MISA issues the foreign-investment licence that lets non-Saudi investors own and operate businesses in the Kingdom. We prepare your application, attest documents and manage renewals.
What businesses use MISA for
The Ministry of Investment (MISA) is the government ministry responsible for investment in Saudi Arabia, and it runs its own online services for investors. For a non-Saudi investor it is usually the first government touchpoint, because the investment licence comes before commercial registration and most other registrations. Typical services include:
- Issuing a new investment licence for an activity open to foreign investment.
- Renewing the licence before it expires.
- Amending licence details, such as activities, shareholders, capital or the company name.
- Cancelling a licence when an entity is closed or restructured.
- Information for investors on sectors, incentives and investment opportunities.
How a business generally gets access
The investor creates an account on MISA’s e-services, selects activities from the official activity classification and uploads the required documents. These typically include the parent company’s commercial registration and financial statements, a shareholder or board resolution, and passport copies for individual investors, attested and translated as required. Fees are set by MISA and should be checked on its official website. Once the licence is issued, the company completes commercial registration through the Saudi Business Center, then registers with ZATCA, GOSI, Qiwa, Muqeem and the chamber of commerce.
Common issues
- Foreign documents submitted without the full attestation chain.
- Licensed activities that do not match the commercial registration or the business actually carried out.
- A missed renewal, which can affect access to other government services.
- Shareholder or capital changes made in one system but not reflected in the others.
MISA is run by the government; Innovant is a private consultancy, not part of MISA, and can help prepare documents and follow up applications.
Frequently asked questions
Do all foreign investors need a MISA licence?
A non-Saudi investor who wants to own a business in the Kingdom generally needs an investment licence for the chosen activity. Some activities are restricted or carry extra conditions, so the current list should be checked with MISA.
Can a foreign investor own 100% of a company?
MISA licensing allows 100% foreign ownership in many activities, while some sectors carry ownership limits or extra conditions. The position for a specific activity should be confirmed before the structure is finalised.
What happens after the licence is issued?
The company completes commercial registration, opens a bank account, registers for tax and social insurance, sets up its Qiwa and Muqeem accounts and obtains any sector or municipal licences its activity needs.
