The usual form for foreign investors
Limited Liability Company Setup in Saudi Arabia
The LLC is the most common vehicle for foreign investment in Saudi Arabia. Its Articles, manager and capital are decided before registration, not after.
GCC business setup specialists
Decisions that are expensive to revisit
Articles of Association in Saudi Arabia are notarised and amending them later is a formal process. Shareholding, management powers and capital are worth settling properly at the outset rather than accepting a template.
- Articles drafted to your actual shareholding
- Manager powers set deliberately, not by default
- Capital structured for the licence category
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
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Compare the forms
LLC and the alternatives
Most foreign investors use an LLC, but it is not the only option.
| Form | When it fits | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Limited Liability Company | Most foreign-invested businesses | Liability limited to the capital contributed |
| One-person LLC | A single shareholder, corporate or individual | Same form, one owner |
| Joint Stock Company | Larger ventures, multiple investors, future listing | Shares, a board, heavier governance |
| Branch of a foreign company | Delivering the parent’s existing activity | Not a separate company; parent carries liability |
| Technical or scientific office | Support and liaison, not trading | Cannot carry out commercial activity |
| Regional headquarters | Regional management functions | Its own programme and criteria |
Company forms and their requirements are set by the Companies Law and the relevant authorities, and change. The right form for you is confirmed in writing before filing.
How it works
Forming the LLC
The investment licence comes first; the LLC is built on it.
01
Structure and capital
Shareholders, shareholding split, manager and capital settled against your licence category, with a written quote separating government fees from ours.
02
Name and Articles
Company name reserved, Articles of Association drafted to your actual structure and notarised rather than taken from a template.
03
Registration and operations
Commercial Registration issued, Chamber membership, National Address, bank introduction, then ZATCA and GOSI registration.
Before you start
What forming an LLC needs
Decisions here are harder to change than in many neighbouring markets.
- Investment licence, where the investor is foreign
- Parent registration certificate and Articles
- Board resolution approving the Saudi company
- Shareholding split agreed between shareholders
- Proposed capital
- Appointed manager and the powers they will hold
- Manager’s passport and CV
- Passport copies for all shareholders
- Proposed company name options
- Attested and legalised corporate documents
- Certified Arabic translation of all documents
- Premises or National Address arrangements
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Company form recommendation
- Articles of Association drafted to your structure
- Name reservation
- Notarisation of the Articles
- Commercial Registration
- Chamber of Commerce membership
- National Address registration
- ZATCA and GOSI registration
Not included, quoted separately
- Government and authority fees, paid at cost
- Attestation and legalisation abroad
- Certified Arabic translation charges
- Capital deposit requirements
- Office rent and fit-out
- Sector-specific regulatory approvals
- Audit, where required
- Ongoing accounting and tax filing
Verify independently
Official Saudi authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Ministry of Investment (MISA)Ministry of CommerceSaudi Business CenterZakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA)Ministry of Human Resources & Social DevelopmentGeneral Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI)
Questions
Saudi LLC — FAQs
How many shareholders can a Saudi LLC have?
The Companies Law sets the permitted range, and single-shareholder companies are available. We confirm the current limits before the Articles are drafted.
How much capital do I need?
It depends on the activity and the investment licence category rather than a single universal figure. We confirm what applies to your case before you transfer anything.
Who can be the manager?
A manager is appointed in the Articles with defined powers. They may be a shareholder or not, and resident or not, depending on the activity — though a resident manager is often practical.
Can I change the Articles later?
Yes, but it is a notarised amendment rather than an internal edit, so shareholding and management powers are worth settling properly at the outset.
Does an LLC need audited accounts?
Saudi companies have accounting and filing obligations, and audit requirements depend on the company and its circumstances. We confirm what applies rather than assuming.
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At Black Swan Business Setup Services, our mission is simple: to empower entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes to establish and expand their presence in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond.
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