Saudi Arabia is open to founders.
The MISA entrepreneur licence lets foreign founders and independent professionals set up in the Kingdom — 100% owned, no local partner, built for individuals building something.
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100% foreign-owned · No local partner · MISA-licensed · Saudization-compliant
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Saudi Arabia's path for founders, independents, and early-stage ventures.
The entrepreneur licence is MISA's route for individual founders and small ventures entering the Kingdom. Lighter than a full corporate setup, structured for professionals who are building something and want the legitimacy of a registered Saudi entity — without the overhead of a large corporate structure.
01
Built for individuals
One founder can own 100% of a Saudi LLC under MISA licence. No local partner, no joint-venture requirement.
02
Lower setup burden
Streamlined for early-stage ventures. Less capital complexity, less governance overhead, faster to activate and begin trading.
03
Full legal legitimacy
A real Saudi commercial registration, a bank account, and the ability to contract, invoice, and hire from day one.
For founders building their first Saudi presence.
Foreign founders
Solo founders or small teams incorporating their Saudi entity, with 100% foreign ownership under MISA.
Independent professionals
Consultants, designers, and specialists who want to bill Saudi clients from a legitimate local entity.
Early-stage startups
Pre-revenue or pre-seed companies standing up a legal entity before raising capital or hiring locally.
Digital businesses
SaaS, app, and e-commerce founders serving Saudi customers who need a compliant local commercial base.
Everything the entrepreneur licence needs to be operational.
Licence, entity, bank account, and the platforms that let you contract, invoice, and hire.
- MISA investment licence application and issuance
- LLC incorporation with 100% foreign ownership
- Articles of Association and governance setup
- Commercial Registration and national address
- Qiwa, ZATCA, and Muqeem platform activation
- Founder visa and Iqama processing
- Maroof e-commerce registration (if applicable)
- Corporate bank account with a SAMA-licensed bank
From your decision to your new entity.
A defined, accountable sequence. You always know the current step, the next step, and who owns it.
Step 01
Document attestation
Authenticate your corporate documents via MOFA and embassy or apostille channels.
Step 02
MISA licence application
Prepare and submit your application to the Ministry of Investment, secure approval, and collect the licence.
Step 03
Commercial registration
Draft and notarise the Articles of Association and extract your Commercial Registration.
Step 04
Government platforms
Register your national address and activate Qiwa, ZATCA, and Muqeem.
Step 05
Visas & bank account
Issue the GM visa, onboard your founding team, and open your corporate bank account.
Quick answers on the entrepreneur licence.
- Who qualifies for an entrepreneur licence?
- Any foreign individual or small company wanting to operate in Saudi Arabia in most commercial activities. The licence is available under MISA's standard foreign investment framework — the entrepreneur route is designed for individual founders and small ventures rather than large corporate groups.
- Is a local partner required?
- No. Under a MISA investment licence, you can own 100% of your Saudi entity as a foreigner, across most economic activities. No Saudi co-founder or sponsor is needed.
- What legal structure does it use?
- Typically a Limited Liability Company (LLC). It is the most practical structure for entrepreneurs — full ownership, manageable governance, and the flexibility to add co-founders or investors later.
- Can I run a fully remote business with a Saudi entity?
- Yes, though you will need a national address and a basic commercial presence to maintain the licence. We advise on the minimum presence required for your specific activity.
- How long does setup take?
- Typically 3 to 5 weeks. The entrepreneur route is one of the faster paths into the Kingdom under the standard MISA framework.
- Do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?
- Not immediately, but a founder visa (Iqama) is typically needed to open a bank account and operate locally. We clarify what physical presence your specific activity requires.
Can you own 100% of your Saudi company?
Six questions. Get an instant eligibility verdict, the exact documents you'll need, and a week-by-week licensing timeline. No sales call to unlock it.
3 minutes · Free · No account needed
Set up your Saudi venture.
Thirty minutes with a specialist who has helped founders across technology, consulting, and e-commerce establish in the Kingdom.