Overview
The Commercial (Trading) License issued by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) is the activity that permits a foreign-owned company to engage in wholesale, retail, distribution, and e-commerce trade inside the Kingdom — buying goods and selling them onward to businesses or directly to consumers. It is one of the most regulated MISA activities precisely because it gives a foreign investor direct access to the Saudi consumer market, so the conditions on ownership and capital are stricter than for most service licenses.
For full (100%) foreign ownership, MISA typically requires a minimum capital of about SAR 30 million, deployed over the first years of the project, together with Saudization commitments (employing and training Saudi nationals). The main alternative is a partnership in which a Saudi partner holds at least 25% of the company; this route still carries a substantial threshold — commonly around SAR 20 million in foreign shareholding — but can ease the overall structure. We assess your goals and recommend the structure — full ownership or a 25%-Saudi partnership — that fits your budget and expansion plan, then run the entire MISA filing and company formation for you.
Activities covered
Wholesale trade and bulk supply of goods to businesses and resellers.
Retail sales through physical stores, showrooms, and shopping outlets.
E-commerce and online retail with delivery across the Kingdom.
Import, distribution, and re-export of consumer and commercial products.
Operating warehouses, fulfilment centers, and logistics for traded goods.
Brand, franchise, and authorized-dealer trading of specific product lines.
Who is it for?
International retailers, brands, and franchises wanting to open stores or sell online directly to Saudi consumers.
Wholesalers, importers, and distributors supplying goods to Saudi businesses and resellers.
Foreign manufacturers and trading groups establishing a Saudi entity to control their own distribution instead of relying on a local agent.
How we issue it for you
Structure & eligibility assessment
We review your products and goals, confirm the trading activity is open to your case, and recommend full ownership or a 25%-Saudi-partner structure with the right capital plan.
Document preparation & attestation
We compile, translate, attest, and legalize your corporate documents to MISA standards, so nothing is rejected on a technicality.
MISA license application
We file the commercial (trading) investment application with MISA on your behalf and manage every clarification until the license is issued.
Company formation & commercial registration
We draft the articles, issue the Commercial Registration with the Ministry of Commerce, register the national address, and complete municipality (Balady) and Chamber of Commerce steps.
Post-license activation
We open the corporate bank account and set up GOSI, ZATCA (VAT), Qiwa/Muqeem, and the Saudization file so you can trade and hire immediately.
Requirements
Commercial registration / certificate of incorporation of the parent company, attested and legalized.
Audited financial statements of the parent company for the most recent financial year.
Evidence of the required share capital for 100% ownership, or a 25%+ Saudi partner for the partnership route.
Passports of shareholders/directors and a board resolution authorizing the Saudi investment and appointing the manager.
Cost & timeline
Government and MISA fees for a trading license are typically paid at cost and confirmed with you by a consultant before any payment, since amounts depend on your ownership structure, capital, and the number of activities. The trading activity also carries a substantial minimum-capital condition (approximately SAR 30 million for 100% ownership; a Saudi-partner structure eases this but still requires significant foreign capital, commonly around SAR 20 million). Once documents are complete and fees are paid, MISA approval is often issued within roughly 3 to 10 business days, with full company formation and activation usually completed within a few weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, full foreign ownership of a trading company is allowed, but MISA attaches conditions: typically a minimum capital of around SAR 30 million plus Saudization obligations. If that scale doesn't suit you, we can structure a company with a Saudi partner holding at least 25%, which can ease the overall requirement, though it still involves significant foreign capital (commonly around SAR 20 million).
Yes. The commercial activity covers wholesale, retail, distribution, and e-commerce. We make sure the specific activity codes you need — for example online retail with delivery, or B2B wholesale supply — are all listed on your Commercial Registration so you are not blocked later.
With complete documents, the MISA license itself is often issued within roughly 3 to 10 business days. Drafting the articles, issuing the Commercial Registration, and activating bank, tax, and labor files usually brings the total to a few weeks. We give you a realistic timeline up front based on your structure.
Not for 100% ownership if you meet the capital conditions — you can import and distribute through your own MISA-licensed entity without a local agent. A Saudi partner is only needed if you choose the 25% partnership route. We advise on which path imports your goods most efficiently for your budget.