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Saudi Arabia Practice
MISA foreign investment licensing, company formation, joint ventures, M&A advisory, and Regional Headquarters Programme compliance. Three offices across the Kingdom — Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
Saudi Arabia's corporate legal landscape has been fundamentally transformed. The reformed Companies Law (2022) modernised corporate governance, introduced single-shareholder LLCs, simplified incorporation procedures, and created new options for corporate restructuring. The reformed Investment Law eliminated the traditional local partner requirement in most sectors, permitting 100% foreign ownership. The Regional Headquarters Programme requires multinationals seeking government contracts to establish their MENA headquarters in Riyadh.
For international companies entering or expanding in Saudi Arabia, these reforms create opportunity — but also complexity. The interaction between the Companies Law, MISA licensing requirements, sector-specific regulations, Saudisation obligations, and the new Civil Transactions Law requires corporate legal consultants who understand the full regulatory picture, not just one piece of it.
GSDA's corporate practice in Saudi Arabia covers the complete lifecycle: from initial market entry strategy and MISA licensing through entity formation and joint venture structuring to ongoing corporate governance, M&A execution, and eventual exit or restructuring. Our offices in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam — combined with our Paris headquarters and GCC network — enable us to coordinate multi-jurisdictional corporate transactions through a single consultancy.
Complete handling of the Ministry of Investment licensing application — from initial eligibility assessment through submission, follow-up, and licence issuance. We advise on the optimal entity type, capital requirements, and sector-specific conditions.
Entity formation under the reformed Companies Law — including commercial registration, chamber of commerce membership, municipal licensing, and the operational approvals required before business can commence.
Structuring joint ventures with Saudi partners — including governance frameworks, deadlock resolution, profit distribution, exit mechanisms, and the Saudisation obligations that attach to the JV entity.
Acquisitions, dispositions, and corporate restructurings under Saudi law — coordinated with our Paris and Dubai offices for cross-border transactions involving European and Gulf counterparties.
Entity selection, MISA licensing, employment structuring, and ongoing compliance for multinationals establishing their MENA regional headquarters in Riyadh.
Board advisory, CMA compliance for listed companies, related-party transaction governance, and the new ESG disclosure requirements affecting Tadawul-listed entities.
Yes. Under the reformed Investment Law, 100% foreign ownership is permitted in most sectors. The Ministry of Investment (MISA) administers the unified licensing regime. Certain sectors — including some professional services, defence, and upstream hydrocarbons — retain restrictions or require joint venture structures. GSDA advises on the licensing application, entity selection (LLC, JSC, branch, or RHQ), and the sector-specific requirements that determine available ownership structures.
The Regional Headquarters Programme requires multinational companies to establish their MENA regional headquarters in Riyadh as a condition for receiving Saudi government contracts. This affects any company that bids on government or semi-government projects — which, given Vision 2030, includes the majority of large-scale construction, technology, and professional services contracts in the Kingdom. GSDA advises on entity structuring, MISA licensing, employment arrangements, and ongoing compliance.
Timeline varies by entity type. A basic LLC formation with MISA licensing for foreign investors typically takes 4-8 weeks, including commercial registration, chamber of commerce membership, and municipal licensing. Branch office registration can be faster for companies with existing MISA licences. The Regional Headquarters Programme has its own timeline requirements. GSDA manages the full process from MISA application through operational readiness.
The reformed Companies Law provides for Limited Liability Companies (LLC — the most common for foreign investors), Joint Stock Companies (JSC — required for public listing on Tadawul), Simplified Joint Stock Companies (for startups and SMEs), branch offices (for companies maintaining foreign parent control), and the new single-shareholder LLC. Each has different governance, capital, and reporting requirements.
We advise on acquisitions, dispositions, and joint ventures under the new Companies Law — including cross-border transactions where Gulf and European interests converge. Our Paris-Riyadh corridor practice is particularly active in M&A involving French industrial groups, luxury brands, and defence companies establishing or expanding in the Kingdom.
Contact our Saudi Arabia corporate team for a confidential consultation.