Trading license in Saudi Arabia, and the lighter routes to test the market first.

Yes. MISA opens wholesale and retail trading, online sales included, to foreign investors under its commercial-activity conditions.

A company registered with MISA and the Ministry of Commerce for trading activities, plus importer registration if it imports.

Yes. Selling goods online is commercial activity under the same conditions.

Only if trading is among its registered activities on both MISA and the CR.

A licensed manufacturer sells its own products. The trading conditions target companies whose business is buying and selling.

MISA and the Ministry of Commerce register the company. ZATCA runs customs and VAT, while SASO and SFDA set the product rules.

No. An agency is a registered contract with a Saudi agent; a trading licence means a Saudi company of your own.

Yes, if the services are registered activities open to foreign investment on the same MISA registration and CR.

Longer than a service company, because of the extra documents and plan. MISA estimates ten working days once the file is complete.

SAR 30 million, according to MISA’s Investor Guide.

That the company already trades in at least three regional or global markets, shown through registrations there.

SAR 300 million over five years, or SAR 200 million plus one localisation commitment, both including SAR 30 million of cash capital.

Manufacturing 30% of locally distributed products in Saudi Arabia, spending 5% of sales on local R&D, or a unified logistics and after-sales centre.

From the date of the investment registration.

Ministry of Human Resources rates, Saudis in senior management within five years, and 30% of Saudi staff trained each year.

The registration’s conditions are breached, with consequences under MISA’s rules. Commit only to a plan you can deliver.

SAR 26,666,667, with the Saudi partner holding at least 25%.

Through a Saudi distributor or agent, or online from abroad with VAT registration.

A Saudi company buys and resells your goods. Commercial agency agreements are registered with the Ministry of Commerce.

Yes. MISA registers a scientific and technical office for a foreign company that has a Saudi agent or distributor. The office supports them and studies the market, but it cannot sign contracts or trade.

Yes. A non-resident making taxable supplies in Saudi Arabia registers for VAT with no threshold, usually through a tax representative.

Yes, by MISA amendment, provided the commercial conditions are met then.

They suit some logistics and manufacturing models with their own rules. We check whether yours fits.

Yes, under the distribution contract. It should say who owns the stock until it sells, when you get paid and how returns work.

A distributor or a Saudi partner, then full ownership once your Saudi volumes justify SAR 30 million of capital.

On ZATCA’s FASAH platform, using the CR number. Clearance itself goes through a licensed customs broker.

SASO’s online conformity platform. A regulated product needs a product certificate there, then a shipment certificate for each consignment before clearance.

Food, cosmetics, medicines and medical devices. SFDA also classifies borderline products, such as a cream that might count as a cosmetic or a medicine.

Customs duty depends on the product’s tariff line, and VAT at 15% applies on top.

Missing or mismatched certificates, wrong HS codes, and documents that don’t match the invoice.

The importer of record: your Saudi company, or your distributor if it imports.

Many regulated products do, under SASO or SFDA rules.

No. A third-party logistics provider can store and fulfil orders for you.

If you sell online to Saudi consumers, yes. It sets duties on disclosure and consumer protection, and on keeping records.

20% income tax on the foreign share of profit, zakat on any Saudi or GCC share, and VAT at 15%.

Above SAR 375,000 of taxable supplies in 12 months, voluntarily from SAR 187,500. Most traders cross it quickly.

Yes. A VAT-registered importer reclaims it through its VAT return when the goods are used for taxable sales.

Monthly above SAR 40 million of annual taxable supplies, quarterly below.

Yes, to every VAT-registered business, with phase 2 integration by revenue wave.

Yes, on goods such as tobacco and sweetened drinks.

Exports of goods can be zero-rated when ZATCA’s conditions and evidence rules are met.

Its accountant, working from the registrations we set up. See ZATCA and VAT.

The foreign company’s registration and last year’s accounts, certified, plus proof of three-market presence. A parent company of a different nationality adds its own CR.

From Convention countries, yes; otherwise embassy legalisation. See attestation and apostille.

The registrations can, under power of attorney. Banking and senior hires usually mean a visit.

Importer registration and product approvals come first for a trader, then VAT with e-invoicing, staff registration on GOSI and Qiwa, and the bank account.

In practice, yes. Customs duty and import VAT are paid from it, and so are your suppliers. See corporate bank accounts.

We map the approvals for each product line and coordinate with the specialists who file them.

No. We handle the company and its registrations and compliance; sourcing and freight stay with you.

Yes. We review what was filed and quote to finish it. The registrations around it are on our company formation services page.