Situations we help with
- You are setting up a new Saudi company and want the legal form and articles right the first time.
- A foreign company wants to open a subsidiary or a branch in the Kingdom.
- Your company has several old branch registrations that need to be consolidated under the new law.
- Your CR has been suspended because the annual confirmation was missed.
- You need to add activities, change the trade name, or update partners or managers in the register.
What the work covers
- Choosing the company form and drafting the articles of association
- Trade name reservation under the Trade Names Law
- Incorporation and commercial registration through Ministry of Commerce systems
- Ministry of Investment registration for foreign-owned companies
- Activity licences and registrations with sector regulators
- Amendments to the register — activities, capital, managers, partners and addresses
- Annual confirmation, reinstatement of suspended registrations and branch consolidation
The commercial register after 3 April 2025
The Commercial Register Law and the Trade Names Law were issued by Royal Decree M/83 and took effect on 3 April 2025, with Implementing Regulations issued by the Minister of Commerce at the end of March 2025. The main changes for businesses are:
- One national registration. A business registers once for the whole Kingdom; separate city or branch registrations are being phased out.
- No expiry, but an annual confirmation. Traditional renewal is replaced by a yearly confirmation of the registered data.
- Suspension for non-compliance. Missing the confirmation for 90 days after it falls due suspends the registration and connected government services.
- Prompt updates. Changes to registered data must be recorded quickly, and bank account details must be added to the register.
- Fines. Breaches such as failing to confirm data or giving misleading information can attract fines of SAR 500 to SAR 10,000; trade name breaches carry separate fines.
The formation steps in outline
- Decide the structure. Choose the company form and, for foreign investors, confirm the activity is open to foreign investment.
- Reserve the trade name. The name must meet the Trade Names Law requirements.
- Prepare the articles of association. This is where ownership, management, profit distribution and exit rules are set.
- Register with the Ministry of Investment if any shareholder is foreign.
- Incorporate and obtain the commercial registration through the Ministry of Commerce systems.
- Complete post-registration steps — chamber of commerce membership, tax and zakat registration with ZATCA, labour and social insurance registrations, and any sector licences.
The step-by-step guide linked below explains each stage in more detail.
How a consultation works
- 1
Tell us what you need
Send a short enquiry or call the office. Describe the matter in general terms — no confidential documents yet.
- 2
Conflict check and call-back
The firm checks that it can act for you, then contacts you to understand the matter.
- 3
Consultation
You meet a lawyer in Jeddah or online. You get an initial view of your position and options.
- 4
Scope and fees in writing
If you instruct the firm, you receive the scope of work and fees in writing before work begins.
Questions clients ask
Does a Saudi commercial registration still need to be renewed every year?
No. Under the Commercial Register Law that took effect on 3 April 2025, a registration no longer expires. Instead, the business must confirm its register data every year from the date of registration. If the confirmation is not made within 90 days of the due date, the registration is suspended, along with related government services.
Do I still need a separate CR for each branch?
No. The new law moves to a single national commercial registration for the business, with branches and activities recorded under it. Businesses that already had separate branch registrations were given a transition period to regularise them.
How long does company formation take?
The online incorporation and registration steps can be quick once documents are ready. The real timetable depends on the company form, whether foreign shareholders need Ministry of Investment registration, and any sector licences. The firm will give you an estimate after reviewing your plans.
What happens if a non-Saudi runs a business under a Saudi's commercial registration?
That is commercial concealment (tasattur), which the Anti-Concealment Law prohibits. Penalties include imprisonment of up to five years, fines of up to SAR 5 million, closure and deportation of the non-Saudi involved. Foreign investors should use a legitimate structure registered with the Ministry of Investment.
Official sources
Laws change. We cite the official text so you can check the current version.
This page is general information, not legal advice for your situation.