MISA License in Saudi Arabia 2026: Requirements, Fees & What Changed
MISA license in Saudi Arabia 2026: what changed under the new Investment Law, requirements, fees after the SAR 62,000 fee stopped, steps and timeline.
Until early 2025, the first question almost every investor asked us about Saudi Arabia was: how much will the investment license cost me every year? The answer surprised a lot of people: SAR 62,000 a year. That number no longer applies. When the new Investment Law came into force in February 2025, collection of that fee stopped, and the licensing process itself changed.
Not everything said about the new law is true, though, and we have heard plenty of rumors from clients. So here is what actually changed for the MISA license in Saudi Arabia, what stayed the same, and what you need to get started in 2026, based on the files we work on every day.
What is the MISA license?
It is the approval the Saudi Ministry of Investment (MISA) gives a foreign investor before they start any activity in the Kingdom. Without it, a company owned by a foreigner can't get a commercial registration.
Under the new law its official name became "investor registration" instead of "license", but people and most government bodies still call it the investment license or MISA license. They all mean the same thing.
What changed under the new Investment Law?
The new Investment Law was issued by Royal Decree M/19 and came into force in February 2025, together with its implementing regulations. These are the differences we have seen in practice:
Item | Before February 2025 | Under the new law |
|---|---|---|
Name | Investment license | Investor registration with MISA |
Annual fee | SAR 62,000 per license | No longer collected |
Activities | A separate license for each category (service, industrial, trading) | Several activities can be combined in one license |
Yearly follow-up | License renewal and fee payment | Yearly update of the investor's information |
Owning property | Detailed conditions | A CR and using the property for the company's purpose are enough |
Processing time | Officially 3 to 4 working days | About 10 days at least |
MISA license fees in 2026
Until February 2025 the fee was SAR 62,000 a year, charged for every license. An investor who wanted two different activities paid more than SAR 120,000 a year. Since the new law came into force, that fee is no longer collected, which is one of the biggest changes for investors.
What an investor pays today is the cost of the formation process itself, and it depends on the activity and on whether you already have a parent company. With EL-LWAA the price covers the license, the commercial registration, the articles of association and the government platform registrations, plus setting up the parent company if you don't have one. Contact us for a quote, and see the full picture in our guide to company formation in Saudi Arabia.
We follow every new decision on fees closely, and if anything changes we will update this article. For the full formation cost, see what affects the cost of setting up a company.
MISA license requirements
One rumor that spread with the new law is that a foreign company is no longer required and anyone can apply in their own name. That is not true so far. You still need:
An existing company outside Saudi Arabia, in any country.
At least one completed financial year, with financial statements.
A clean record in its home country, with no unpaid taxes or social insurance.
Documents notarized and attested in its home country and by the Saudi embassy.
Some activities have tougher conditions. Trading, for example, needs 3 companies in 3 countries in different regions, or a certain share of Saudi partnership. Some restricted activities also need special approval from the ministry.
No company outside Saudi Arabia?
That's not a problem. We set up a company for you in Egypt that meets the Ministry of Investment's requirements and prepare its financial statements and attestations, and this is included in the package price. If you already have a company that meets the requirements, the cost is lower.
Several activities in one license
In our view, this is the most important practical change. We used to get clients who wanted to import spare parts, install them, and then maintain the equipment they sold. Under the old system we had to tell them: it's either importing, or installation and maintenance, because each activity sat in a different category. So the client had to get two licenses and pay for each one, or wait for the ministry to respond to a request to add the activity.
Now you can start with a service activity and add an industrial or trading activity to the same license, as long as you meet the conditions of each activity. If you meet the trading conditions, you can add service and industrial activities without a second license.
What does the MISA license give you?
Besides the commercial registration, the license gives you:
Freedom to choose the legal form of your Saudi company, even if it differs from the parent company. Your company in Egypt can be an LLC while you set up a single-person company or a joint stock company in Saudi Arabia.
Residency as an investor, which comes with wider rights than a work residency: you can buy, sell and rent, and bring your family. If you want to visit first, read about the investor visa.
Opening branches of your company inside the Kingdom without a new license fee for each branch, apart from small costs such as the branch registration and municipality requirements.
Deciding how many employees your company needs, Saudi and foreign, and issuing their visas.
Owning the property your company needs. Today a CR and using the property for the company's purpose are enough.
Owning a large plot of land for an investment project is different. The project must be worth at least SAR 30 million, with a feasibility study from a Saudi engineering office or chartered accountant. Buying and selling land as a business also isn't allowed without a real estate investment license.
Steps to get a MISA license
1. Prepare the parent company
We review its papers, prepare the financial statements, and notarize and attest the documents.
2. Choose the activities and the entity type
We decide with you which activities to combine in the license, and whether you need a branch or a Saudi company. If you choose a branch, see our guide to opening a foreign company branch.
3. Apply to the Ministry of Investment
We submit the application on the ministry's platform with the required documents. Processing now takes about 10 days at least, compared with 3 to 4 working days before.
4. Complete the company formation
Once the license is issued, we reserve the trade name and complete the articles of association, the commercial registration and the platform registrations. More in our guide to commercial registration for foreigners.
You can start your request today through the ASSIS platform.
Why EL-LWAA
We have been setting up companies for more than 40 years and have formed more than 1,000 companies in Saudi Arabia. We followed the new law from the day it was issued, and recorded a video on that same day explaining what changed:
Start your request through the ASSIS platform, or contact us and we will help you choose the activities and the legal form that fit your plans.
FAQ
Is the MISA license fee still SAR 62,000?
No. It was SAR 62,000 a year until February 2025, and collection stopped when the new Investment Law came into force.
Do I need a company outside Saudi Arabia to get the license?
Yes, that is still required. If you don't have one, we set it up for you in Egypt as part of the package.
How long does it take to get a MISA license?
About 10 days at least from submitting a complete application.
Can I run more than one activity with one license?
Yes. Under the new law you can combine several activities in one license, as long as you meet the conditions of each one.
Does the license give me residency?
Yes. It lets you get residency as an investor, with wider rights than a work residency, including bringing your family.
How much does it cost with EL-LWAA?
It depends on the activity and on whether you already have a parent company. The price covers the license, the CR and the platform registrations, and setting up the parent company if needed. Contact us for an exact quote.
If I open several branches, such as 3 clinics, do I pay a license fee for each one?
No. Once you have the investment license, you don't need a new license for each branch. You only pay small costs such as the branch registration and municipality requirements.
What does "3 companies in 3 different regions" mean? Will any 3 countries do?
The three countries have to be in different geographical regions, not just any three. Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria together, for example, won't be accepted. The choice also affects your yearly costs after formation, so contact us before setting up any company abroad and we'll choose the right countries with you.
Can I get a trading license without a Saudi partner?
Yes, as long as you have 3 companies in 3 countries in different regions, owned by the parent company or carrying its name.
Where do I apply for the investment license online?
Applications are made online through the Ministry of Investment's Invest Saudi platform. You can also start through the ASSIS platform and the EL-LWAA team will handle the application.