UAE to Saudi Arabia / Business setup guide
How to set up a company in Saudi Arabia from the UAE
Choose who will own the business, prepare your UAE documents, then complete the Saudi registration and operating requirements.
For Emirati-owned and foreign-owned UAE businesses. A 4–5 minute guide.
Who will own the Saudi business?
Individual owner
Set up in your own name
Your name appears as an owner of the Saudi company. If you’re a UAE or other GCC citizen, we’ll check the setup route for your activity. If you’re a non-GCC national living in the UAE, we’ll check whether you qualify to invest in your own name, for example through Saudi Premium Residency.
Company owner
Set up through your UAE company
Your UAE company holds the shares in the Saudi subsidiary. We check who owns the UAE company and what it plans to do in Saudi Arabia. If it has non-GCC shareholders, we check the foreign investment route.
Subsidiary or branch? A subsidiary is a separate Saudi company. A branch is an extension of your UAE company. Agree the structure and permitted activity before preparing the PoA.
Prepare these four documents.
For a UAE company investing in Saudi Arabia, start with these documents.
- Trade licence / incorporation record
- The current record identifying your UAE company.
- Memorandum of Association (MoA)
- Include amendments showing the current owners and signing authority.
- Financial statements
- The latest completed financial year, ready for the required authentication.
- Power of Attorney (PoA)
- Authority for the agreed Saudi setup work. Confirm the wording before signing.
We also confirm shareholder IDs, company resolutions and any activity-specific documents. An individual shareholder needs a tailored list.
From consultation to opening.
Agree the structure and scope
Confirm the owners, Saudi activity, subsidiary or branch, and general manager. We identify the approvals, document list and work included in your proposal.
Issue the Power of Attorney
Sign the agreed PoA through the applicable UAE notary or authentication service. Check names and authority against the company documents.
Attest the UAE documents
UAE MoFASaudi embassy or consulate
We confirm any prior certification, arrange the attestation and check the returned documents. Arabic translations are arranged where the receiving service requires them.
Register the Saudi business
Complete the investment registration and company or branch application, including any preliminary sector approvals. Check the issued commercial registration and incorporation documents.
Get ready to operate
Complete the bank application, business address, premises and activity licences. Set up tax and employer accounts, and arrange the general manager’s visa and residency where needed.
Before starting, check that registration and operating permissions are in place and banking and staffing are ready.
Budget for both countries.
UAE document costs
- Attestation
- AED 2,300Per document, including UAE MoFA and Saudi consulate
- Power of Attorney
- AED 950–1,500Depending on the required PoA
DuVolks’ indicative charges, before VAT. The final quote confirms which documents need attestation and what the PoA charge includes.
Saudi setup costs
We quote our service fee after reviewing the ownership, activity and required support.
Budget separately for government fees, the general manager’s visa and residency, and applicable premises, translation and other provider costs.
Explore Saudi government feesWe estimate 30–45 days from the MISA investment registration step until your general manager receives their Iqama. Prepare and attest your UAE documents before this period. Allow extra time if your activity needs additional approvals.
DuVolks / UAE & Saudi Arabia
One team, from advice to setup.
We handle the consultation, PoA coordination, UAE attestation, Saudi registration and agreed operating setup. You approve the structure, provide the documents and sign where required. Authorities and banks decide their approvals.