Overview
The investment licence from the Ministry of Investment (MISA) is the sole legal gateway for a foreign investor to trade in the Kingdom. Without it, no commercial registration can be issued for a foreign-owned entity, no corporate bank account opened, and no employees recruited.
The first question to settle is not "how do I get the licence" but "which activity do I choose" — because the activity determines everything downstream: permitted ownership (up to 100% in many sectors), minimum capital where applicable, and licence type: service, trading, industrial, regional headquarters, or entrepreneur.
Rapture handles the investor journey end to end: identifying the activity and the ownership available within it, preparing attested documents from the country of origin, filing through the MISA platform, then completing everything after the licence — commercial registration, articles of association, establishment file and tax registration — so your company is genuinely operational, not merely incorporated on paper.
Who is this service for?
- Foreign companies entering the Saudi market with their own entity
- Individual investors from outside the Kingdom establishing a business
- Global companies considering a regional headquarters in Riyadh
- Foreign partners joining existing Saudi companies
Required documents
- Parent company commercial registration, attested in the country of origin and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi embassy
- Audited financial statements for the last financial year, attested
- Board resolution to invest in Saudi Arabia and appoint a representative
- Passports of owners or partners
- Power of attorney for the representative in the Kingdom
- The target activity and intended ownership percentage
How the process works
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Determine activity and licence type
We assess your target activity against the activity lists, establish the permitted ownership, and identify the right licence type — service, trading, industrial, RHQ or entrepreneur.
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Prepare the file and attestations
We prepare parent company documents and manage attestation in the country of origin and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi embassy — in practice the longest stage and the most common source of delay.
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File through the MISA platform
We submit through the Ministry of Investment platform, track examination, and respond immediately to any queries or requests for further information.
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Complete post-licence setup
Once issued, we obtain the commercial registration, notarise the articles of association, open the establishment file, and register you with ZATCA and GOSI so the company is ready to operate.
Expected turnaround
Four to twelve weeks, driven principally by how quickly parent company documents are attested in the country of origin.
Frequently asked questions
Is 100% foreign ownership possible?
Yes. Full ownership is permitted across many service, industrial and trading activities. Some activities carry restrictions or require a Saudi partner. We review your specific activity and confirm the available percentage before starting.
What is the minimum capital requirement?
It varies materially by licence type and activity. Many service activities carry no high minimum, while trading and industrial activities have defined requirements. The large figures often quoted apply to specific activities only, not the majority.
How long does a MISA licence take?
The licence itself can issue within weeks once the file is complete, but real elapsed time is governed by attestation of parent company documents — which is why we start that stage early.
What do I need after obtaining the licence?
Commercial registration, notarised articles of association, national address registration, chamber of commerce subscription, an establishment file with the labor office and GOSI, and ZATCA registration. We deliver these as a single package.
Can a foreign investor obtain residency?
Yes. The investment licence enables visas and residence permits for the investor and staff within defined limits, and other routes such as Premium Residency exist. We explain the option best suited to your case.