampleMe

As well as being easy to reach Pro Partner Group gave us quick and precise answers to all our questions which enabled us to set up our licence in an extremely timely manner. They were very professional but at the same time, able to explain easily the various problems and procedures giving us complete trust. They were pro active in finding a solution to match our needs, giving us a bespoke service and providing us with exactly what we needed. If you are looking for a partner who is serious, honest and consistent, I would highly recommend Pro Partner Group.

SmartPoint

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Altron Middle East

Everyone that we have dealt with at ProPartner Group has excellent knowledge of the process and bureaucracy of dealing with the necessary steps to start a business in the Middle East, making our process run smoothly and giving us trust. We were extremely satisfied with the level of communication they provided as well as the time in which they did it, every inquiry that we had was answered within a 24 hour period. You have to have a “Partner” in the Middle East to navigate the intricacy of business establishment in the U.A.E.and I would highly recommend that it is Pro Partner Group.

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry

We would like to thank you James and your entire team, including Tyron and Shiraz and your accounts department for their splendid work to help us with the required steps to perform all the government related PRO services, not only for doing it in a timely manner, but also for being a class act. We are truly grateful and we will not hesitate to sent you referrals in this regard.“

Inspired Results

Speed and Commitment are the first 2 words that come to mind. Having dealt with a number of Company Formation agents over the years, no one has come close to the knowledge and expertise PRO Partner Group bring to the table. Nothing has ever been too much trouble and their guidance has been invaluable. We fully recommend PRO Partner Group and consider them an asset to our business.

VIVO Sports Group

Bridges Environmental Services LLC engaged PRO Partner Group to undertake their Government Liaison, Labour and Immigration support. They have a team of highly professional individuals and we have been impressed with their speed and attention to detail – particularly with regard to the processes here in Abu Dhabi. We will continue to use PRO Partner Group for our PRO work and I would not hesitate to recommend them to any other company looking to get assistance with Visas, Company Formation and Labour processes here in UAE.

Bridges Environmental Services LLC

PRO Partner Group always tried to find a solution to the obstacles we faced during the incorporation of our Foreign Branch. They were fast to respond on email and always provided updates on the work in progress. If you would like to incorporate a company in the UAE, Pro Partner Group is a reliable entity to work with.

TRACS International Limited

The team at Venture Partner Qatar provided me with consistent professional support throughout the entire company formation process. This included a constant communication channel that allowed me to have access to their team at any time. Their expertise allowed them to provide and implement great solutions to any issues that were faced. If you want to have a peace of mind during the company creation process, then use Venture Partner Qatar.

Sparklean Qatar

Venture Partner Qatar provided a personal approach in helping us open a branch office in Qatar. They implemented solutions that were specific to any issues or tasks that were required, particularly the local difficulties in Qatar. The team promptly replies to all requests in a professional manner. They are a trusted company that provides a wide range of services, and I highly recommend them.

Tunnel Tech

The team at Venture Partner Qatar were extremely accommodating and supportive when we used their services for share transfer and company restructuring in Qatar. VPQ staff were excellent at communicating information through the service, with clear instructions and solid information and next steps. I highly recommend Venture Partner Qatar as they are very professional and provide a great service.