Company formation in Saudi Arabia
How a foreigner sets up a company in Saudi Arabia in 2026: registration, taxes, staff and visas.
A foreigner can set up a 100% foreign-owned company in Saudi Arabia in most sectors. The investor first registers with the Ministry of Investment, then the company is entered in the Ministry of Commerce's commercial register through the unified business centre. The market is large and opening fast, but requirements for local staff, licences and presence are serious, so the structure is planned before filing. The riyal is pegged to the US dollar at 3.75 riyals per dollar.
What a foreign-owned company needs
- Investor registration with the Ministry of Investment and, for some activities, sector approvals.
- Commercial registration with the Ministry of Commerce, with articles certified as required.
- Foreign founder's documents legalised and translated into Arabic.
- An office in Saudi Arabia, with a registered lease.
- Registration with the tax and customs authority, social insurance and the labour system.
Taxes and mandatory payments
- Corporate income tax: 20% on the share of profit attributable to foreign owners.
- Zakat: 2.5% on the base attributable to Saudi and Gulf owners.
- VAT: 15%.
- Withholding tax on payments to non-residents, by payment type.
- Regional headquarters. Foreign groups moving their regional centre to Riyadh get long-term tax incentives subject to conditions.
We will calculate online the cost of registering and running your company for the first year.
Staff and Saudisation
The Saudisation programme requires hiring citizens at a share that depends on the sector and company size. Meeting the quota decides how many work visas for foreigners the company can obtain. A foreign director and staff get a work visa and residence permit through the employer.
How registration works
- Structure and sector: the company form, whether sector approvals and a regional headquarters are needed.
- Investor registration with the Ministry of Investment.
- Articles and commercial registration through the unified business centre.
- Office, tax registration and labour system registration.
- A bank account and paying in capital.
- Visas for the director and staff.
The company account
The account is opened at a Saudi bank supervised by the Saudi Central Bank after commercial registration. The bank checks the investor registration, articles, the company's national address confirmed by the postal service, signatories' powers and ultimate owners. An account signatory usually needs a Saudi residence permit. The Depositors Protection Fund guarantees up to 200,000 riyals, about $53,300, per depositor per bank.
Why problems arise
- Founder's documents not legalised or translated into Arabic: registration stops.
- No office, or the lease is not registered.
- Saudisation quota not met: the company cannot get work visas for foreigners.
- The bank delays the account if beneficial owners and origin of capital are not disclosed.
- No registered national address for the company: banks and authorities will not accept documents.
What we do
Murblz specialists choose the structure and sector, register the investor and company with locally licensed partners, prepare and legalise documents, and help with the office, tax registration, visas and account. The basic registration package is $56,000; with nominee service $56,000; with bank account pre-approval $57,300.
Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Company registration - Base package | $56 000 |
| Company registration - Package with nominee service | $56 000 |
| Company registration - Package with bank pre-approval (with nominee service and bank pre-approval) | $57 300 |
Without investor registration and an office, a company in Saudi Arabia cannot be opened
The law does not stop you registering a company on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: an activity that needs a separate sector licence, founder documents without legalisation and Arabic translation, an office without a registered lease and local hiring requirements the company does not meet. We register you as an investor with the Ministry of Investment, prepare the articles and documents, arrange commercial registration, tax and social insurance registration and staff visas.
Turnkey package prices are in the table on this page; a manager will calculate the total for your structure in the chat.
See also
Business account · Personal account · Investment property
FAQ
Can a foreigner set up a company in Saudi Arabia?
What taxes does a Saudi company pay?
What is Saudisation?
How much does company registration in Saudi Arabia cost?
Does a Saudi company need an office?
Are company funds insured in a Saudi bank?
Opening a business in Saudi Arabia?
We obtain the investment licence for a foreign owner, register the company in Saudi Arabia and help with the account and the first permits. The catalogue covers every country.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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