Overview
The Transport License authorizes a foreign-owned company to carry passengers or freight by road across Saudi Arabia and to provide related logistics services such as freight forwarding, truck rental, and vehicle dispatch. The activity is licensed by the Ministry of Investment (MISA) at the company-formation stage, then regulated operationally by the Transport General Authority (TGA) under the new Road Transport Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/188) of 1446H, which entered into force in 2025 and replaced the previous Public Transport Law on Roads. Most land-transport and logistics activities are open to 100% foreign ownership, while certain freight and passenger categories carry additional conditions — a defined minimum capital plus, for regulated categories, several years of operating the same activity abroad and a presence in multiple international markets — with the highest experience, financial, and international-presence thresholds applying to intercity bus and passenger services.
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia is building one of the world's largest logistics hubs under Vision 2030, and the regulator has tightened enforcement — operating without a valid TGA license now exposes operators to fines up to SAR 20,000, vehicle impoundment, possible sale of the vehicle, and deportation of non-Saudi violators. A properly structured Transport License lets you run a legitimate fleet, issue an Operation Card for each vehicle, bid on government and private contracts, sponsor drivers, and connect to TGA's electronic platform and mandatory telematics. We handle the MISA license, the TGA activity registration, insurance, Saudization, and per-vehicle operation cards so your fleet is road-legal from day one.
Activities covered
Freight transport by road — moving general cargo, containers, and bulk goods between Saudi cities and ports.
Freight forwarding and freight brokerage — arranging and coordinating shipments on behalf of clients.
Truck and commercial-vehicle rental, plus operation and maintenance of transport fleets.
Vehicle dispatch and digital fleet platforms connecting cargo to carriers.
Intercity and city passenger transport by bus or coach under TGA passenger-service rules.
Warehousing, cold-chain, and last-mile delivery as part of integrated logistics services.
Who is it for?
International freight, trucking, and logistics operators expanding fleet operations or freight-forwarding services into the Saudi market.
E-commerce, last-mile delivery, and supply-chain companies needing a licensed vehicle fleet and TGA operation cards in the Kingdom.
Established passenger and bus-transport groups seeking to operate intercity or city public-transport services under a regulated Saudi entity.
How we issue it for you
Scope the activity and structure
We confirm whether you fall under freight, logistics, or passenger transport, map the exact TGA activity codes, capital, and experience conditions, and design the optimal ownership structure.
Secure the MISA investment license
We prepare and submit your MISA application with attested corporate and financial documents, then obtain the foreign-investment license that permits the transport activity.
Incorporate and register the company
We issue the commercial registration carrying the transport activity, and complete Chamber of Commerce, ZATCA tax, GOSI, and national-address registrations.
Obtain the TGA transport license
We register on the TGA platform, arrange fleet insurance, and secure the operational transport license for your activity category.
Activate fleet and operation cards
We issue an Operation Card for each vehicle, set up Saudization and driver sponsorship, and confirm platform linkage so you can operate legally from day one.
Requirements
Audited financial statements and, for regulated freight and passenger categories, evidence of operating the same activity abroad (commonly several years, with the highest experience and international-presence thresholds applying to bus and passenger services).
A paid-up minimum capital appropriate to the activity, with higher capital, revenue, and asset thresholds applying to certain freight and passenger categories — the exact figure depends on your chosen activity codes.
Third-party liability insurance for every vehicle from an insurer licensed in the Kingdom, and linkage to the TGA electronic platform and telematics.
Commercial registration carrying the transport activity, a TGA-issued Operation Card per vehicle, and vehicles within the permitted operating age — heavy freight trucks must be no older than five years from manufacture when entering service and must not exceed twenty years in operational life.
Cost & timeline
Costs vary by activity category and fleet size. Government fees — MISA licensing, commercial registration, Chamber of Commerce, TGA registration, and per-vehicle operation cards — are paid at cost and should be confirmed by a consultant, as MISA service fees in particular have been subject to recent changes. Beyond government charges, budget for the required minimum capital (which is higher for certain regulated freight and passenger categories), vehicle insurance, and Saudization. Typical timelines run from a few weeks for the MISA license and incorporation to additional time for full TGA activation and operation cards, depending on document readiness and fleet size.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — most land-transport and logistics activities are open to full 100% foreign ownership under the current Investment Law. Certain freight categories and intercity passenger/bus services attach additional conditions such as minimum capital and a track record of operating the activity abroad, which we assess for your specific case before applying.
Requirements differ by sub-activity. Pure logistics-services and freight-forwarding activities tend to carry lighter conditions, while regulated road-freight categories can require a defined minimum capital together with several years of operating the same activity abroad and a presence in multiple international markets. We confirm the exact figures for your chosen activity codes before incorporation.
Yes. The Transport General Authority requires an Operation Card (بطاقة تشغيل) to be issued for each vehicle in your fleet, typically valid for one year and only while the vehicle meets insurance, age, and inspection conditions. Operating without a valid card exposes you to fines and impoundment. We issue and renew these cards for your entire fleet as part of activation.
The MISA license and company incorporation typically take a few weeks when documents are complete and attested. TGA registration, fleet insurance, and per-vehicle operation cards add further time depending on fleet size. We run these workstreams in parallel wherever possible to get you road-legal as quickly as the regulations allow.