Here’s a general timeline for company registration in Saudi Arabia, broken down by steps and estimated durations. This applies to foreign investors setting up an LLC or branch office under the Ministry of Investment (MISA): For more information please visit Company formation in saudi arabia

1. Pre-Registration Preparation (1–2 Weeks)

  • Choose business structure: LLC, branch, joint stock, etc.
  • Reserve trade name via Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
  • Gather required documents: Parent company docs (if foreign), passport copies, articles of association, etc.
  • Notarize and legalize documents in home country and Saudi embassy.

2. MISA Investment License (2–3 Weeks)

  • Apply for the investment license via MISA (formerly SAGIA).
  • Submit legalized corporate documents and feasibility study.
  • Wait for license issuance (digital process has improved efficiency).

3. Commercial Registration (CR) – Ministry of Commerce (1 Week)

  • Apply for Commercial Registration (CR) once MISA license is approved.
  • Submit articles of association and board resolutions.
  • The CR will officially establish your company.

4. Municipality License (1–2 Weeks)

  • Apply for the municipal license (Baladiya license) based on office location.
  • Required for setting up physical premises.
  • Lease contract verification by the Municipality.

5. Chamber of Commerce Registration (1–3 Days)

  • Mandatory membership to activate your company’s CR.

6. Tax Registration with ZATCA (2–5 Days)

  • Register for:
    • VAT (if annual turnover exceeds SAR 375,000)
    • Zakat & income tax
    • Withholding tax account if applicable.

7. GOSI & Labor File Setup (1 Week)

  • Register with:
    • GOSI (General Organization for Social Insurance)
    • Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development (HRSD) to create a labor file.
    • Required to hire employees and apply for work visas.

8. Bank Account Opening (1–3 Weeks)

  • After CR and other documents are available.
  • Deposit the required capital (if any) into the account.
  • KYC can cause delays due to stringent banking regulations.

Total Estimated Timeline: 6 to 10 Weeks

This may vary depending on:

  • Type of company (LLC vs branch)
  • Whether the investor is local or foreign
  • Completeness of documentation
  • Office lease availability
  • Holiday periods (e.g., Ramadan, Hajj)