Guides for doing business in the Gulf

Practical, honest guides for foreign investors — organised by the work you're actually doing, from first entry to exit. Start with the Saudi hub, or browse by topic below.

★ Start here · Pillar

Doing Business in Saudi Arabia

The complete map — company formation, tax, RHQ and compliance — linking to every guide below.

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Market entry & structuring

Set up · high commercial intent

The New Investment Law (2025): what actually changedLicence to registration — and what stays exactly the same. LLC vs SJSC vs branch vs a temporary licenceA decision matrix for the Saudi entity forms. 100% foreign ownership: where it's realThe negative list and the SAR 30M trading rule behind the headline. Entering KSA from a GCC baseWhat transfers from a Bahrain or UAE structure — and what doesn't. From MISA registration to CR and beyondThe real post-registration sequence and realistic timelines.

Regional Headquarters (RHQ)

Advisory · flagship · highest intent

The RHQ mandate: why 2024 changed the calculusWhen an RHQ is a market-access condition, not an option. The 30-year 0% deal — and its limitsEligible vs operating income, substance, transfer pricing. RHQ vs a hub in Dubai or BahrainWhen Riyadh is right — and when it isn't. RHQ substance in practiceOffice, headcount, executives, real decision-making.

Tax & ZATCA

Run & maintain · Advisory

The Saudi tax stack: CIT, Zakat & mixed ownership20% vs 2.5% and the split base most people miss. Withholding tax on cross-border paymentsThe 5–20% trap for foreign providers billing into KSA. VAT at 15% and e-invoicing (Fatoorah)What Phase 2 real-time clearance now demands. Transfer pricing in Saudi ArabiaWhy TP now bites Zakat payers and RHQs. Permanent establishment riskServicing Saudi clients without a presence — and the line.

Workforce, Saudization & mobility

Run & maintain

Saudization & Nitaqat: how the bands actually workThe 2026 cycle, the Qiwa rule and why bands slip. Premium Residency routesThe self-sponsored alternative, category by category. Work visas, Iqama and the sponsor systemBringing foreign staff in, step by step. Hiring across the group: RHQ visa privilegesWhere an RHQ's mobility perks beat a standard entity.

Sector deep-dives

Vision 2030 demand-led · high intent

Selling into the giga-projectsPositioning as a vendor to NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, Diriyah. Professional-services and consulting licencesWhat it takes to be licensed for advisory work. Contracting & engineering: licensing and classificationThe SCA classification system and how to clear it. Trading & distribution: the SAR 30M questionOwn entity vs commercial agency — the real trade-off.

Compliance, disputes & exit

Advisory

Saudi PDPL for foreign operatorsHow it differs from GDPR and Bahrain's PDPL. The Civil Transactions Law (2023)What codification changed for contracts. Dispute resolution: Saudi courts vs SCCA arbitrationThe choice foreign investors actually face. Exit: liquidation, CR cancellation & ZATCA clearanceClosing cleanly — the part nobody plans for.