For Indian companies and founders
Set Up a Company in Saudi Arabia from India
Open a Saudi LLC, a branch of your Indian company or a regional headquarters in Riyadh. Expandway handles MISA registration, the commercial registration and every step needed to start trading, and works alongside your CA and bank on the India-side approvals.
Choose the right structure for an Indian business
Most Indian investors choose between three routes. The right one depends on your activity, who will sign contracts in the Kingdom and whether you plan to bid for government work.
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. Saudi company types compared.
Branch of your Indian 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 of incorporation, memorandum and articles, recent financial statements and a board resolution, apostilled by India’s Ministry of External Affairs 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 Indian investors should know
| Topic | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Document certification | India and Saudi Arabia are both Apostille Convention members, so Indian public documents are usually apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs instead of embassy-legalised. They still need a certified Arabic translation. |
| Overseas investment rules | Indian companies and residents invest abroad under the FEMA overseas investment rules, usually through an authorised dealer bank with the required ODI filings. Plan this with your bank and CA before funding the Saudi company. |
| Tax treaty | Saudi Arabia and India have a double taxation avoidance agreement. Ask your Indian tax adviser how it applies to dividends, fees and royalties. |
| Saudi taxes | Corporate income tax of 20% applies to the foreign-owned share of profits, Zakat applies to any Saudi/GCC-owned share, and VAT is 15%. |
| Time zone | Riyadh is 2.5 hours behind India, so working days overlap for most of the day. |
Frequently asked questions
Can an Indian company or national own 100% of a Saudi company?
In many activities, yes, once the investor is registered with MISA. Some sectors are restricted or need extra approvals, so we check your exact activity against MISA’s lists first.
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.
How long does it take?
Usually 4–8 weeks from complete, attested documents to an operating company. For Indian investors, ODI filings with your bank and document apostille usually set the pace. See our registration timeline guide for a stage-by-stage view.
Plan your Saudi entry from India
Get an activity check, a document list for your Indian entity and a written cost estimate before you commit.
Related: business setup in Saudi Arabia · company formation in Saudi Arabia · foreign company registration · MISA license fees. This page is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Government fees are paid to the authorities separately from Expandway’s service fee.