Business setup cost calculator for Saudi Arabia
Answer a few questions to estimate the cost of forming your company and running it for the first year: government fees, document preparation and the main running costs. Every amount is tied to its source and review date, and anything that depends on an official decision is shown as a range.
- MC fee, LLC formation
- SAR 1,200 + SAR 500 + VAT1
- MISA fees
- set at approval3
- Saudi VAT rate
- 15%4
In brief
- The cost of setting up a company in Saudi Arabia depends mainly on the activity, the entity type, the number of shareholders and where the documents come from.
- Some government fees are fixed and published: the Ministry of Commerce charges SAR 1,200 to form an LLC under an investment certificate, plus a SAR 500 publication fee and 15% VAT (checked in September 2026).
- Others are set case by case: MISA fixes its fee when it approves the registration (Investor Guide, 13th edition, 2026). Advisory firms report a range from zero to about SAR 62,000 a year depending on the activity, to be confirmed at filing.
- Share capital is not a cost: it is deposited in the company's account and stays available to the business.
- The calculator does not include our fees, which are quoted in writing at a fixed price after an eligibility check.
Calculator
Shareholders (individuals or companies)
Foreign employees, manager included
Estimated first-year budget, excluding capital
28,350 – 176,105 SAR
about 6,600 € – 41,000 €
Share capital : 100,000 – 500,000 SAR. Capital stays in the company's account: it is not an expense.
Indicative estimate based on observed, sourced ranges. MISA fees are set case by case on approval.
How the estimate is built
The estimate adds up three groups of costs, shown separately so you can see what is certain and what is not. First, government fees: investment registration with MISA, company formation and publication of the articles at the Ministry of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce membership and, if you add it, a trademark filing with SAIP.
Second, preparation costs in your home country and in Saudi Arabia: apostilles, signature certification and certified translations. These vary with the issuing country and the number of documents, which is why the document checklist matters.
Third, first-year running costs: office (a lease registered on Ejar), the general manager's visa and iqama, the monthly levy for foreign employees, and GOSI social insurance contributions. They are not setup fees, but they weigh on the real budget and are often forgotten.
Each amount carries a label: published (official tariff, with a link), range (set case by case or variable) or to be confirmed (not officially published). Tariffs are re-checked and the review date on this page is updated.
Cost items included and their source
Table 1
| Item | Reference amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| LLC formation at the Ministry of Commerce | SAR 1,200 + SAR 500 publication + 15% VAT | Published (Ministry of Commerce) |
| Investment registration (MISA) | SAR 0 to about 62,000 a year depending on the activity | Range, set at approval |
| Chamber of Commerce | Depends on the membership category | Range |
| Apostilles, legalisation, translations | Depends on the country and number of documents | Range |
| Trademark filing (optional) | Depends on the number of classes | Published by SAIP, plus the licensed agent's fees |
| Office, GM visa and iqama, GOSI | Depends on city, floor area and headcount | Range, first year |
| Share capital | No general legal minimum for an LLC; SAR 100,000 to 500,000 often expected in practice | Not a cost: remains the company's money |
What the calculator does not include
How to read the result
Separate what you pay once (formation, publication, apostilles) from what recurs every year (MISA registration, Chamber of Commerce, lease, iqama). A company that looks cheap to form can cost far more over a full year.
The result is not a quote: it is an order of magnitude to decide whether the project fits your budget. For a firm figure, we review your activity and send a written proposal. The item-by-item breakdown, with sources, is in our guide to company formation costs.
Refine your budget
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to set up a company in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on the activity, the entity and the number of shareholders. On the government side, forming an LLC at the Ministry of Commerce costs SAR 1,200 plus a SAR 500 publication fee and VAT, on top of MISA's fees (set at approval), Chamber of Commerce membership and document preparation.
Is the calculator free, with no sign-up?
Yes. The estimate appears straight away. You can then send it to us if you want a firm quote, but you do not have to.
Are MISA fees known in advance?
Not precisely. MISA sets its fee case by case when it approves the registration. The calculator uses the range reported by advisory firms, from zero to about SAR 62,000 a year depending on the activity, to be confirmed at filing.
Is share capital part of the cost?
No. Capital is deposited in the company's bank account and remains available for the business. There is no general legal minimum for an LLC, but SAR 100,000 to 500,000 is often expected in practice.
Why are your fees not in the calculation?
Because they are not published yet: they depend on the scope of the file and are quoted in writing at a fixed price after a free eligibility check.
When were the tariffs last checked?
The last review date is shown at the top of this page. Published tariffs are re-checked on the official websites (Ministry of Commerce, MISA, SAIP, ZATCA) and the page is updated whenever a change is found.
Notes and sources
- 1.Ministry of Commerce: company formation under an investment certificate (fees)
- 2.Ministry of Investment (MISA): FAQ
- 3.MISA: Investor Guide, 13th edition (02-2026)
- 4.ZATCA: VAT registration thresholds
- 5.Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP)
Information verified in September 2026. Amounts and timelines are observed ranges provided for information only. Government fees are set by Saudi authorities and may change: we confirm them in writing before you commit to anything.
See also
Turn the estimate into a firm budget
Send us your estimate and your activity: after a free eligibility check, you receive a written proposal with itemised government fees and our fixed price.
- Free 30-minute first call
- Reply within one business day
- No commitment