What is a Commercial Registration?
A Commercial Registration (CR) — known as Sijil Tijari in Arabic — is the official business license issued by the Ministry of Commerce. It legally authorizes your company to conduct business activities within Saudi Arabia. Without a CR, you cannot open a bank account, hire employees, or sign contracts.
Prerequisites
Before applying for a CR, you must have:
- A valid MISA Investment License
- A physical office address in Saudi Arabia
- A chosen company name (in Arabic and English)
- Capital deposit proof
Application Steps
- Name Reservation: Reserve your company name through the MoC portal
- Articles of Association: Draft and notarize your company's AoA
- Capital Deposit: Deposit minimum capital into a temporary bank account
- Application Submission: File electronically through the MoC portal
- Verification & Issuance: MoC reviews and issues the CR within 1-3 days
Costs
- Name reservation: SAR 200
- CR issuance: SAR 1,200 per year
- Chamber of Commerce membership: SAR 1,500-10,000 (based on capital)
Important Considerations
Your CR must list specific business activity codes (ISIC codes) that align with your MISA license. Mismatched activities can lead to fines or CR suspension. SafaArban ensures perfect alignment between your MISA license and CR activities.