The Saudi structure built for startups.
Set up an SJSC under the new Companies Law. Flexible governance, ESOP-ready, built for founders raising capital.
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- A named specialist, not a queue
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Flexible governance · ESOP-ready · Investor-friendly · 100% foreign-owned
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Talk to a MISA specialist.
The startup-friendly company type from the new Companies Law.
Introduced by the updated Companies Law, the Simplified Joint Stock Company is the structure built for high-growth, venture-backed businesses. Lighter than a traditional JSC, designed for share-class flexibility, employee equity, and future funding rounds.
01
Flexible share structure
Multiple share classes, preferred shares, and convertible instruments are all supported. The basics any modern cap table needs.
02
ESOP-ready governance
Employee stock option plans are first-class. Set the pool up at incorporation, ready for hiring and dilution.
03
Built for funding rounds
Investor-friendly governance, easier shareholder agreements, and the structure VCs and growth funds expect to invest into.
Built for builders and the funds backing them.
Startups
Founders incorporating in the Kingdom from day one, with growth and fundraising in view.
Venture-backed companies
Pre-seed to Series B businesses that need a proper cap table and clean equity structure.
High-growth tech companies
Companies scaling fast that need flexible governance, employee equity, and a clear path to later rounds.
Pre-investment-round teams
Teams preparing for a priced round who need the right entity in place before term sheets land.
Everything the SJSC needs to be funding-ready.
Incorporation, share-class design, ESOP setup, and the operational backbone to start hiring.
- MISA investment licence application and issuance
- SJSC incorporation under the new Companies Law
- Share classes and articles drafted for cap-table flexibility
- ESOP framework and reserve-pool structuring
- Commercial Registration and national address
- Qiwa, ZATCA, and Muqeem platform activation
- Founder visas and Iqama processing
- 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 SJSC route.
- Why pick an SJSC over an LLC?
- If you plan to raise external capital, build a proper cap table, run an ESOP, or list later, the SJSC is the cleaner structure. LLCs are simpler but constrain how share classes and investor instruments work.
- Can foreigners own 100% of an SJSC?
- Yes. Under a MISA licence, foreign founders can hold all the shares in the SJSC, across most economic activities.
- Can the SJSC issue ESOPs?
- Yes. ESOP pools, vesting schedules, and option grants are all supported. We set the reserved pool up at incorporation so you do not have to amend the articles later.
- Can the SJSC raise priced rounds?
- Yes. The SJSC is designed for it: priced equity rounds, convertible notes, SAFEs, and preferred share classes all fit the structure.
- How long does setup take?
- Typically 3 to 6 weeks. The cap-table and ESOP design adds a small amount of structuring time on top of the standard MISA flow.
- What is the minimum capital?
- There is no statutory floor for most activities, but capital should match what the business actually needs to operate and what investors expect. We size it with you at scoping.
Set up your SJSC.
Thirty minutes with a specialist who has incorporated SJSCs for funded founders.