Sector Setup

Set Up a Marine & Shipping Company in Saudi Arabia

Bahri's expansion, transhipment hub strategy at King Abdulaziz Port Dammam and Jeddah Islamic Port, and Mawani-led port concessions support shipping lines, agencies, freight forwarders and marine services entry.

How do I set up a marine & shipping company in Saudi Arabia? 100%-foreign-owned LLC under MISA + Mawani / TGA approvals. Capital SAR 500,000 – SAR 10,000,000. Year-one cost USD 25,000 – USD 60,000 year-one. Timeline 12–20 weeks. Sector regulators: MISA, Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority), TGA, Saudi Customs.

Marine & Shipping sector entry in Saudi Arabia

Bahri's expansion, transhipment hub strategy at King Abdulaziz Port Dammam and Jeddah Islamic Port, and Mawani-led port concessions support shipping lines, agencies, freight forwarders and marine services entry.

Recommended structure: 100%-foreign-owned LLC under MISA + Mawani / TGA approvals. Capital requirement: SAR 500,000 – SAR 10,000,000. Saudization band needed: Green.

Tamra runs end-to-end marine & shipping-sector setups — MISA, sector licensing, CR, banking, GR, ongoing compliance and workforce administration.

Key facts

SectorMarine & Shipping
Recommended entity100%-foreign-owned LLC under MISA + Mawani / TGA approvals
Capital requirementSAR 500,000 – SAR 10,000,000
Year-one costUSD 25,000 – USD 60,000 year-one
Timeline12–20 weeks
Saudization bandGreen
Sector regulatorsMISA, Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority), TGA, Saudi Customs

Marine & Shipping setup process

12–20 weeks

  1. Sector licensing pre-check. Verify the foreign parent's track record satisfies MISA, Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority), TGA, Saudi Customs requirements before MISA submission.
  2. MISA application. Submit MISA application under the appropriate sector activity code, with full attested parent-company documentation.
  3. Sector regulator submission. Submit sector-specific licence applications in parallel with CR. MISA Logistics licence drives the critical path.
  4. Commercial Registration & Chamber. MoC issues the CR; Chamber of Commerce subscription is activated.
  5. Operational portals. Activate Qiwa, Muqeem, GOSI, ZATCA, Mudad and any sector-specific portals.
  6. Banking & GM Iqama. Open Saudi corporate bank account; issue GM Iqama for the appointed manager.
  7. First hire / first invoice. Marine & Shipping entity becomes operational. Tamra continues as the managed-services partner for payroll, GR and Iqama.

Mandatory sector licences

  • MISA Logistics licence
  • Mawani port-services approvals
  • TGA shipping-agent licence

Best-fit subsectors

  • Container shipping
  • Shipping agency
  • Stevedoring & terminal services
  • Marine logistics
  • Bunkering

Common rejection reasons

  • Mawani approval not aligned with port concession structure
  • TGA agency licence requirements unmet
  • Customs broker licence gap

Frequently asked questions

What's the cheapest way to enter Saudi Arabia's marine & shipping market?

If you are testing the market, an EOR (hiring through Tamra's existing licence) is the lowest-commitment entry. For long-term presence, a 100%-foreign-owned LLC under MISA + Mawani / TGA approvals is the standard. Tamra runs both routes.

What is the capital requirement for a marine & shipping company?

SAR 500,000 – SAR 10,000,000

How long does marine & shipping setup take?

12–20 weeks

What are the sector-specific licences required?

MISA Logistics licence; Mawani port-services approvals; TGA shipping-agent licence. Tamra coordinates these in parallel with MISA + CR.

Can Tamra act as the Saudi presence before our entity is ready?

Yes. Tamra holds an EOR licence and can sponsor your first 1–10 hires immediately, then transition them onto your entity once it is operational.

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