Saudi Arabia’s updated Investment Law, in force since February 2025, replaced the traditional foreign investment licence — widely known as the MISA licence (previously the SAGIA licence) — with a streamlined investment registration administered by the Ministry of Investment (MISA).
For foreign investors, the practical effect: instead of applying for a separate licence per activity, qualifying investors complete a unified registration that applies equally to local and foreign investors, with most sectors open unless they appear on the excluded activities list.
The investment registration confirms a qualifying non-Saudi investor’s right to establish or participate in a Saudi business for the registered activity. It replaces the former licence as the first formal step, but it remains only one stage of a complete setup: the investor must still complete the company’s constitutional documents, Commercial Registration, tax and labour-platform registrations, office, visas and banking before the business is operational.
Note: many advisors and investors still call this the ‘MISA license’. Whichever term is used, the current process is registration-based, and activity-specific conditions, capital expectations and sector approvals can still apply. A preliminary assessment confirms the position for your activity before any filing.
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The separate MISA licence has been replaced. Since the updated Investment Law took effect in February 2025, foreign investors complete a unified investment registration with the Ministry of Investment instead of obtaining a per-activity licence. Activity conditions and sector approvals can still apply, so eligibility should be assessed before filing.
Most sectors are open to foreign investment unless they appear on the excluded activities list, and some open activities still carry conditions such as capital expectations, professional qualifications or sector-regulator approvals. Restrictions change over time, so we verify the current position for your exact activity classification during the preliminary assessment.
Typically: the parent’s registration documents and constitutional documents, a board resolution, a Power of Attorney, shareholder and General Manager identification, and for some activities audited financial statements and professional credentials. Documents generally require legalisation and certified Arabic translation, which is often the longest step, so we start it early.
The registration itself is designed to be fast once documents are complete. The realistic end-to-end timeline is driven by document legalisation and translation, followed by Commercial Registration and post-registration platform setup. Straightforward service activities move quickest; regulated and industrial activities take longer due to additional approvals.
A transparent indicative range based on your structure and scope. No hidden fees. No surprises. Final quote confirmed in a free consultation.