Company Formation Guides
Saudi Arabia’s MISA Registration Process, Step by Step
Since the 2024 Investment Law reforms took effect in 2025, entering Saudi Arabia runs through registration with the Ministry of Investment (MISA), not a separate foreign investment licence. Here is the process in order.
Checklist
Before You Move Forward
- MISA registration — register as an investor via the National Register of Investors.
- Sector/activity check — confirm your activity isn’t on the Excluded Activities list; apply for MISA approval if it requires one.
- Commercial Registration — register the entity with the Ministry of Commerce.
- Regulatory approvals — obtain any sector-specific approvals (e.g. SFDA, SAMA, CMA) relevant to your activity.
- ZATCA registration — register for corporate income tax/Zakat, VAT, and withholding tax as applicable.
- Labour & GOSI — register for labour licensing and social insurance before hiring.
- Banking & ongoing filings — open a corporate bank account and enter the ongoing filing cycle.
Go Deeper
See the Full Saudi Arabia Picture
This guide is one slice of the Saudi Arabia page — structure options, tax snapshot, and the full compliance calendar live there.