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.
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 investmen.
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.