- Madrous
- Setting up
Starting a business in Saudi Arabia, step by step
From idea to first invoice: what you need to obtain, from which authority, at what fee and in what order. Every item here comes from the official authority's page as of the date we accessed it, and the link is given under each guide.
- 1Choose your entity and obtain a Commercial RegistrationSince 3 April 2025 a new Commercial Register system has been in force.
- 2Reserve your trade nameThe new Trade Names Law, in force since April 2025, allows names in languages other than Arabic and allows ownership of a name to be transferred separately from the business.
- 3Or start with a Freelance DocumentIf you will work alone in a freelance profession, the Freelance Document may be a quicker start than a Commercial Registration.
- 4Obtain the municipal licence and safety permitIf your business has premises or a site, the commercial licence from the Balady platform is an essential step after the Commercial Registration.
- 5Register for VAT and set up e-invoicingThe registration threshold, filing frequency, e-invoicing phases and the penalty waiver initiative, all taken from the pages of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA).
- 6Understand your Zakat obligationZakat is an annual obligation on Saudi-owned businesses, calculated under the Implementing Regulations for Zakat Collection.
- 7Prepare to hire: GOSI, Qiwa and MudadBefore you hire, work out the true cost of an employee.
- 8Protect your trademarkA trademark protects your name and logo in the market.
- 9Subscribe to the National Address for businessesSPL's registered business address links your business to a verified address, which Balady checks when issuing the licence.
- 10Authenticate your online storeIf you will sell online, authentication is not optional.
- 11File financial statements every yearEvery company must file its financial statements each year.
- 12For foreign investors: registering with the Ministry of InvestmentThe updated Investment Law replaced licensing with registration and covers both local and foreign investors.
Fees and regulations change. We review these guides periodically, and the date of the last review is shown on each page. Before paying, confirm the amount on the authority's own platform.