Saudi Arabia

Company
Establishment
 About AstroLabs
Since 2013, AstroLabs has helped hundreds of
companies set up and scale up in Saudi Arabia
and the United Arab Emirates. Combining an
international company establishment practice
with a network of soft-landing coworking spaces
in Riyadh and Dubai, AstroLabs is uniquely
positioned to support top companies expanding
into these key markets. Our specialized team on
the ground in Riyadh handles end-to-end Saudi
business license setup to make your experience
much smoother..
What AstroLabs Saudi Arabia Offers
have built unique strategic partnerships with Google AstroLabs provides full service business setup support with 100% foreign ownership coupled
for Startups and IBM.
with a soft landing office in Riyadh for companies interested in transforming the economy of
Saudi Arabia.
AstroLabs is one of the leading and most active
partners of the Saudi Arabian General Investment
Authority (SAGIA). We have opened up the most
sought-after growth market in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia Soft Landing Training
to global companies through this government
Company Coworking Space Academy &
partnership. We are also one of the most Formation & Community Events Space
experienced company establishment players in the
Saudi market, regularly setting up 100% foreign-
owned entities from around the world every week.

AstroLabs is on a mission to develop the digital
ecosystem in MENA through our capability building
academy, network of collaborative coworking
communities, and company setup services. We
specialize in supporting tech companies expand
their presence and impact in the region, and we
FOUNDING & STRATEGIC PARTNERS
The AstroLabs community is built on a network of
doers. We are a family of ambitious and growth-
oriented entrepreneurs and companies committed
to making an impact. Let’s make it happen!
AstroLabs is a preferred partner
of the Saudi Arabian General
Investment Authority (SAGIA), the
government entity which issues
licenses enabling 100% foreign
ownership of onshore companies
in the Kingdom. We have assisted
over 45 companies from around
the world with obtaining the SAGIA
License and regularly support
these companies with end-to-end
business setup requirements at all
government offices (e.g., Ministry of
Labor, Tax Authority, etc.)
Our community at AstroLabs Riyadh
is a melting pot of creativity and
innovation primed for collaboration
and is an ideal base for your
international expansion into the
Kingdom. Once your company is set
up, you can start work immediately,
surrounded by like-minded people,
without having to search for an
office. AstroLabs Riyadh is a
purpose-built workspace with fast
WiFi, ample meeting rooms, free
printing, office supplies, snacks and
refreshments to fuel your team.
AstroLabs Academy provides
actionable learning through the
custom-made curricula we develop
for our workshops, classes and
training programs in the digital
and technology fields to startup
founders and corporate managers.
We are a certified training institute,
with a mission to bridge the
knowledge gap in digital marketing,
analytics, programming, UX/UI,
and startup development. We host
regular related industry events at
AstroLabs Riyadh which are free to
the public. We host regular industry
events at AstroLabs Riyadh which
are a great opportunity to meet
like-minded people and learn
something new.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About AstroLabs........................................................ 2 Company Establishment In-Depth.............................. 7

What AstroLabs Saudi Arabia Offers............................ 3 Our Setup Packages.................................................. 8
KSA Company Establishment..................................... 4 Setup Process Overview.........................................9-13
Testimonials from our Clients..................................... 5 Soft Landing Coworking Space..................................14
KSA Market Opportunity............................................. 6 Next Steps...............................................................15

2 3
 Why
AstroLabs

KSA Company Establishment Testimonials

AstroLabs is the most experienced partner of the Saudi Arabian government enabling
100% foreign-owned company formation under SAGIA regulations. We make expanding into
the KSA market fast, easy, and extremely cost-effective.

“It was a very easy, fast process. I gave my company name, I answered some questions,
I gave my passport, and literally got my commercial registration and my
investment license in a couple of weeks. It was so incredibly easy!”

ANDRIANNA DAFNIS, Managing Partner, Global Think Group

Fastest Setup Office Flexibility 100% Ownership

You will have your SAGIA Investor
License, Commercial Registration,
and Chamber of Commerce
Registration within an expedited
timeframe of 2-3 weeks and be
assisted each step of the
way by our team of experts on
the ground,
•
45+
Companies Already
Licensed in the First Year
AstroLabs Riyadh serves as your soft
landing as you are required to register
a physical office to open a company
in Saudi Arabia. Your SAGIA Investor
License allows your company to
operate anywhere in the Kingdom.
End to End SAGIA
Process Partnership
Expand your company to Saudi
Arabia without the need for a local
partner and with no minimum capital
requirements.
“We were very fortunate to have worked with AstroLabs to assist us to set up our
company in KSA. From the start, they were very open and transparent in the process,
they were available whenever we needed and proactive in following up on the
status of the application. I will, and already have, recommended AstroLabs to support
start-ups in their ventures in KSA.”
RICHARD FITZGERALD, Managing Director, Augustus
Full Soft
Landing Package

Some of the companies we have helped establish in Saudi Arabia include:

“I was very impressed with the quick and responsive support we got from AstroLabs.
Their local team is well aware of government regulations and requirements which helped us
get our license smoothly. I would definitely recommend AstroLabs for
companies looking to setup in Saudi Arabia.”

VASSILIY ANATOLI, Managing Director, Platinumlist

4 5
 Why
Saudi
Arabia

KSA Market Opportunity Company Establishment In-Depth

Establish a 100% foreign-owned onshore entity in Saudi Arabia​
• Vision 2030 is the driving force behind reorienting the
national economy to a more diversified, private-sector
led structure that is backed by the world’s largest
sovereign wealth fund. Technology entrepreneurship
is a cornerstone of this and is poised to become a
regional powerhouse
• A key enabler of Vision 2030 is the setup of an
efficient digital IT infrastructure, which requires
private sector collaboration on different areas such as
telecommunications, cloud computing, high-speed
broadband, and digital transformation
• Tadawul, Saudi Arabia’s stock market, is the largest
bourse in the Middle East and Africa and its inclusion
in the MSCI Emerging Market Index is a testament to
growing investor confidence in the Saudi market
• It is the largest economy in the MENA region in terms of
population and consumer spend
• The ultimate aim is to transform KSA into a knowledge-
based economy with a focus on startups, technology
transfer, and building human capacity
What is the Investor License? Major Advantages
The SAGIA Investor License is a company license category • 100% foreign-owned onshore entity without the need
designed to attract highly scalable companies to Saudi for a local partner
Arabia. The Investor License is open to companies of all • Able to operate anywhere in the Kingdom
sizes setting up in the Kingdom, including international • Get licensed in an expedited timeframe of 2-3 weeks
expansions of existing entities. • AstroLabs Riyadh serves as your soft landing as you
are required to register a physical office to open a
company in Saudi Arabia
Who Is It For? • No minimum capital requirement
The most common business activities we license are
those in the technology sector. SAGIA restricts 100%
ownership under the Investor License to primarily
technology-based service activities, so retail, trading,
manufacturing, industrial, and other activities are not
currently supported.

Find the full FAQs at http://astrolabs.com/setup-in-saudi#faq

33.4 Million Approx. 50% 1.6% 6.08 Million

Total Population Percentage of Youth Population Growth Saudi Labor Force
(under 25) (next 5 years)

Examples of business activity categories we have supported establishing*

Section Division Economic Activity Description Page

782 Billion $23,570 230.8 Billion J 62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities 204
Nominal GDP GDP per Capita FDI Inward Stock
J 63 Information service activities 205

M 73 Advertising and market research 216

N 79 Travel agencies, tour operators, reservation service and related activities 227

*All activities are subject to SAGIA approval. If your service activity is not listed, please speak with a member of our team to discuss approval.

6 7
 PROCESS OVERVIEW

Our Setup Packages Basic Package

Premium Premium
Item Basic Advanced (Residents) (Non-residents)
Sign the contract & pay the invoice
Name Reservation

SAGIA Investor License – 1 Year

Drafting Articles of Association (AoA)

Choose a 6-digit Select

Attesting AoA with the Saudi Notary Public BA business activity code company name
Commercial Registration – 1 Year

Chamber of Commerce Registration (with signature

attestation) – 1 year Submit shareholder Submit last year's
details of parent audited financial
Working Space for 1 Person – 3 Months company with attested statement of parent
AoA and Trade License company attested by
Activation of Chamber of Commerce Services Portal Saudi Embassy

Registration with Social Insurance (GOSI)

Registration with Tax Authority (GAZT)

SAGIA Investor License issuance

Registration with Ministry of Labor

Registration of the National Address

GM Working Visa Issuance or Transfer of Sponsorship

(if resident of KSA) Drafting the Articles of Association (AoA) for the Saudi entity

Registration with Muqeem Portal

Re-entry Visa for the GM – 6 Months

Visit SAGIA Business Center in Riyadh
Opening a Bank Account

GM Iqama issuance (with health insurance) – 1 Year

Attest the Articles of Association (AoA) of the Saudi entity
Registration with Absher Portal

FEES 45,000 SAR 80,000 SAR 95,000 SAR 109,000 SAR

Commercial Registration issuance

BENEFITS OF SETTING UP IN SAUDI ARABIA WITH ASTROLABS Certify the signature of the General Manager in the Chamber of Commerce

Available AstroLabs Team Support Through Faster, Streamlined Company No Minimum Capital Estimated Timeframe 2-3 weeks
Entire Licensing Process License and CR Setup Requirements

8 9
 PROCESS OVERVIEW

Advanced Package: Residents Advanced Package: Non-Residents

Basic package is done Basic package is done

Activation of Chamber of Commerce Services Portal

Activation of Chamber of Commerce Services Portal

Registration with Ministry of Labor

Registration with Social Insurance (GOSI) Registration with Ministry of Labor

Hire a Saudi citizen*

Registration with Social Insurance (GOSI)

Letter of waiver of sponsorship from the current sponsor

General Manager transfer of sponsorship General Manager working visa issuance

Print out the new Iqama of the General Manager

Registration of the National Address (required to open a bank account)

Registration of the National Address (required to open a bank account)

Create online account in Tax Authority (GAZT) Create online account in Tax Authority (GAZT)

Estimated Timeframe 2-3 months

Estimated Timeframe 2-3 months

*It is required by Law to hire at least one Saudi on the company’s books
*A Municipality License is required in order for a company to issue Work Visa for international employees. This has its own requirements that are
outside of our scope. However, you can hire locally for Iqama holders.

10 11
 PROCESS OVERVIEW

Premium Package: Residents Premium Package: Non-Residents

Basic and advanced packages are done Basic and advanced packages are done

Registration with Muqeem Portal Collect the Work Visa from the Saudi Embassy out of Saudi
(issue re-entry visa, and renew residence permits)

Come to Saudi using Work Visa (single entrance)

Re-entry visa for the General Manager – 6 months

Health Insurance for the General Manager

Open a bank account

Medical Examination in a hospital registered with MOI in Saudi

Estimated Timeframe 3 months

Iqama Issuance

Registration with Muqeem Portal

(issue re-entry visa, and renew residence permits)

Multiple Re-entry Visa for the General Manager – 6 Months

Open a bank account

Registration with Absher Portal

Estimated Timeframe 3 months

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 KSA Company Establishment
Requirements
Step
Name Reservation
SAGIA Incestor License – 1 Year
Drafting Articles of Association (AoA)
Commercial Registration – 1 Year
Chamber of Commerce Registration (with signature
attestation) – 1 year
Financial Statement
Working Space for 1 Person – 3 Months
Soft Landing Coworking Space Activation of Chamber of Commerce Services Portal
Registration with Social Insurance (GOSI)
Registration with Tax Authority (GAZT)
Prime location in Regular onsite training
North Riyadh with large programs on digital Registration with Ministry of Labor
outdoor terrace topics
Registration of the National Address
GM Working Visa Issuance or Transfer of Sponsorship
(if resident of KSA)
GM Iqama issuance (with health insurance) – 1 Year
Registration with Muqeem Portal
Plug into a network Bookable meeting
of top international rooms and dedicated Registration with Absher Portal
companies events & training
expanding to KSA facility Re-entry Visa for the GM – 6 Months
Opening a Bank Account
Utilize coworking space at AstroLabs Dubai
Next Steps
whenever traveling on business
• Select a licensing package
• Submit articles of association, trade license,
As you are required to register a physical office to open a company in Saudi Arabia, the AstroLabs Riyadh coworking and last year's financial statement of parent
space serves as your soft landing, offering you a scalable office solution that grows with your team. company attested by Saudi Embassy
Learn more: astrolabs.com/riyadh-coworking-space
14
Description
Must be an Arabic name
Renewable for a maximum of 5 years
Standard AoA from Ministry of Commerce & Investment
Equivalent to a Trade License and certificate of incorporation
in other countries
Required for all paperwork that needs the GM signature
Audited financial statement for the last full year of operation
To support in the soft-landing activities
Activating all of the services in the Chamber of Commerce portal
Required to manage employees (both Saudis and non-Saudis)
and pay relevant monthly fees
Companies are required to pay 20% tax on net profits
Required to issue work permits and visas
Required to open a local bank account
GM working visa is a one-time entry to KSA that will then be
transferred to a residency
Transferring the visa to a residency and issuing the residency card
Required to manage non-Saudi employees and their requests
Required to manage the GM personal files and services
(e.g. driving license, passports, rent, etc)
Required for exiting and entering the country
Final step, after fulfilling all prerequisite requirements
• Assign name of the signatory
• Choose official name of the KSA company
• Settle full invoice to begin licensing process.
In case of rejection by SAGIA, 100% of fees
will be refunded.
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AstroLabs Riyadh Office
2nd Floor, Building B
Anas Bin Malik Road, Al-Malqa
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
+966-501-933-316

AstroLabs Dubai Office

Parkside Retail Level
Cluster R, Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
+971-56-930-4707

ksa@astrolabs.com