Trade (Commercial) License in Saudi Arabia
The MoC commercial license for buying and selling goods. Cover wholesale, retail, import/export and e-commerce activities — paired with a MISA license for foreign ownership and customs registration for cross-border trade.
Issuing authority
Ministry of Commerce (MoC)
What it authorizes
Wholesale, retail, import/export and e-commerce
Typical timeline
5-15 days (after MISA, where required)
Common entity types
LLC, Single-Person LLC, JSC
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Who needs the trade license
The Ministry of Commerce license for trading activities — wholesale, retail, import, export and e-commerce.
Importers and distributors
Bringing products into Saudi Arabia for wholesale or distribution.
Retailers
Physical-store retail across categories — from electronics to fashion to F&B.
E-commerce sellers
Online retail through your own platform or marketplaces — with Maroof registration.
Export-oriented traders
Sourcing in Saudi Arabia and exporting regionally or globally.
Activities this license covers
A representative list — we confirm the exact ISIC codes for your specific activity on the first call.
- Wholesale of goods across categories
- Retail trade — physical and online
- Import and export of permitted goods
- E-commerce and marketplace selling
- Distribution and dealership activities
- Auto trading, electronics, fashion, F&B and more
At a glance
- Issuing authority
- Ministry of Commerce (MoC)
- What it authorizes
- Wholesale, retail, import/export and e-commerce
- Typical timeline
- 5-15 days (after MISA, where required)
- Common entity types
- LLC, Single-Person LLC, JSC
- Government fee
- Varies by activity and capital
How we secure your trade license
One team coordinates every step — MISA, MoC and the sector regulator — so you deal with us, not the platforms.
Activity and capital
Confirm trading activities and capital requirements (some categories have minimums).
MISA license (if foreign)
Secure the MISA investment license — required for foreign-owned trading companies.
Articles & CR
Draft and notarize the Articles of Association and issue the Commercial Registration.
Customs and Maroof
Register with Saudi Customs for import/export and with Maroof for e-commerce trust verification.
Documents you'll typically need
- MISA investment license (foreign investors)
- Reserved trade name
- Articles of Association
- Shareholder / director identification
- National address (Wasel)
- Customs registration for import/export
Common questions
- Is 100% foreign ownership allowed in trading?
- Yes for most trading activities under a MISA license, with capital and substance requirements. Some activities (e.g. fuel retail) remain restricted.
- Do I need customs registration?
- Yes for any import or export — Saudi Customs registration is required and is separate from the MoC commercial license. We handle both.
- What about e-commerce?
- Online sellers need the trade license plus Maroof registration (the consumer-trust platform) and ZATCA e-invoicing compliance from day one.
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