Overview
Operating legally in Saudi Arabia usually requires several licences in the right sequence: for foreign-owned entities, a MISA investment licence from the Ministry of Investment; then the Commercial Registration (CR) from the Ministry of Commerce; a municipal (Balady) operating licence for your premises; and, for regulated activities, a sector permit from the relevant authority (SFDA, CST, SAMA, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Industry, and others). We identify exactly which licences your activity needs and issue them in the correct order.
MISA licences cover eight activity categories — Service, Professional, Industrial, Trading (Commercial), Entrepreneurial, Agricultural, Real Estate Development, and Mining — and most sectors now allow 100% foreign ownership with no Saudi partner. As part of Vision 2030 reforms, MISA service fees are currently waived (SAR 0), and processing for a clean file can take only a few business days.
Choosing the correct activity classification (ISIC) up front avoids costly rework and rejected applications. We handle classification, eligibility checks, document preparation, submission, and follow-up until every licence is issued and active — and we set you up with a renewal calendar so nothing lapses.
Who is this for?
Foreign investors who need a MISA licence to own and operate
Companies entering a regulated activity (health, food, finance, telecom, tourism)
Businesses adding a new activity or branch that needs its own permit
Key Benefits
100% foreign ownership structured where the activity allows
Correct activity (ISIC) selection from day one — no licensing rework
All licences mapped and sequenced by one accountable team
Sector-regulator permits handled (SFDA, CST, SAMA, MT, and more)
Government fees passed through at cost — full transparency
Renewal calendar so no licence lapses or triggers a fine
How it works
Activity classification (ISIC)
We map your business to the correct activity codes and licence types.
Eligibility & requirements
We confirm ownership rules, capital, and any prerequisite approvals.
MISA investment licence
Prepared and filed for foreign-owned entities where required.
CR & municipal licence
Commercial Registration plus the Balady operating licence.
Activity-specific permits
Sector permits from SFDA, CITC, SAMA, the Ministry of Tourism, etc.
Issuance & activation
Final issuance, activation, and a renewal calendar for every licence.
Requirements
Shareholder IDs / parent-company commercial registration
Description of the planned activity and any sector specifics
Capital and ownership details
What you receive
All required business and activity licences, issued and active
MISA licence + Commercial Registration + municipal licence
A renewal calendar covering every licence and permit
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your activity and ownership. Most companies need a CR and a municipal licence; foreign owners need a MISA investment licence; and regulated activities (health, food, finance, telecom, tourism) need a sector permit. We map the exact list for your case before we start.
In most activities, yes — a MISA investment licence allows 100% foreign ownership with no Saudi partner (e.g. IT, professional services, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, hospitality). Some activities such as certain trading have conditions, and a few remain restricted. We confirm eligibility for your exact activity.
Government fees are paid at cost: MISA service fees are currently waived (SAR 0), the Commercial Registration is about SAR 1,200 / year plus a SAR 500 publication fee, and municipal and sector permits vary by activity. A clean MISA file can be issued in a few business days; full licensing typically takes 3–8 weeks depending on sector approvals. Our professional fee is separate and quoted upfront.
Yes. We prepare and follow up regulated permits with the relevant authority — SFDA for health/food, CST for telecom, SAMA for finance, the Ministry of Tourism for hospitality, the Ministry of Industry for manufacturing, and others.
Yes — the CR, municipal licence, and most permits renew annually. We give you a renewal calendar and can manage the renewals so nothing lapses or triggers a fine.