Setting up a company in Saudi Arabia means working with several authorities. Each one has its own portal and its own part of the process. This guide explains who they are, so the steps make sense before you start.
Who does what
-
MISA Ministry of Investment (Invest Saudi)
Issues the investment licence for companies with foreign owners
-
SBC Saudi Business Center
Trade names, Articles of Association and commercial registration
-
ZATCA Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority
VAT and zakat registration, e-invoicing, filings
-
GOSI General Organization for Social Insurance
Social insurance for your employees
-
Qiwa Ministry of Human Resources platform
Labour file, contracts and work permits
-
Muqeem Residency services
Iqamas and visas for foreign staff
-
National Address Saudi Post
Your company’s official address
-
Balady Ministry of Municipalities
Municipal licence for your premises
In what order
The usual order for a foreign-owned limited liability company. Each step links to its own guide.
- 1 Investment licence MISA
- 2 Trade name reservation SBC
- 3 Articles of Association SBC
- 4 Commercial registration SBC
- 5 VAT and zakat registration ZATCA
- 6 Social insurance GOSI
- 7 Labour file Qiwa
- 8 Company address National Address
- 9 Municipal licence Balady
Foreign-owned or Saudi-owned
The main difference is at the start.
With a foreign owner
- Investment licence from MISA comes first
- Home-country documents may need attestation
- Then the same SBC steps as everyone else
Saudi-owned
- No investment licence needed
- Sign in with Nafath
- Start directly with the trade name at SBC
To confirm After registration
Registration is the start. These come next, and some repeat every year.
- ZATCA VAT returns and zakat filings on fixed dates
- GOSI Registering every employee you hire
- Muqeem Renewing Iqamas for foreign staff
- Balady Renewing your municipal licence
- SBC Confirming your commercial registration each year
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting a step before the one it depends on — for example, Articles of Association before the trade name is reserved
- Letting a trade name reservation expire before registration
- Using different spellings of owners’ names across documents
Related guides
See the steps for your company
Answer a few questions and Platform builds your route.
Start company setup 
