Workflow checklist
- Identify the registry. www.mne.gov.ps
- Check access requirements. Account required: No. Local ID required: Optional.
- Plan budget. Price range: USD 0.00. Payment methods: Not published; confirm at source.
- Anticipate friction. Captcha / 2FA: Unknown. English UI: No.
- Plan turnaround. Expected: Unknown.
- Verify recency. Last verified: 4 Sept 2026. Confirm current pricing at the official registry before submitting.
TL;DR. The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of National Economy (MoNE) maintains the Companies Registrar for the West Bank. The address given for it, https://www.economy.pna.ps, no longer resolves, and neither does the apex domain; no other official search address is published. https://www.mne.gov.ps does not present a complete certificate, and behind that the ministry site loads in Arabic as وزارة الاقتصاد الوطني (Ministry of National Economy) with no company-register search form on it. No fees are published, so they are unknown rather than free; confirm at source. https://paltrade.org is the Palestine Trade Center, a trade body rather than the registrar.
Political and geographic context
The State of Palestine is recognized by over 140 UN member states and is an observer state at the UN since 2012. For company registry purposes, the relevant authority is divided:
West Bank: Under the 1993-1995 Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority (PA) administers Areas A and B of the West Bank. The PA’s Ministry of National Economy (MoNE) operates the Companies Registrar covering West Bank companies.
Gaza Strip: Gaza has been governed by Hamas since 2007. The PA’s registry authority does not effectively extend to Gaza. From October 2023, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 has caused catastrophic humanitarian and infrastructural damage. Any Gaza-based company registry function that existed is severely disrupted, and the current operational status of that infrastructure could not be confirmed; confirm at source.
This guide primarily covers West Bank-registered companies under PA administration. Gaza-based entities require separate analysis.
What is the Companies Registrar?
The Companies Registrar (مسجل الشركات) operates under the Ministry of National Economy (MoNE) of the Palestinian Authority. The address named in this guide, https://www.economy.pna.ps, no longer resolves. Company registration in Palestine is governed by the Jordanian Companies Law No. 12 of 1964 as modified by PA legislation, a legacy of Jordanian administration of the West Bank pre-1967.
A related ministry address, https://www.mne.gov.ps, does not present a complete certificate; behind that, the site loads in Arabic under the title وزارة الاقتصاد الوطني, and it carries no company-search form. It is the ministry’s own address rather than a company search.
The Companies Registrar registers:
- Limited liability companies (شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة)
- Public shareholding companies (شركة مساهمة عامة)
- General and limited partnerships
- Branches of foreign companies
- Non-profit organizations engaged in commercial activities
Online access and practical barriers
economy.pna.ps no longer resolves. An Arabic company search function on the MoNE portal has been reported; confirm at source.
Foreign buyers typically access West Bank company records through:
- Local Palestinian law firms in Ramallah, Nablus, or Bethlehem: The most reliable route for certified company extracts. Palestinian Bar Association member firms can obtain certified registry extracts and provide English translations.
- PalTrade (https://paltrade.org, the Palestine Trade Center): a trade body with business directories. Not the Companies Registrar.
- Commercial Registrar office in Ramallah: Physical office where certified extracts can be requested. In-person or agent-based process.
Key identifier: company registration number
Palestinian companies are assigned a registration number by the Companies Registrar at the time of incorporation. This number is the primary identifier for registry searches. Collect the company registration number from any Palestinian counterparty before initiating verification.
Currency and banking context
Palestinian businesses operate primarily in Israeli New Shekel (ILS/NIS). The Palestinian Authority does not have its own currency. Banking is conducted through a combination of PA-licensed banks, Israeli banks, and Jordanian banks with West Bank branches. The Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) regulates the banking sector. Wire transfers to and from Palestinian entities are processed through Israeli correspondent banking networks or Jordanian bank channels, depending on the counterparty’s banking arrangements.
Sanctions and AML context
OFAC. Hamas is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under US law. Transactions benefiting Hamas or Hamas-controlled entities are prohibited for US persons. Palestinian entities in Gaza require careful screening for Hamas nexus. West Bank entities are not presumptively sanctioned. OFAC designates specific individuals related to Hamas separately on the SDN list.
EU and UK. The EU and UK designate Hamas and affiliated individuals under their respective terrorist financing frameworks. West Bank companies registered under the Palestinian Authority are not subject to PA-level complete sanctions.
Practical consequence. Palestinian Authority-registered companies in the West Bank are not presumptively sanctioned. Standard SDN/SDGT screening applies. Hamas nexus is the primary sanctions risk; geographic origin (Gaza) is the risk indicator most institutional frameworks weight hardest.
FATF and APG. Palestine is not a FATF member. AML/CFT oversight in the West Bank is conducted by the Palestinian Financial Follow-Up Unit (FFMS) under the PMA. FATF publishes its black and grey lists at fatf-gafi.org, and the increased-monitoring list of 19 June 2026 does not name Palestine; confirm at source.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Cost (ILS) | Cost (USD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| MoNE company search | Unknown | Unknown |
| Certified extract via local counsel | Unknown | Unknown |
No fee schedule is published while economy.pna.ps no longer resolves, so the table above reads unknown rather than free; confirm at source.
Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers
- West Bank vs. Gaza: treat as different risk environments. A company registered and operating in the West Bank under PA administration is a materially different risk profile from any Gaza-based entity. Verify the physical location and operational base of any Palestinian counterparty.
- Gaza entities sit in the escalation tier of most frameworks. Given Hamas governance, the post-2023 conflict environment, and OFAC SDGT designations, a Gaza-based entity is the case institutional frameworks route to escalation and legal review.
- Engage Ramallah-based counsel. Certified company extracts require local presence. Palestinian law firms in Ramallah are the standard route for international due diligence buyers.
- Israeli correspondent banking. Palestinian wire transfers typically route through Israeli correspondent banks. This means US and EU financial institution sanctions compliance obligations apply to Israeli banks processing Palestinian transactions.
- Screen key individuals. In addition to entity-level screening, screen key directors and beneficial owners of Palestinian entities against OFAC SDN, EU Consolidated List, and UN lists. The Palestinian Authority publishes no public beneficial ownership search.
FAQ
Can I access the Palestinian company registry online?
Not at economy.pna.ps, which no longer resolves. mne.gov.ps is the ministry’s own site, not a company search. For certified documents, the route is local legal counsel or an agent in Ramallah.
Are Palestinian companies subject to US sanctions?
Palestinian companies registered under the Palestinian Authority are not presumptively sanctioned. Hamas-designated entities and individuals are on the OFAC SDN list. Standard screening applies. Gaza-based entities are where the Hamas-nexus question concentrates.
What currency do Palestinian companies use?
Israeli New Shekel (ILS/NIS). Palestinian companies do not use a separate national currency.
What is the legal basis for company registration in the West Bank?
Company registration in the West Bank is governed primarily by the Jordanian Companies Law No. 12 of 1964 as modified by Palestinian Authority legislation, and administered by the PA Ministry of National Economy Companies Registrar.
Does Palestine have a public UBO registry?
No public beneficial ownership register is published, and economy.pna.ps no longer resolves; confirm at source.
Last verified: 2026-09-04. Sources: economy.pna.ps, which no longer resolves; mne.gov.ps, the ministry site, which carries no company search; paltrade.org; the FATF black and grey lists as of 19 June 2026. For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.