For Canadian companies and founders
Set Up a Company in Saudi Arabia from Canada
Open a Saudi LLC, a branch of your Canadian company or a regional headquarters in Riyadh. Expandway handles MISA registration, the commercial registration and the steps needed to start trading in the Kingdom.
Choose the right structure for a Canadian business
Canadian investors usually choose between three routes, based on activity, liability and whether government contracts are part of the plan.
Saudi LLC
A separate Saudi company with limited liability. Up to 100% foreign ownership is available in many activities. Best for long-term operations and local hiring.
Branch of your Canadian company
An extension of the parent, not a new legal entity, so the parent stays responsible for it. Suits project work in the parent’s existing line of business. Branch vs LLC explained.
Regional headquarters
For groups managing several countries from Riyadh. Since January 2024 an RHQ in the Kingdom matters for Saudi government contracts, with defined exemptions. RHQ setup.
How the setup works, step by step
- Activity and structure review. We confirm your activity is open to foreign investment and choose the right legal form.
- Home-country documents. Certificate and articles of incorporation, by-laws, recent financial statements and a board resolution, apostilled in Canada and translated into Arabic by a licensed translator.
- MISA investment registration. We file with the Ministry of Investment and track it to approval.
- Commercial registration (CR). Company name, articles of association and CR issued through the Ministry of Commerce.
- Ready to operate. National address, Chamber of Commerce, ZATCA tax and VAT, GOSI, Qiwa, Muqeem and your corporate bank account.
What Canadian investors should know
| Topic | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Document certification | Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention in December 2022, and Canada is also a member, so Canadian public documents can usually be apostilled instead of embassy-legalised. They still need a certified Arabic translation. |
| Tax planning | Canada and Saudi Arabia began negotiating an income tax treaty in July 2026; no treaty is in force yet. Plan withholding and foreign tax credits with your Canadian accountant. |
| Saudi taxes | Corporate income tax of 20% applies to the foreign-owned share of profits, Zakat applies to the Saudi/GCC-owned share, and VAT is 15%. |
| Time zone | Riyadh is 7–8 hours ahead of Toronto, so plan a short morning overlap for approvals. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to travel to Saudi Arabia to register?
Most steps can be handled under a power of attorney. Travel may be needed later for residency, biometrics or bank onboarding, depending on the bank and your role.
Can a Canadian company own 100% of a Saudi company?
In many activities, yes. Some sectors are restricted or need extra approvals, so we check your exact activity against MISA’s lists first.
How long does it take?
It depends mainly on how quickly your home-country documents are ready. See our registration timeline guide for a stage-by-stage view.
Plan your Saudi entry from Canada
Get an activity check, a document list for your Canadian entity and a written cost estimate before you commit.
Related: business setup in Saudi Arabia · foreign company registration · MISA requirements. This page is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Government fees are paid to the authorities separately from Expandway’s service fee.
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