Foreign-owned LLC formation in Saudi Arabia, with you holding 100% of the shares.

Yes, in most activities. Since the Investment Law took effect in February 2025, a foreign investor registers with MISA and can hold every share in any activity open to foreign investment. A short excluded list stays closed, and a few activities need a Saudi partner.

Yes. Article 157 of the Companies Law allows a one-owner LLC, whether the owner is a person or a company. You can add partners later by amending the articles and the MISA registration.

Yes. A split such as 60% to your holding company and 40% to you personally is common. Each shareholder provides its own documents, and the split is written into the articles and the MISA registration.

No. The sponsor model does not apply to a MISA-registered LLC. Only listed activities, such as professional firms set up with a Saudi partner, need a Saudi shareholder, and there the Saudi share must be at least 25%.

Activities on the prohibited list stay closed to foreign owners. The list is issued by the standing ministerial committee that examines foreign investments, as the Investment Law’s Implementing Regulations describe, and it changes, so we check your activity against the current version before anything else.

No. A free-zone company is limited to its zone. A Saudi LLC registered with MISA trades across the whole Kingdom and contracts directly with Saudi customers.

GCC nationals are treated close to Saudi nationals for many activities and their share pays zakat rather than income tax. The rules vary by activity, so we confirm them case by case.

Nothing changes. The LLC is a separate company. Your home business can own it, sell services to it and receive dividends from it, taxed under both countries’ rules.

Yes. Under Article 178 the other partners get 30 days to buy before an outsider can, unless the articles set a longer period. The transfer is then filed with MISA as an ownership amendment and must reach the CR within 30 days.

The Companies Law sets no figure for every LLC. MISA sets minimums for a few activities, such as SAR 30 million for a 100% foreign-owned trading company. Software and IT activities carry no MISA minimum, and for most service activities the capital is what the business plan needs.

Article 158 has the partners confirm in the articles that their contributions are fully paid, so plan the money before signing. Some activities and banks ask for proof of deposit, and we line that up with you.

Yes. The Companies Law allows contributions in kind, valued by an accredited valuer and recorded with the articles (Articles 158 and 159). Cash is simpler for a new foreign-owned LLC, and banks find it easier to verify.

Yes. A shareholder loan is common for working capital. Interest paid abroad can carry withholding tax, so agree the terms with your accountant first.

As dividends, approved by the shareholders after the accounts are closed. Dividends paid to non-resident shareholders carry 5% withholding tax, which a treaty may reduce.

Article 6 of the Investment Law’s Implementing Regulations gives investors the right to transfer investment funds into and out of the Kingdom without delay. Your own country may have rules on money going out, such as State Bank of Pakistan rules or India’s overseas investment (ODI) rules, which we flag at the start.

The activity sets the Saudi government fees, and the number of shareholders and the countries that issued their papers set the notary, apostille and translation costs. Our part is a fixed fee for the option you choose, with no hidden costs. We quote each case in writing.

A Saudi LLC needs a National Address in every case. Whether it needs leased premises depends on the activity, municipal licensing and the bank. We tell you at the planning stage.

Possibly, but check first. MISA’s 2026 Investor Guide (13th edition) no longer lists the old MISA approval for company-owned offices, warehouses or staff housing. We check the current rules for your property and city before you commit to a purchase.

One or more managers named in the articles. A manager can be a shareholder or an outsider and can be a foreign national.

No law requires it, but banks, GOSI and Qiwa work far more smoothly with a resident manager or signatory. Most owners appoint one once the company starts hiring.

Yes. Many owners take the role and are sponsored by their own LLC for residency. See investor visa and Iqama.

Yes, if each is open to foreign investment and any sector licence is obtained. We group related activities so you don’t need a new registration to grow.

Through MISA’s activity amendment service, which lists no fee. An open activity updates immediately; a restricted one takes an estimated five working days. The CR is then updated to match.

Once it is registered with GOSI and has an active Qiwa file. See GOSI, Qiwa and Muqeem.

After the CR, articles, National Address and usually the ZATCA number. See corporate bank account opening.

Usually. Article 18 of the Companies Law requires a licensed auditor, and Article 19 exempts micro and small companies unless their articles or another law require one. Your accountant confirms which side you fall on; we plan for an audit until they do.

Yes. Article 220 allows conversion, for example to a joint stock company, by a decision taken like an amendment to the articles, once the new form’s conditions are met. It is uncommon at the start.

Usually a few weeks once your documents are legalised and translated, which is the slow part. MISA estimates ten working days for a complete registration. One client reported 47 days from start to finish, and two of our files for Pakistani shareholders went from MISA registration to CR in 25 days and in 114 days. That spread is why we don’t promise a date.

Not for the registrations. A power of attorney covers MISA and the CR, and our guide to forming a Saudi company from Pakistan walks through that remote route. Banks and residency usually need a visit, and we tell you in advance.

A call or WhatsApp message about what the company will do and who will own it. You then get a written plan with activity codes, structure, documents, timeline and price.

Plan, documents, MISA, articles and CR, National Address and Chamber, ZATCA, GOSI and Qiwa, bank account, then residency.

The trade name is reserved with the Ministry of Commerce under the Trade Names Law in force since 3 April 2025, which also allows English letters and numbers. We send options before reserving one.

Most delays we see are document mistakes: names spelled differently across documents, registry extracts that are too old, the wrong legalisation route, and an activity that needs an extra approval.

No one can legitimately pay a Saudi ministry to go faster. Time is saved by filing a complete, consistent file and answering queries the same day.

The MISA registration, CR, articles, National Address and Chamber records, your ZATCA, GOSI and Qiwa registrations if you took the full route, and a calendar of every yearly filing.

Yes. We audit what was filed, list what is missing and quote to finish it.

A recent registry extract or certificate of incorporation, its articles, its last year’s financial statements, a board resolution approving the LLC and a power of attorney.

A passport, proof of address, a bank reference or statement, and a power of attorney.

If your country is in the Apostille Convention, yes: Saudi Arabia joined with effect from 7 December 2022, so an apostille replaces the embassy stamp for member countries such as the UK, India and Pakistan. Papers from non-members such as the UAE go through the Saudi embassy. See document attestation and apostille.

Yes. The Saudi articles are prepared in Arabic, and we give you an English version for your records.

That the company invests in a Saudi LLC, the capital and shareholding, the manager’s name and powers, and who signs. We draft it for your board.

Tell us before preparing anything. Investing as an individual, or through a group company with accounts, is often the cleaner route.

Yes. Each shareholder signs where they live, and each paper follows the authentication route of the country that issued it.

Yes, if it is recent. We order enough certified copies at the start.

Corporate income tax at 20% of its taxable profit, VAT once registered, and withholding tax on some payments abroad.

Profit is split by ownership: the Saudi or GCC share pays zakat at 2.5% of its zakat base, and the foreign share pays 20% income tax. The worked example above shows it line by line.

Yes, 5% withholding on dividends paid to non-resident shareholders, often reduced by a tax treaty with a residency certificate.

Often, with credit for Saudi tax under a treaty or domestic rules. Your home adviser confirms how; we give them the Saudi figures.

Within 120 days of the end of the LLC’s first financial year, with audited statements.

Only when taxable sales pass SAR 375,000 in 12 months, or are expected to. Voluntary registration is open from SAR 187,500.

Not a general one. Special economic zones and the RHQ programme have their own incentives, with their own conditions.

A Saudi accountant or auditor. We set up the registrations and the calendar they work from.