Companies under licenses

  • Service Description:
This service enables investors to submit an application for a foreign company's incorporation contract, pursuant to an investment license from the Ministry of Investment.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • The existence of a legal document if one of the partners is a government entity, which entitles him to establish a company or participate in a company.
  • A license from the Saudi Central Bank, the Insurance Authority, or the Capital Market Authority, if the activity requires it.
  • The presence of a bank certificate if the share is cash, or an approved appraiser’s report if the share is in kind.
  • Submitting a draft of the bylaws.
  • The commercial register must not be cancelled, suspended or stopped, if one of the partners is a legal partner.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • The partners must not be government employees.
  • The issued capital shall not be less than 500,000, and the paid-up capital shall not be less than a quarter.
  • Verify the following if the company’s status is (professional):
  • The partners must have a valid professional license.
  • The percentage of the licensed Saudi partner in the joint venture company must not be less than 25%.
  • The percentage of licensed partners should not be less than 70%.
  • Having a valid investment license for at least 30 days.
  • Service Description:
This service enables investors to submit an application for a foreign company's incorporation contract, subject to a license from the Special Economic Zones and Cities Authority.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • Having a license from the Special Economic Zones and Cities Authority.
  • The existence of a legal document if one of the partners is a government entity, which entitles him to establish a company or participate in a company.
  • A license from the Saudi Central Bank, the Insurance Authority, or the Capital Market Authority, if the activity requires it.
  • The presence of a bank certificate if the share is cash, or an approved appraiser’s report if the share is in kind.
  • Submitting a draft of the bylaws.
  • The commercial register must not be cancelled, suspended or stopped, if one of the partners is a legal partner.
  • At least 18 years old.
  • The partners must not be government employees.
  • The issued capital shall not be less than 500,000 and the paid-up capital shall not be less than a quarter, if it is an unlisted joint-stock company.
  • Verify the following if the company’s status is (professional):
  • The partners must have a valid professional license.
  • Having a valid investment license for at least 30 days.
  • The percentage of the licensed Saudi partner in the joint venture company must not be less than 25%.
  • The percentage of licensed partners should not be less than 70%.
  • Service Description:
This service enables the investor to verify the main commercial register data annually.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • The commercial register must be active.
  • The foreign company must have a valid investment license for a period of no less than (30) days.
  • Fulfilling the requirements for the service of amending the data of the main commercial registry of a company in the event of an amendment.
- Service Description:
This service allows the investor to update the operational licenses associated with the commercial register.
- Requirements and Conditions:
A valid license must exist that includes the activity registered in the commercial register.
  • Service Description:
This service enables the investor to lift the suspension of the company’s main commercial register after the expiry of the (90) day period from the date of the annual confirmation due date.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • The commercial register status is suspended.
  • The foreign company must have a valid investment license for a period of no less than (30) days.
  • Fulfilling the requirements for the service of amending the data of the main commercial registry of a company in the event of an amendment.
  • Service Description:
This service enables the investor to transfer the trade name registered in the company's commercial register, acting independently of the store.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • The applicant or beneficiary must be at least 18 years old.
  • The applicant or beneficiary must not be a government employee.
  • The applicant must be a manager or authorized representative of the company through the Tafawud platform.
  • The name should not be a personal name.
  • The name must be registered in an active commercial register.
  • The transferee must have the same family name, if the trade name is a family name.
  • Service Description:
This service enables the investor to update the data of the main commercial register of a company.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • The commercial register must be active.
  • The activity must be within the company's objectives.
  • A valid license is required if an activity is added that requires a license prior to issuance.
  • Submit a license cancellation statement if an activity requiring a license is removed before issuance.
  • Specify the practice of e-commerce if the applicant is a practitioner of it.
  • Check the following if the company is foreign:
  • The facility must have an investment license valid for a period of no less than (30) days.
  • The activities added to the application must be compatible with the company’s investment license.
  • Check the following if the company is a joint stock/simplified joint stock company:
  • The presence of the minutes of the meeting.
  • Submit a letter requesting amendments to the company’s publications, certified by the Chamber of Commerce.
  • The members of the Board of Directors shall not be government employees.
  • Service Description:
This service enables the investor to submit a request to amend the directors by an independent decision of the company.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • The existence of a decision by the partners to appoint the manager, signed and approved by the authorized person.
  • Enter the approval of the appointed manager if he is not linked to the commercial register.
  • Service Description:
This service enables the investor to reserve a trade name for a period of (60) days.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • At least 18 years old.
  • The applicant must be the beneficiary of the trade name, or an authorized representative.
  • The name must consist of Arabic or Arabized words, Arabic letters or numbers, or one or more of them, in the event that a trade name is reserved in the Arabic language.
  • The name must consist of English words, letters, or numbers, or one or more of them, if a trade name is reserved in English.
  • It must not be contrary to public order or public morals, misleading, or prohibited in use.
  • It shall not resemble a trade name reserved or registered in the commercial register, regardless of the type of activity.
  • It must not resemble a trade name, a globally famous trademark, or a registered or famous trademark in the Kingdom.
  • It does not contain any political, military or religious meaning, connotation or content.
  • It must not resemble the name, badge of honor, or symbol of any local, regional, or international organization or any of its institutions.
  • It does not contain a name that is prohibited according to the list of prohibited names.
  • It must not contain the name of a government agency or a semi-government body.
  • Adherence to the controls for reserving or registering the name (Saudi Arabia), or the names of cities, regions, and public places, in accordance with the controls contained in the Trade Names System and its executive regulations.
  • Adherence to the provisions of the executive regulations relating to the reservation of family names as trade names.
  • Submit a letter from the entity requesting the service, if the beneficiary is a government entity or an affiliated entity.
  • Submitting an association license or endowment certificate when requesting to reserve a trade name for an association or endowment.
  • Submit a trademark ownership certificate when applying for a trade name reservation based on a trademark.
  • Note: A trademark name reservation will not be processed if similar or identical names are registered.
  • Service Description:
This service enables the investor to extend the trade name reservation for a similar period, before the reservation period expires.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • The trade name reservation must be in place.
  • The applicant must be the beneficiary of the trade name, or be authorized by a valid authorization.
  • Service Description:
This service enables the investor to cancel a reserved trade name.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • The trade name reservation must be in place.
  • The applicant must be the beneficiary of the trade name, or be authorized by a valid authorization.
  • Service Description:
This service enables investors to apply for services that require employee verification.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • Fulfilling the conditions and requirements according to the type of service required.
  • Service Description:
This service enables investors to identify the natural person who exercises actual and ultimate control over the company, with the aim of achieving transparency in economic and financial transactions.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • At least 18 years old.
  • The company is not in the process of liquidation according to the bankruptcy law.
  • The applicant must be one of the parties registered in the main commercial register or their representative, according to the company’s description.
  • There must be at least one beneficiary registered in the beneficial owner register if no exemption is added.
  • Note: Individual data retrieved from the National Information Center cannot be modified. Specific modifications to beneficiary data are permitted. Modifiable data includes: personal data, contact information, and address.
- Service Description:
This service allows the investor to transfer the trade name registered in the commercial register for a company branch, independently of the store.
  • Requirements and Conditions:
  • The applicant or beneficiary must be at least 18 years old.
  • The applicant or beneficiary must not be a government employee.
  • The trade name must not be a personal name.
  • The branch name must not be identical to the main company’s name.
  • The applicant must be a manager or authorized representative of the company via the Authorizations platform.
  • The name must be registered in an active commercial register.
  • The transferee must have the same family name if the trade name is a family name.
  • Service Description:
This service enables investors to amend the company's articles of association by changing any clause of the contract or amending it to comply with the new corporate legislation.
  • Conditions and requirements:
  • Having an active and unsuspended commercial record.
  • The presence of an investment certificate, if the company is foreign or mixed.
  • The existence of an extraordinary general meeting resolution or a shareholders’ resolution, if the company is a joint-stock company or a simplified joint-stock company.
  • Verify the following if the company’s status is (professional):
  • Observing the legal quorum, in the event of a change in the Board of Directors or management.
  • The partner must be licensed, if the amendment is to add a professional partner.
  • Verify the following if the company is (limited liability, limited partnership, or joint liability):
  • The existence of a license or preliminary approval from the Saudi Central Bank if the activity requires it.
  • Amend the investment license if required.
  • The managers shall not be government employees.
  • The new partner or manager must not be under suspension.
  • The applicant must be the company manager or an authorized representative electronically authorized by the company.

The steps and procedures

  • The proposed company name is reserved through the Saudi Business Center or the Ministry of Commerce's e-portal. This is a crucial step before initiating the incorporation procedures.
  • If you need additional time to complete the procedures, you can extend the name reservation period through the Saudi Business Center or the Ministry of Commerce’s electronic portal.
  • If your chosen name is rejected, you can file an objection with the Saudi Business Center or the Ministry of Commerce's e-portal to explain why the name is appropriate.
  • If you have reserved a trade name and no longer require it, you can cancel the reservation to make it available to others. This is done at the Saudi Business Center.
  • Establishment in the Saudi Business Center takes place after obtaining an investment license from the Ministry of Investment. This procedure includes preparing the company's articles of association and issuing the commercial register.
  • The company is established in the Saudi Business Center after obtaining a license from the Special Economic Cities and Zones Authority. This procedure is subject to the regulations and rules specific to those zones.
  • After the company is established, a commercial register is issued, which is the legal document authorizing the company to conduct its activities. This service is provided at the Saudi Business Center.
  • A mandatory annual procedure to verify the accuracy of company data via the Saudi Business Center or the Ministry of Commerce's e-portal.
  • To make any changes to company data, such as address or activities, a request must be submitted through the Saudi Business Center or the Ministry of Commerce's e-portal.
  • If there is a need to change the English translation of the company name, a modification request must be submitted through the Saudi Business Center.
  • To obtain an official copy of the commercial register or a statement of the company's status, an electronic application can be submitted via the Saudi Business Center or the Ministry of Commerce's electronic portal.
  • If partners wish to transfer the trade name to another entity, this procedure is carried out through the Saudi Business Center after signing a transfer contract.
  • If the registration is suspended due to failure to update data or payment of fees, the suspension can be lifted through the Saudi Business Center or the Ministry of Commerce's e-portal after fulfilling the requirements.
  • A sole proprietorship can transform into a company. This requires preparing an incorporation contract for the new company and deleting the sole proprietorship's registry. The process takes place at the Saudi Business Center.
  • If the parent company decides to transform one of its branches into an independent legal entity, a formal application must be submitted to the Saudi Business Center.
  • This service is intended for foreign companies wishing to establish a regional headquarters in the Kingdom, and is conducted at the Saudi Business Center.