Steps for obtaining an industrial facility license in cities in the absence of an existing building, highlighting the relevant steps.

Therefore, the steps will be mentioned in order to obtain the required license.

This is the first step that the investor must take. The application is submitted through the "Sanaii" platform of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. The application must include a preliminary project plan, including the type of product, expected production capacity, and the economic and technical feasibility. This step serves as a declaration of the investor's intention to establish an industrial facility.

If the investor is a non-Saudi (foreigner), they must obtain a foreign investment license from the Saudi Ministry of Investment (MISA) before initiating any further procedures. This license is granted to the foreign investor to conduct an investment activity in the Kingdom and is a prerequisite for the remaining steps.

After initial approval of the project, the investor must register their establishment as an independent legal entity with the Ministry of Commerce. The commercial register serves as the establishment's legal identity and is used in all official dealings with government and financial agencies.

The investor must select a suitable site for the project in one of the industrial cities under the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones ("MODON") or other private zones. A land allocation contract is signed specifying the land area, its location, the contract duration, and other conditions. This step is essential to secure the plot on which the facility will be established.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issues the initial industrial license for the facility. This license is an official document that allows the investor to begin the establishment process and serves as approval of the concept from an industrial perspective.

The investor must contract with an engineering office accredited in the Kingdom. The engineering office will prepare all engineering, architectural, and structural plans and designs for the building and facility.

This step is one of the most important stages in the licensing process, as it assesses the potential environmental impact of the project. This study is submitted to the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC). NCEC determines the project's category (A, B, or C) based on the level of environmental risk. The study can be detailed or simplified depending on the category.

After reviewing the environmental impact assessment study by the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), the center issues an environmental approval for construction. This approval is a prerequisite for submitting a building permit application.

After obtaining environmental approval for construction, the investor submits the engineering plans prepared by the engineering office to the competent authorities (the Secretariat or the municipality) to obtain a building permit.

After the engineering plans are reviewed by the competent authorities and verified to comply with the rules and regulations, a building permit is issued. This permit allows the investor to commence construction work on the designated land.

The investor must update the status of the industrial license from "Under Establishment" to "Under Construction" on the "Sanaii" platform to reflect the current stage of the project.

At this stage, investors can apply for financing loans from banks or the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, provided they have all the official documents and approvals that support their financial position.

After a significant portion of the construction work is completed, the investor must submit water and electricity connection requests to the relevant authorities (such as the Saudi Electricity Company) to ensure the availability of the necessary infrastructure for operation.

The investor must register with a number of other government agencies, such as:

The investor must submit applications for approval of the number of visas required for the foreign labor required for the project, which is done through the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

After obtaining visa approval, the investor can obtain visas from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to bring in the required foreign personnel.

After completing the installation of environmental systems in the facility (such as waste treatment systems), the investor must contract with an environmental consulting office to issue a technical report proving the facility's compliance with environmental standards.

The municipality or secretariat issues an occupancy certificate after verifying that the building is complete and complies with the approved engineering plans. This certificate is necessary to verify the building's readiness for operation.

After the facility is completed and services are connected, the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) conducts a site visit to ensure that all environmental systems are operating efficiently. After review and verification, the center issues final approval for operation.

The investor must update the status of the industrial license to "Product" on the "Sanaii" platform. This step indicates that the factory is ready to begin production operations.

After obtaining all necessary approvals and licenses, the investor can officially begin practicing industrial activity and actual production.