Saudi Market Entry services

Yes. Once the company is formed, the owner may obtain residency by being appointed as the General Manager (GM). After establishment, the company can also sponsor foreign employees for visas, residency permits, and work permits, subject to applicable regulations and operational readiness.

Establishing a Saudi entity can offer several strategic and commercial advantages, including:

• Access to the largest economy in the MENA region
• A strong position for GCC expansion, supported by Saudi Arabia’s scale and regional connectivity
• Access to government support initiatives and incentives
• Opportunities driven by Vision 2030 and ongoing sector transformation
• A young, digitally engaged, and growing consumer and workforce base
• Ability to hire Saudi talent for localization, market insight, and relationship development

A Saudi company must maintain several renewals, filings, and employee-related compliance requirements to remain in good standing. Common obligations include:

• MISA license renewal
• Commercial Registration (CR) renewal
• National Address renewal
• Annual financial statements submission (audited where applicable)
• Tax filings
• Monthly GOSI and related employee insurance compliance requirements
• Health insurance for all employees
• Residency, medical checks, work permits, and entry/exit visa administration for foreign employees
• Proper management of government portals and files, including GOSI, Absher, Qiwa, Mudad, and Muqeem

Additional obligations may apply depending on the industry, regulated activity, and licensing category of the company.

Key tax considerations generally include:

• Corporate income tax of 20% on net income for foreign-owned or partially foreign-owned companies (payable to ZATCA)
• Value Added Tax (VAT) of 15% on most goods and services
• Withholding tax generally ranging from 5% to 20% on certain payments to non-residents, depending on the nature of the payment and applicable rules

Saudi Arabia generally does not impose personal income tax on individuals. Tax treatment can vary by company structure, activity, and transaction type, so professional tax advice should always be obtained before making decisions.

An apostille is an official government-issued certificate attached to a document so that it can be recognized in another country. It is used where both countries are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.

If one or both countries are not part of the Hague Convention, documents usually must go through a longer legalization or attestation process, which may include certification by the issuing country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, legalization by the destination country’s embassy, and further certification by the destination country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In practice, this often applies when a foreign parent company is submitting corporate documents to establish a subsidiary or branch in Saudi Arabia.