Saudi Arabia Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Saudi Business

TL;DR. Saudi Arabia’s company verification is handled through Wathq (wathq.sa), the Ministry of Commerce’s digital verification platform. Basic status checks are free and instant. The Commercial Registration (CR) number is a 10-digit identifier. Full certified CR Certificates cost SAR 30-50. Saudi Arabia is not on the FATF grey list. The Wathq platform has an English option; the MoCI primary portal is Arabic-leading.

What is the official Saudi Arabia business registry?

Saudi Arabia’s primary business registry is the Commercial Registration (CR) system maintained by the Ministry of Commerce (MoCI). Every company operating in the Kingdom must obtain a CR, which serves as the foundational proof of legal existence for Saudi companies.

The Ministry of Commerce has been accessible at mc.gov.sa and operates the Wathq platform (wathq.sa) as its public-facing business verification service. Wathq was launched as part of the Kingdom’s broader digital transformation agenda under Vision 2030 to increase business transparency and simplify counterparty verification for financial institutions and compliance buyers.

The Commercial Registration system covers:

• Limited Liability Companies (Sharikat Dhat Mas’uliyya Mahduda, equivalent to LLC)
• Joint Stock Companies (Sharikat Musahama, equivalent to SA/PLC)
• General Partnerships and Limited Partnerships
• Professional Companies
• Sole Proprietorships
• Branches of Foreign Companies
• Special Purpose Entities

The Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) at saudiexchange.sa is the additional reference for listed companies, providing disclosure of financial statements, major shareholders, and governance reports for public companies.

The Ministry of Investment (MISA), formerly SAGIA, at misa.gov.sa, handles foreign investment licenses. A company with a foreign investment license appears in both the MISA register and the MoCI commercial register.

What can you search?

Wathq platform (wathq.sa) - free, no account required for basic verification:

• Company name search by Arabic name or English transliteration
• CR number lookup returning: company name, CR number, entity type, registration date, expiry date, and current status (active/inactive/suspended)
• Registered address (commercial city/region level)
• Licensed business activities
• Branch details if applicable

MoCI portal (mc.gov.sa) - requires account for full extract ordering:

• CR Certificate ordering (Shihada Sijil Tijari): certified document listing company name, CR number, capital, entity type, founding date, partners or shareholders, and licensed activities
• Manager and director identity information on the certified extract
• Historical CR data including amendments

Saudi Exchange / Tadawul (saudiexchange.sa) - free, for listed companies:

• Financial statements (audited annual reports, quarterly reports)
• Major shareholders and ownership percentages above disclosure thresholds
• Board composition and governance disclosures
• Announcements including capital changes, mergers, and material events

General Authority for Statistics (stats.gov.sa):

• Business establishment statistics by sector and region (aggregate data, not entity-level searches)

How much does it cost?

Prices are based on published Ministry of Commerce fee schedules as of May 2026. SAR/USD conversion used: 1 SAR = approximately 0.267 USD (SAR is pegged to USD at 3.75). Fee schedules are subject to change; verify current pricing on the Wathq or MoCI portal before ordering.

Do you need a local account or ID?

For free Wathq verification, no account and no Saudi identity document are required. The basic search is publicly accessible at wathq.sa.

For ordering a certified CR Certificate through the MoCI portal or Absher/Tawakkalna platforms, an account is required. Saudi nationals and residents use their National ID number and Iqama (residence permit) respectively. Foreign users without Saudi credentials can register on the MoCI portal with an email address and passport, but access to certain services may be limited.

The Absher platform (absher.sa) is the Saudi government’s digital services portal for residents, enabling a wide range of government transactions including CR extracts. It requires a Saudi National ID or Iqama and is not accessible to foreign users without local identity credentials.

A practical route for foreign compliance buyers needing certified CR Certificates is through licensed Saudi business services providers or commercial data suppliers who can retrieve documents on behalf of clients.

Is the website in English?

Wathq (wathq.sa) is available in both Arabic and English. The English interface covers the search and verification functions adequately for foreign users conducting basic company checks.

The MoCI primary portal (mc.gov.sa) is Arabic-leading with an English language option available. The English version covers most informational pages but some transactional services remain Arabic-only.

CR Certificates and official documents are issued in Arabic. English translations are not provided by the MoCI as standard; foreign compliance buyers typically require certified translation services for document use outside the Kingdom.

The Saudi Exchange (saudiexchange.sa) and MISA (misa.gov.sa) portals are fully bilingual in Arabic and English.

What’s the turnaround time?

Wathq verification results are instant. The platform returns current company status and basic CR information within seconds of a query.

Certified CR Certificates ordered electronically through the MoCI portal are typically processed within 1-3 business days. During peak periods (beginning and end of fiscal quarters) processing may extend to 3-5 business days.

MISA foreign investment license verifications through the MISA portal are instant for status checks.

Is there an API?

Yes. Wathq provides a documented API for accredited financial institutions, licensed third parties, and regulatory bodies. The API documentation is published at https://wathq.sa/web/guest/api. Access requires a formal accreditation application to the Ministry of Commerce; it is not open to the general public.

The Saudi Credit Bureau (SIMAH) at simah.com provides API access for its commercial and consumer credit reporting services to licensed financial institutions under agreements with the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

Bayan Credit Bureau (bayancc.com.sa), licensed by SAMA, offers API-based commercial credit and business verification services to financial institutions and licensed entities in the Kingdom.

What you legally cannot do

The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL, Royal Decree M/19 of 2021, effective September 2023) governs the processing of personal data of natural persons in Saudi Arabia. Director names, partner identity information, and beneficial ownership data extracted from Saudi company records constitute personal data under the PDPL when processed by a private entity. A lawful basis for processing is required, and certain transfers of personal data outside the Kingdom are subject to prior authorization from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

Automated bulk extraction of data from Wathq or the MoCI portal is prohibited under the terms of service of both platforms.

Saudi Arabia’s AML and CFT framework is governed by the Anti-Money Laundering Law (Royal Decree M/31 of 2003 and subsequent amendments) and the Counter-Terrorism Financing Law. The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and other regulators supervise AML compliance for financial institutions. Saudi Arabia is a FATF member and is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026.

Commercial data obtained for counterparty due diligence, KYC, or AML screening purposes falls within permitted commercial use under Saudi law, provided the processing entity has a documented lawful purpose and complies with PDPL obligations.

Practical tips for foreign users

• Use the CR number for all lookups. The Commercial Registration number is a 10-digit identifier assigned to each registered company in Saudi Arabia. It is the stable unique identifier across Wathq, MoCI, MISA, and financial institution systems. Company names can vary between transliterations, so always confirm and record the CR number from the first search.
• Check MISA for foreign-invested companies. Companies with foreign shareholders or foreign investment licenses appear in both the MoCI commercial register and the Ministry of Investment (MISA) database. MISA at misa.gov.sa provides an additional layer of information for foreign-invested entities, including investment license type and sector.
• Vision 2030 has changed the foreign ownership rules. The Investment Law of 2024 (replacing the Foreign Investment Law of 2000) expanded sectors open to full foreign ownership and streamlined the investment licensing process. Older company records may show restricted foreign ownership structures that are no longer legally required for new formations. Verify the current shareholding structure, not the historic founding structure.
• Annual accounts are not publicly searchable. Unlike EU or common-law jurisdictions, Saudi Arabia does not provide public access to filed financial statements for private companies via the commercial register. Audited financials for private companies are available only with the company’s consent or through licensed credit bureaus (SIMAH, Bayan). For listed companies, full financials are disclosed on Tadawul.
• Wathq is the canonical public verification source. For compliance documentation, Wathq search results are accepted by most international financial institutions as a primary source verification of Saudi company status. Print or save the Wathq result page with a timestamp for audit file purposes.
• Saudi fiscal year. Many Saudi companies follow the Hijri calendar for their fiscal year, though the Gregorian calendar is also used. When interpreting accounting dates and CR filing dates, be aware that dates may be expressed in Hijri (H) format. Conversion between Hijri and Gregorian dates is widely available online.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registry directly

The Arabic-language primary interface and the limitation of certain services to Saudi-credentialled users make direct certified document retrieval genuinely difficult for foreign compliance buyers without local presence.

• Wathq English portal (wathq.sa): For basic status verification, Wathq’s English interface is sufficient and requires no account or Saudi credentials. This covers most initial compliance screening needs.
• Saudi Credit Bureau SIMAH and Bayan Credit Bureau: Licensed bureaus with API and report products accessible to financial institutions under formal agreements, providing structured commercial data including financial indicators without requiring direct registry navigation.
• Commercial data suppliers (see section below): CRIF Gulf and Dun & Bradstreet Saudi Arabia both produce English-language company reports that include CR data, financial analysis, and risk scoring, removing the Arabic-language barrier.
• Saudi business service providers: Local document clearing agencies and licensed business service firms in Saudi Arabia routinely obtain certified CR Certificates and other MoCI documents for foreign clients as a standard commercial service.

Local data suppliers

If you need a packaged report rather than a raw commercial register extract, the following providers cover the Saudi market:

• SIMAH (Saudi Credit Bureau) (simah.com). The primary licensed credit bureau in Saudi Arabia, supervised by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Provides commercial credit reports, financial risk scoring, and company payment behavior data. SIMAH is the reference standard for credit decisions involving Saudi entities and is used by banks, finance companies, and large corporates across the Kingdom.
• Bayan Credit Bureau (bayancc.com.sa). The second licensed credit bureau in Saudi Arabia under SAMA supervision. Offers commercial credit information, fraud prevention services, and digital identity verification. Serves financial institutions, insurance companies, and telecom operators under commercial data-sharing agreements.
• Dun & Bradstreet Saudi Arabia (dnb.com/sa). Global data and analytics provider with Saudi Arabia coverage. Offers D-U-N-S registered company reports, credit risk assessment, supply chain risk screening, and compliance due diligence tools. English-language reports with data mapped to Saudi CR records. Used by multinationals conducting counterparty KYC and vendor due diligence in the Saudi market.
• CRIF Gulf (crif.com). Regional operation of CRIF S.p.A. covering Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region. Provides business information reports, creditworthiness assessment, decision analytics, and AML compliance screening tools. Strong GCC regional coverage for compliance programs that span multiple Gulf markets.

FAQ

What is the Wathq platform and how does it differ from the MoCI portal?

Wathq (wathq.sa) is the Ministry of Commerce’s public-facing company verification service, designed for quick online status checks of Saudi companies. It provides free, instant access to basic CR data including company name, CR number, entity type, status, and licensed activities. The MoCI portal (mc.gov.sa) is the broader ministry administrative system where businesses manage their CR, order certified documents, and carry out licensing transactions. For compliance verification purposes, Wathq is the simpler and faster starting point.

What does the 10-digit CR number mean?

The Commercial Registration (CR) number is a 10-digit identifier. The first three digits typically indicate the issuing MoCI regional office. The remaining digits are a sequential issue number. In practice, the full 10-digit number is the only reliable unique identifier; the regional prefix alone is not sufficient to identify a company.

Does Saudi Arabia have a beneficial ownership register?

Saudi Arabia’s AML regulations require financial institutions and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) to verify beneficial ownership as part of CDD obligations under SAMA and MoCI regulatory frameworks. There is no publicly searchable national UBO register equivalent to those in EU member states. Beneficial ownership data is held by companies, regulatory supervisors, and licensed bureaus. Commercial suppliers such as SIMAH and CRIF Gulf can provide UBO data compiled from filings and commercial disclosures.

Is Saudi Arabia on the FATF grey list?

No. Saudi Arabia is a FATF member country and is not on the FATF grey list as of May 2026. Saudi Arabia underwent a FATF Mutual Evaluation in 2018 and has engaged in ongoing follow-up. For current status, verify at fatf-gafi.org.

Are financial statements publicly available for Saudi companies?

For companies listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), full financial statements are publicly disclosed. For private companies, there is no public financial statement filing requirement comparable to EU member states. Private company financials are accessible only with company consent or through licensed credit bureaus under formal data-sharing agreements.

What changed under the Saudi Investment Law 2024?

The Investment Law of 2024 replaced the Foreign Investment Law of 2000 and removed or streamlined licensing requirements for foreign investors in many sectors. Foreign companies can now establish wholly foreign-owned entities in a wider range of sectors without the historic requirement for a Saudi partner holding a majority stake. MISA at misa.gov.sa is the authority for foreign investment licensing under the new law. The changes are part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Ministry of Commerce Saudi Arabia (mc.gov.sa), Wathq (wathq.sa), MISA (misa.gov.sa), Saudi Central Bank SAMA (sama.gov.sa), FATF (fatf-gafi.org), Saudi PDPL Royal Decree M/19 of 2021.