Tourist hospitality facility license

If the investor is from outside the Kingdom, they must obtain an investment license from the Ministry of Investment (MISA). This document is essential because it grants the foreign investor the legal right to invest in the hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia and is a prerequisite for initiating any further procedures.

After initial approval of the application, the investor must register the facility's commercial registry with the Ministry of Commerce. The commercial registry is the facility's legal identity and is necessary for all official transactions with government and financial entities.

After the building is prepared, Civil Defense teams conduct a field inspection to ensure it meets all security, safety, and fire prevention standards, and that all safety systems are operating efficiently. This step is essential to ensure the safety of employees and customers.

Based on the inspection, the municipality or secretariat issues a business license. At the same time, the Civil Defense issues a safety license, two essential operating documents.

This is the starting point. The investor submits a license application through the Ministry of Tourism's electronic system. The application must include all required data and documents, such as a business plan, a building lease or title deed, and technical specifications for the facility.

The investor must register with a number of other government agencies, such as: the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) for employee registration, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), and others.

Investors must submit applications for visas for specialized personnel to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Tourism.

After all requirements have been met and the required documents have been submitted, the Ministry of Tourism issues the facility's final license. This license is the official authorization that allows the facility to begin operating.

After obtaining the license, the facility can officially begin operating and managing tourist hospitality facilities.


After the license expires, the investor must submit a license renewal application through the Ministry of Tourism's electronic system. This step ensures legal continuity of operations and requires compliance with all applicable terms and regulations.