For UK companies and founders
Set Up a Company in Saudi Arabia from the UK
Open a Saudi LLC, a branch of your UK company or a regional headquarters in Riyadh. Expandway handles MISA registration, the commercial registration and every step needed to start trading, while you keep running your business from the UK.
Choose the right structure for a UK business
Most UK 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.
Branch of your UK 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, articles, recent financial statements and a board resolution, apostilled in the UK 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 UK investors should know
| Topic | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Document certification | Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention in December 2022, so UK public documents can usually be apostilled instead of embassy-legalised. They still need a certified Arabic translation. |
| Tax treaty | The UK–Saudi double taxation convention has been in force since 1 January 2009. Ask your UK tax adviser how it applies to dividends, interest and royalties. |
| 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 2–3 hours ahead of the UK, so a full working-day overlap is easy. |
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 UK 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 the UK
Get an activity check, a document list for your UK 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.