Sectors / Saudi Arabia
Your industry.
Your way forward.
Find your business sector. Understand the route from setting up to opening your doors.
Find my sector17 sector overviews · 7 in-depth guides
From setup to operation: Register the business, then complete the permissions needed to open. Some regulated routes need preliminary approval before formation. Each sector explains the distinction.
Find the right starting point.
Explore your sector
Choose a sector for its setup route, ownership and operating checks.
Trading & General Trading
Import, export, and wholesale/retail distribution activitiesCommon
Your setup route
Import, export, wholesale and retail businesses follow the commercial activity route. Start with the company and its registered activities, then arrange customs registration, premises and any product-specific approvals.
Foreign ownership
A 100%-foreign commercial route is available. A Saudi partner is not a general requirement simply because of the products being traded.
Capital requirements
MISA’s published special-category table lists SAR 30 million for 100%-foreign commercial investment and presence in at least three markets. Do not treat reported flexibility in processing as a published waiver.
Regulators and their role
- MISA — Foreign commercial investment registration
- Ministry of Commerce / SBC — Company formation and CR
- ZATCA / Fasah — Importer/exporter registration and customs procedures
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Prepare the trading operationZATCA / Municipality / product regulator
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Prepare the trading operation
Register on Fasah if trading across borders and complete applicable premises and product approvals.
ZATCA / Municipality / product regulator
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to trading and retail businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: sales, procurement, accounting and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for shops, showrooms and warehouses?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Match each shop, showroom or warehouse to its own activity and premises use.
- Check storage, access, loading, signage and product-specific approvals before fitting out.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Fasah importer/exporter registration
Before importing / exporting · ConditionalRegister the entity on Fasah when importing or exporting; this replaces the old generic “Import/Export Licence” wording.
Premises and product approvals
Before operating · ConditionalArrange the municipal licence for relevant premises and the approvals applicable to the goods, such as SFDA requirements for food.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- DuVolks reports that MISA enquiries indicate flexibility in how commercial-investment conditions are applied. Obtain case-specific confirmation before making an investment commitment; this is practical experience, not a change to the published rules.
- The published commercial obligations also include five-year investment commitments and Saudi training/employment conditions. Confirm their application to the proposal with MISA; processing flexibility is not a published exemption.
- Company capital is business funding, not a government fee.
- Saudization and employee requirements are operational obligations; use the workforce tools for the planned team.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
Professional Services
Management consulting, legal, engineering and other licensed professional practicesRegulated
Your setup route
Choose the professional activity first, then build the ownership structure around its licensing rules. The professional-company route with a Saudi partner is different from the special routes available to qualifying foreign engineering and legal firms.
Foreign ownership
The professional route with a Saudi partner lists at least 25% Saudi participation, with local and foreign partners licensed in the same field. MISA also lists separate 100%-foreign engineering and legal routes with additional conditions.
Capital requirements
The professional activity and legal form determine the funding and qualification requirements; no single capital figure is presented for every profession.
Regulators and their role
- MISA — Registers the applicable professional investment route
- Professional regulator — Checks professional licences and practice conditions
- Ministry of Commerce / SBC — Forms the professional entity
- Choose the professional route
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Complete practice approvalsProfessional regulator
Step details
- Choose the professional route
Check the professional activity, certified partners and any qualifying foreign-firm exception.
MISA / professional regulator
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Complete practice approvals
Obtain the approvals needed for the professional firm and its practitioners before offering services.
Professional regulator
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to professional-service businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: licensed professional, engineering, legal, accounting and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for professional offices?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Confirm the licensed professional practice and the office activity before choosing premises.
- Check client access, accessibility, signage and any professional-regulator premises conditions.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Professional route and partner qualifications
Before formation · Required for the applicable routeConfirm the activity classification and professional licences before filing. Do not apply one ownership rule to every consultancy.
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Permission to practise
Before operating · Required for the applicable routeComplete the relevant professional authority’s requirements before providing regulated services.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- MISA’s 100%-foreign engineering category specifies presence in four countries and at least ten years’ experience.
- The separate foreign legal category requires Ministry of Justice approval.
- Management-consulting activity classification must be established before promising either 100% ownership or a mandatory Saudi share.
Sources and guidance
Ownership routes checked against MISA’s published guide · 5 October 2026
IT & Software Services
Technology development, software, and IT consultingCommon
Your setup route
Software development and IT services start with company formation and the relevant service activities. Telecom, cloud and other regulated digital services must be checked against their own CST category rather than treated as ordinary software work.
Foreign ownership
Foreign-owned service businesses can use the applicable investment-registration route. Regulated telecom services have separate activity-specific conditions.
Capital requirements
Plan capital around the selected activity, legal form and operating needs. This sector overview does not impose a blanket investment-registration minimum.
Regulators and their role
- MISA / SBC — Investment registration and company formation
- CST — Licensing or registration for services within its regulated categories
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Prepare service deliveryCST / relevant authorities
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Prepare service delivery
Complete any applicable CST permission and the data-protection/security requirements of the service.
CST / relevant authorities
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to IT and software businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: IT, sales, accounting and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for IT offices and technical facilities?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Distinguish an ordinary software office from a data centre, repair workshop or licensed telecom facility.
- Check the premises requirements for the actual use rather than applying a retail checklist to every technology business.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 3
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
CST permission for a regulated service
Before providing that service · ConditionalMatch cloud, telecom or other regulated digital services to the appropriate licence, registration or permit.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- Saudization is HRSD operational compliance, not a blanket advantage attached to the technology sector.
- Selling software services, reselling products and operating telecommunications services are different business activities.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
Logistics & Warehousing
Supply chain, freight, storage, and distribution servicesCommon
Your setup route
Form the logistics company first, then complete the permissions for the services it will operate. Transport, freight, storage and customs clearance need activity-specific checks; a CR does not itself authorise operations.
Foreign ownership
Use the investment route for the exact logistics activity. Customs clearance has its own licensing and applicant-eligibility rules and must not be treated as an unrestricted transport activity.
Capital requirements
Plan capital around the selected activity, legal form and operating needs. This sector overview does not impose a blanket investment-registration minimum.
Regulators and their role
- TGA — Transport and relevant logistics operating licences
- ZATCA — Customs-clearance licensing and customs registrations
- Municipality / site authority — Premises and storage approvals for the selected site
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Licence the operationTGA / ZATCA / site authority
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Licence the operation
Complete the relevant transport, customs and storage approvals for the services on the CR.
TGA / ZATCA / site authority
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to logistics and warehousing businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: logistics, warehouse, procurement, transport and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for warehouses and logistics premises?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Identify the storage type, goods, vehicle access and loading arrangements.
- Check the municipality or site-authority route alongside the relevant transport, customs and product permissions.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 5
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Transport / logistics operating licence
After formation; before operating · ConditionalObtain the TGA licence applicable to the transport or logistics service.
Customs-clearance licence
Before offering customs clearance · ConditionalA separate ZATCA licence is needed if the company will clear goods for others; Fasah importer registration is not a substitute.
Storage and facility approvals
Before using the facility · ConditionalMatch warehouse approvals to the location and goods being stored.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- Operating permissions are separate from forming the company.
- Food or other regulated goods can add product-specific storage requirements.
- Do not describe all logistics approvals as TGA-only: ZATCA has a separate customs-clearance licensing service.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
Contracting & Construction
Building, infrastructure, and construction project servicesCommon
Your setup route
Establish the contracting company with the construction activities it will provide. Then prepare the operational, professional and client-specific credentials needed for the projects you intend to take on.
Foreign ownership
The foreign-investment route can support a wholly foreign-owned contracting company. Tender conditions and vendor qualifications are not a blanket Saudi-shareholder requirement.
Capital requirements
Plan capital around the selected activity, legal form and operating needs. This sector overview does not impose a blanket investment-registration minimum.
Regulators and their role
- Municipality — Relevant premises and construction approvals
- Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) — Contractor registration and industry requirements
- Tender / vendor authority — Project-specific qualification and classification checks
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Prepare to deliver and bidMunicipality / SCA / tender authority
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Prepare to deliver and bid
Complete applicable operating requirements and the qualifications specified by your target vendors or tenders.
Municipality / SCA / tender authority
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to construction and contracting businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: engineering, technical, project-management, procurement and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for contractor offices, yards and workshops?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Check the registered office, equipment yard and workshop separately where their uses differ.
- Do not treat an office commercial licence as a building permit or permission for every project site.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 5
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Applicable premises and project approvals
Before operating · Required for the applicable routePrepare the permissions needed for your premises and contracted work.
SCA registration / contractor classification
Project / vendor qualification · ConditionalCheck the registration, classification and vendor credentials required by the target client or tender, including relevant Etimad opportunities.
Engineering staff credentials
When employing regulated professionals · ConditionalArrange professional registration for roles that require it.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- DuVolks’ practical guidance separates formation from contractor classification and bid-specific vendor registration.
- A CR is not proof that a contractor qualifies for every project value or tender.
- Check the tender documents before promising that a company is bid-ready.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
E-commerce & Online Platforms
Online trading, web stores and digital marketplacesCommon
Your setup route
Selling goods online follows the trading activity behind the store. Form the entity with the relevant CR activities, then authenticate the online store through the Saudi Business Center and link it to the business registration and bank account.
Foreign ownership
Online selling is not a separate shortcut around the underlying commercial-investment conditions. Pure platform-software services should be classified by what the business actually does.
Capital requirements
For an online goods seller, use the applicable commercial-investment conditions rather than assuming an e-commerce exemption.
Regulators and their role
- Ministry of Commerce — E-commerce rules and consumer protection
- Saudi Business Center — Store authentication linked to the business registration
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Authenticate and prepare the storeSBC / Ministry of Commerce
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Authenticate and prepare the store
Link the store to the CR through SBC; set up its business bank account, customer policies and applicable goods approvals.
SBC / Ministry of Commerce
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to e-commerce businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: sales, marketing, procurement and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for e-commerce offices and fulfilment premises?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Identify where goods are stored, packed and dispatched, not only where the website is managed.
- Check each physical premises against its actual use; online trading does not establish premises compliance.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
SBC e-commerce authentication
Before launching the store · Required for the applicable routeAuthenticate the store through the Business Platform using the business registration and commercial bank account.
Goods and fulfilment approvals
Where applicable · ConditionalComplete the product, storage and import requirements relevant to what the store sells.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- The old Maroof registration step has been removed.
- Using a licensed payment provider does not itself make the store a regulated payment-service provider.
- Saudization, tax and consumer obligations continue after launch.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
Food & Restaurants
Food service, restaurants, and food manufacturing activitiesRegulated
Your setup route
Restaurants, cafés and beverage outlets follow the municipal commercial-licensing route. Food importing and local food manufacturing also fall within SFDA regulation. These are different operating routes, not one identical food-business checklist.
Foreign ownership
Select the investment route for the activity: operating a restaurant, trading food products and manufacturing food are distinct activities.
Capital requirements
Plan capital around the selected activity, legal form and operating needs. This sector overview does not impose a blanket investment-registration minimum.
Regulators and their role
- Municipality — Commercial licences for restaurants, cafés and beverage outlets
- SFDA — Regulation of imported and locally manufactured food products
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Complete the relevant food operation routeMunicipality / SFDA / MIM
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Complete the relevant food operation route
For a restaurant/café, complete municipal licensing. For food import or manufacture, complete the applicable SFDA and industrial/import requirements.
Municipality / SFDA / MIM
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to restaurants and food businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: restaurant, food-service, sales, procurement and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for a restaurant in Saudi Arabia?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Identify your outlet: dine-in restaurant, takeaway, café, cloud kitchen or kiosk. Select its exact Balady activity.
- Confirm the premises and layout with the municipality or an approved engineering office before leasing or fitting out. A general minimum area does not establish suitability.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 5
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Restaurant / café municipal licence
Restaurant / café route · ConditionalArrange the municipal commercial licence for the outlet and comply with its applicable premises, safety and food-handler conditions.
SFDA requirements
Food import / manufacturing route · ConditionalComplete the establishment/product requirements for the food importing or manufacturing activity.
Industrial approvals
Food manufacturing only · ConditionalLocal food manufacturing also needs the applicable industrial route.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- An ordinary café is not shown as needing a separate SFDA establishment licence simply because it serves drinks.
- Food importing and manufacturing remain subject to the requirements for the actual products.
- The old claim that every food product needs a halal certificate has been removed; use product-specific rules.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
Tourism & Hospitality
Hotels, travel agencies, and tourism-related servicesRegulated
Your setup route
Hotels, hospitality businesses and tourism services are supervised by the Ministry of Tourism. Entertainment activities and entertainment events follow the General Entertainment Authority’s separate permissions; a tourism licence does not replace them.
Foreign ownership
Choose the applicable foreign-investment route for the tourism activity. No blanket Saudi-partner condition is stated for the whole sector.
Capital requirements
Plan capital around the selected activity, legal form and operating needs. This sector overview does not impose a blanket investment-registration minimum.
Regulators and their role
- Ministry of Tourism — Tourism and hospitality operating licences
- GEA — Entertainment licences and entertainment-event permits
- Municipality — Applicable premises approvals
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Licence the tourism operationMinistry of Tourism
- Add entertainment permissions when neededGEA
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Licence the tourism operation
Prepare the premises and obtain the applicable tourism licence/classification.
Ministry of Tourism
- Add entertainment permissions when needed
Obtain the separate permission for the planned entertainment activity or event.
GEA
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to tourism and hospitality businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: hotel, reception, tourism, sales and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for hotels and tourism premises?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Distinguish a hotel, travel office and entertainment venue before selecting premises.
- Check the accommodation or tourism regulator’s conditions alongside the relevant site, safety and municipal requirements.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Tourism / hospitality licence
After formation; before operating · Required for the applicable routeObtain the Ministry of Tourism licence and classification applicable to the business.
Entertainment permission
Entertainment activities only · ConditionalArrange the separate GEA licence or event permit when offering entertainment.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- DuVolks separates tourism/hospitality approvals from entertainment approvals.
- An entertainment-event permit is not the same as registering the event-organising company.
- Religious tourism and non-entertainment events need their own activity-specific checks.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
Education & Training
Schools, training centers, and educational institutionsRegulated
Your setup route
Education businesses work with the Ministry of Education; vocational and training establishments work with TVTC. DuVolks supports the journey from forming the company through the operating-licence stage.
Foreign ownership
Select the investment-registration category and the education or training activity before forming the entity. The institution type determines its specific approval conditions.
Capital requirements
Plan capital around the selected activity, legal form and operating needs. This sector overview does not impose a blanket investment-registration minimum.
Regulators and their role
- Ministry of Education — Education institutions
- TVTC — Technical and vocational training establishments
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Prepare the institution for operationMinistry of Education / TVTC
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Prepare the institution for operation
Complete the relevant premises, programme and staff requirements and obtain the education/training operating licence.
Ministry of Education / TVTC
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to education and training businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: teaching, training and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for schools and training centres?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Identify whether the premises will be used as a school, training centre or administrative office.
- Check approved use, access and safety against the selected education/training authority’s facility requirements.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Education or training operating licence
After formation; before teaching / training · Required for the applicable routeApply to the Ministry of Education or TVTC for the selected institution type.
Premises, programmes and staff
Operating-licence preparation · Required for the applicable routeComplete the applicable facility, programme and personnel requirements of the operating authority.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- Education and vocational training have different operating authorities.
- Company formation does not authorise the institution to start teaching.
- Software-only educational services must be classified separately from operating a school or training centre.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
Healthcare & Medical
Hospitals, clinics, medical services, and healthcare facilitiesRegulated
Your setup route
Choose the healthcare facility type before forming the business. MOH licenses the facility, while professional staff need their applicable health-practice credentials. Premises preparation, staffing and inspections lead to the operating licence.
Foreign ownership
Do not apply one ownership answer to every facility. The published MOH rules set a Saudi specialist-physician ownership condition for an individual clinic; hospitals, medical complexes and other facility categories must be assessed under their own route.
Capital requirements
Budget for the selected facility, equipment, staffing and licensing standards. This overview does not assign one capital threshold to every healthcare facility.
Regulators and their role
- Ministry of Health — Facility licensing through the healthcare licensing system
- SCFHS — Professional classification and registration
- CBAHI — Applicable healthcare accreditation and safety standards
- Choose the facility and ownership route
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Prepare premises and clinical staffingMOH / SCFHS
- Obtain permission to operateMOH
Step details
- Choose the facility and ownership route
Distinguish an individual clinic from a hospital, medical complex, laboratory or other licensed category.
MOH / MISA
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Prepare premises and clinical staffing
Follow the facility-specific MOH requirements and staff-credential process.
MOH / SCFHS
- Obtain permission to operate
Complete inspections and obtain the facility’s operating licence before receiving patients.
MOH
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to healthcare businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: dental, pharmacy, allied-health and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for clinics and healthcare premises?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Confirm the facility category before leasing or preparing its clinical layout.
- Check the health authority’s facility requirements and the applicable site, safety and waste-handling conditions.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 5
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
MOH facility operating licence
After formation; before receiving patients · Required for the applicable routeFollow the licensing process for the chosen facility category, including its premises, staffing and inspection requirements.
Professional staff credentials
Before practising · Required for the applicable routeComplete the applicable professional registration and practice permissions.
Applicable accreditation / safety standards
Facility-specific requirements · Required for the applicable routePlan the CBAHI requirements and timing for the facility. International accreditation is not presented as a substitute.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- The former blanket statement that most healthcare facilities allow 100% foreign ownership has been replaced with facility-specific guidance.
- The old “CBAHI or JCI” wording has been removed.
- The MOH source is a published consolidated law/regulation document, not a consultation draft. Confirm the facility-specific current checklist through the licensing service.
Sources and guidance
MOH published law and licensing-service review · 5 October 2026
Real Estate Activities
Property development, brokerage, and real estate servicesRegulated
Your setup route
Forming a brokerage, property-management or development business is different from buying property. Regulated real-estate services need their relevant REGA licence; non-Saudi property ownership follows a separate system.
Foreign ownership
Separate ownership of the service company from eligibility to acquire a particular property. Non-Saudi property purchases follow the system effective from 22 January 2026 and its location/category controls.
Capital requirements
Plan capital around the selected activity, legal form and operating needs. This sector overview does not impose a blanket investment-registration minimum.
Regulators and their role
- REGA — Real-estate brokerage/services and non-Saudi property-ownership procedures
- Municipality / project authority — Relevant development and premises approvals
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Licence the selected real-estate serviceREGA
- Handle property or project approvals separatelyREGA / project authorities
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Licence the selected real-estate service
Complete the REGA category, personnel and operational requirements for the business.
REGA
- Handle property or project approvals separately
If buying property or developing a project, complete the relevant ownership/project process as well.
REGA / project authorities
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to real-estate businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: real-estate, sales, marketing and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for real-estate offices and project premises?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Distinguish a brokerage office from property development, management or a sales project.
- An office premises licence does not replace project-specific planning, building or real-estate approvals.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 5
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
REGA / FAL service licence
Before providing regulated services · Required for the applicable routeObtain the category needed for the brokerage or real-estate service being provided.
Advertising permission
Before regulated advertising · ConditionalUse the applicable advertising permission; do not treat it as interchangeable with the underlying service licence.
Development / off-plan approvals
Development / off-plan route · ConditionalDevelopment and off-plan sales require their own project-specific checks.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- A business licence is not permission to acquire any parcel of land.
- The old residential-versus-commercial ownership generalisation has been removed.
- Use the official property-ownership process for the actual applicant and location.
Sources and guidance
REGA brokerage law and 2026 ownership-system review · 5 October 2026
Media & Advertising
Broadcasting, publishing, advertising, and media productionRegulated
Your setup route
Form the media or advertising company, then obtain the media permissions applicable to its work. Advertising, production, publishing and broadcasting are not interchangeable licence categories.
Foreign ownership
Use the investment route and media category matching the proposed services; no single percentage is promised across every media activity.
Capital requirements
Plan capital around the selected activity, legal form and operating needs. This sector overview does not impose a blanket investment-registration minimum.
Regulators and their role
- General Authority of Media Regulation — Media licensing and supervision
- Municipality — Applicable outdoor-advertising and premises approvals
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Obtain the relevant media permissionGeneral Authority of Media Regulation
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Obtain the relevant media permission
Complete the General Authority of Media Regulation licence for the selected activity.
General Authority of Media Regulation
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to media and advertising businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: media, marketing, sales and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for media offices and studios?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Identify whether the operation uses an office, studio, workshop or public-facing venue.
- Check premises use, signage and any production or event permissions for the actual operation.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Media operating licence
After formation; before regulated media work · Required for the applicable routeApply for the media category covering the work the company will offer.
Activity / location permissions
When applicable · ConditionalArrange the permissions applicable to a production, advertisement or outdoor location.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- Company formation and media operating permission are separate steps.
- The old GCAM reference has been replaced.
- Entertainment-event permissions belong to GEA, not automatically to the media licence.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks practical guidance · updated 5 October 2026
Financial Services
Banking, investment, and financial intermediation activitiesHighly Regulated
Your setup route
Identify the financial service before incorporating. SAMA supervises its banking, finance and payment categories; CMA supervises securities activities. Each route has its own licensing, capital and governance requirements.
Foreign ownership
Ownership and legal-form conditions depend on the regulator and licence category. Do not promise one foreign-ownership percentage for all financial services.
Capital requirements
Capital is licence-specific. The former “SAR 50M+ for many activities” estimate is removed; establish the exact SAMA or CMA category before budgeting.
Regulators and their role
- SAMA — Banking, finance and regulated payment services
- CMA — Securities activities and capital-market institutions
- Select the financial licence category
- Complete the required initial approval
- Form the entity under that route
- Obtain final authorisationSAMA / CMA
Step details
- Select the financial licence category
Match the proposed service to SAMA or CMA.
SAMA / CMA
- Complete the required initial approval
For the SAMA finance-company route, apply before company formation and follow the preliminary approval.
SAMA / CMA
- Form the entity under that route
Complete applicable investment registration and incorporation in the sequence required by the regulator.
MISA / SBC
- Obtain final authorisation
Satisfy the regulator’s operating requirements before providing the service.
SAMA / CMA
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to financial-services businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: finance, accounting, sales and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for financial-services premises?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Check the regulated business category before selecting customer-facing or back-office premises.
- Confirm regulator-specific site and security conditions separately from the municipal activity lookup.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Regulator application / preliminary approval
Before formation where required · Required for the applicable routeFor a new finance company, SAMA’s published process requires application before establishment; preliminary approval permits the formation process.
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Final regulatory authorisation
Before operating · Required for the applicable routeComplete the category-specific capital, governance, staff and system requirements before conducting regulated business.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- Preliminary approval is not permission to start financial operations.
- The SAMA finance-company sequence should not be copied blindly to every banking, payment or CMA category.
- No generic setup timeline or capital amount is presented as a regulatory promise.
Sources and guidance
SAMA licensing process and CMA regulations reviewed · 5 October 2026
Insurance
Insurance products, underwriting, and related servicesHighly Regulated
Your setup route
Choose the insurance activity first: insurer, reinsurer, foreign branch, intermediary, aggregator or insurance service provider. The Insurance Authority handles the relevant licensing route.
Foreign ownership
Use the Insurance Authority’s route for the proposed category and shareholders. A blanket local-partner requirement is not stated for every insurance business.
Capital requirements
Capital and financial requirements depend on the licence category. The old generic “SAR 100M+” figure is removed.
Regulators and their role
- Insurance Authority — Insurance-sector supervision and licensing
- Choose the insurance category
- Follow the approved establishment route
- Prepare and license operations
Step details
- Choose the insurance category
Identify the licence and submit the relevant initial application.
Insurance Authority
- Follow the approved establishment route
Arrange applicable investment registration and incorporation in the sequence required for that category.
Insurance Authority / MISA / SBC
- Prepare and license operations
Complete the remaining category requirements and obtain the operating licence.
Insurance Authority
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to insurance businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: insurance, sales, claims, accounting and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for insurance offices?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Distinguish the insurer, broker or other licensed insurance activity.
- Check office/customer-service premises requirements alongside Insurance Authority conditions.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Insurance Authority initial application
Initial regulatory stage · Required for the applicable routeApply under the intended insurance category and follow its initial-approval requirements.
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Final insurance licence
Before conducting insurance business · Required for the applicable routeMeet the category’s capital, governance, personnel and operational conditions.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- SAMA is no longer shown as the insurance licensing authority.
- Insurers, brokers, agents and service providers do not share one identical checklist.
- Formation does not authorise selling insurance or providing regulated insurance services.
Sources and guidance
Insurance Authority licence categories and initial application reviewed · 5 October 2026
Telecom & ICT Licensed Activities
Telecommunications infrastructure and licensed ICT servicesHighly Regulated
Your setup route
Match the service to a CST licence, registration or permit. The General Class Licence covers specified services through the relevant permit; other communications activities follow different authorisation categories.
Foreign ownership
Check the exact MISA communications category and CST service. Do not assume that every telecom or supporting communications activity allows the same shareholder structure.
Capital requirements
Use the requirements of the actual licence and service. A large network operator’s project budget is not a universal minimum for every ICT business.
Regulators and their role
- CST — Telecommunications and regulated ICT authorisations
- MISA — Applicable foreign-investment and ownership category
- Define the service and ownership category
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Obtain service authorisationCST
Step details
- Define the service and ownership category
Identify the CST permission and applicable MISA category.
CST / MISA
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Obtain service authorisation
For the GCL route, apply using the relevant CR activity and fulfil the selected permit’s requirements.
CST
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to telecom and licensed ICT businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: engineering, technical, IT and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for telecom offices and infrastructure?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Distinguish an office or outlet from a data centre, tower or other infrastructure site.
- Confirm the applicable CST, land/site, safety and municipal approvals for that facility.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
CST service authorisation
Before providing the regulated service · Required for the applicable routeSelect the correct licence/permit/registration. A General Class Licence application requires a valid CR containing the relevant activity.
Spectrum / infrastructure permissions
Service-specific · ConditionalComplete these where the proposed service uses regulated spectrum or infrastructure.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- Ordinary software development is not described as a telecom network operation.
- Spectrum and infrastructure agreements are conditional, not required for every ICT service.
- The old CITC abbreviation is replaced by CST.
Sources and guidance
CST service requirements and published categories reviewed · 5 October 2026
Energy & Utilities
Power generation, water, and utility infrastructure servicesHighly Regulated
Your setup route
Distinguish operating an electricity or water utility from supplying equipment or contracting to a project. Electricity activities fall within SERA’s remit; water-service activities use the relevant Saudi Water Authority route.
Foreign ownership
Choose the investment and project structure for the actual activity. Supplying or installing equipment is not the same as owning and operating a utility.
Capital requirements
Funding depends on the activity, licence and project. The old statement suggesting hundreds of millions of riyals for the whole sector is removed.
Regulators and their role
- SERA — Electricity-sector regulation and authorisation
- Saudi Water Authority — Water-sector services and applicable licences
- Choose operator, supplier or contractor route
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Complete the project authorisationsRelevant authority
Step details
- Choose operator, supplier or contractor route
Identify whether the business itself will operate a regulated utility.
SERA / Saudi Water Authority
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Complete the project authorisations
Follow the activity’s permit, site and operating stages before starting the regulated work.
Relevant authority
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to energy and utility businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: engineering, technical, project-management and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for energy and utility sites?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Separate ordinary offices from generation, water, storage and utility infrastructure sites.
- Identify the competent site authority and project approvals; a general commercial-premises checklist is not a complete project licence.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 4
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Electricity or water authorisation
Before the regulated activity · ConditionalIdentify the applicable licence, permit or exemption with the relevant authority.
Site, environmental and project approvals
Project-specific · ConditionalComplete the requirements for the actual project and its development stage.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- An equipment supplier is not automatically subject to a utility operator’s full licensing process.
- Power-purchase agreements and competitive tenders are project features, not universal company-formation requirements.
- Electricity and water authorities are shown separately instead of the old combined ECRA/WERA references.
Sources and guidance
Electricity investor guidance and Saudi Water Authority service scope reviewed · 5 October 2026
Manufacturing & Industry
Factories, production facilities and locally manufactured productsRegulated
Your setup route
Start with the manufacturing activity and ownership route, form the company, then prepare the factory site and industrial approvals. DuVolks’ practical route is MISA where applicable, CR, municipal/site approvals and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources industrial-licensing process.
Foreign ownership
Use the investment-registration route for the proposed manufacturing activity and owners; product-specific restrictions and approvals are assessed separately.
Capital requirements
Plan for the factory, equipment, production capacity and operating needs. This page does not impose a blanket non-trading MISA capital threshold.
Regulators and their role
- Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) — Industrial project licensing and production stage
- Municipality / industrial-site authority — Site and premises approvals
- Product regulator — Additional requirements for regulated products, such as SFDA for food
- Activity + ownership
- MISA registrationWhere applicable
- Company formation + CR
- Prepare the factory siteMunicipality / site authority
- Complete industrial licensingMIM
Step details
- Confirm the activity and owners
Choose the activities the company will actually carry out and the correct ownership route.
DuVolks
- Complete investment registration, where applicable
For the foreign-investment route, complete the relevant MISA registration. Saudi/GCC-only routes follow their applicable formation process.
MISA
- Form the company and issue its CR
Complete the company documents and commercial registration with the selected activities.
Saudi Business Center / Ministry of Commerce
- Prepare the factory site
Complete the applicable municipal or industrial-site approvals.
Municipality / site authority
- Complete industrial licensing
Obtain the relevant MIM industrial approval and fulfil the production-stage requirements before manufacturing.
MIM
Planning your operation
What Saudization and Nitaqat checks apply to manufacturing businesses?
Plan both your entity’s Nitaqat position and the rules for the jobs you will hire.
Your team & Saudization
Nitaqat: your entity’s workforce
Nitaqat assesses the entity’s workforce using its registered economic activity and employee figures. A broad sector name alone does not determine the required percentage. Use the Nitaqat planner with your Qiwa activity and workforce.
Profession-specific Saudization
Profession-specific Saudization is a separate check. The applicable decision may depend on the occupation, covered workforce, workplace and effective date. Meeting a Nitaqat band does not replace this check.
Roles to check: engineering, technical, procurement, warehouse and administrative roles. These are prompts for your hiring plan, not a statement that every listed role has the same quota.
Use the tool’s scope, effective date and source notes. These links do not transfer or infer your activity, headcount or job codes.
What are the municipality requirements for factories and industrial premises?
Your exact activity and premises determine the requirements. Check the Balady activity record before leasing or fitting out.
Your premises & municipality requirements
Check the premises requirements before signing a lease or starting fit-out.
- Confirm whether the factory sits in a municipal area or an industrial zone with its own site authority.
- Check the proposed process, layout, storage, safety and product permissions with the industrial and site authorities before fit-out.
Planning prompts, not a complete activity-code licensing checklist. Confirm the exact requirements in Balady and with the relevant site authority. Area and room-size figures are not provided in this overview.
In Balady, choose ISIC search, enter the activity code and select the detailed activity. This link opens the official lookup; it does not preselect a code or provide a live feed to this page.
Licences and approvals · 5
Investment registration, where applicable
Company formation · ConditionalFor the relevant foreign-investment ownership route; not a blanket requirement for Saudi/GCC-only businesses.
Company formation and commercial registration
Company formation · Required for the applicable routeRegister the entity and the activities it will carry out.
Municipal / industrial-site approvals
After formation; site preparation · Required for the applicable routeConfirm the factory’s location and applicable premises, environmental and safety requirements.
Industrial licence and production stage
Before manufacturing · Required for the applicable routeComplete MIM’s industrial process. The initial licence supports project establishment but does not itself authorise production.
Product-specific approvals
When applicable · ConditionalArrange additional approvals for regulated output, including food manufacturing.
Practical and ongoing requirements
- Company formation, factory preparation and permission to produce are separate milestones.
- The initial industrial licence is not a permit to begin production.
- The site authority can differ for an industrial-city location; confirm the premises route before signing a lease.
Sources and guidance
DuVolks formation route plus official initial-industrial-licence service reviewed · 5 October 2026
Tell us what you want to build.
Share your activity and proposed owners. We’ll help you work out the next step.