MISA entrepreneur licence
Own 100% of your Saudi company.
Foreign founders get there through a recommendation letter from a Saudi accelerator. We track 127 programmes so you can find the one that will actually take you.
Most of the Saudi ecosystem is not a route in.
Directories list everything and leave you to work it out. Here is the honest narrowing from the same data — the programme that suits a Riyadh university graduate is rarely the one that suits you.
- 127Programmes in Saudi ArabiaAccelerators, incubators, venture studios and university programmes.
- 57Are acceleratorsStudios co-build their own companies. University incubators want their own graduates. Neither route ends in a licence for you.
- 14Run a soft-landing trackBuilt specifically for founders moving in from outside the country. Start here.
Soft landing
Programmes built for founders moving in
Each of these runs a dedicated market-entry track: licensing help, workspace and introductions you would otherwise spend a year assembling yourself.
- Accelerator — RiyadhAntler MENAPFounders relocating to build from zero in RiyadhSoft landingTakes equityRead more
- Incubator — NationwideAstroLabs SaudiCompanies that need help setting up a Saudi entitySoft landingNo equityRead more
- Accelerator — RiyadhBlossom AcceleratorForeign startups ready to move HQ to RiyadhSoft landingMISA letter confirmedNo equityRead more
- Accelerator — RiyadhFalak Flagship AcceleratorGrowth-stage foreign startups; direct Blossom alternativeSoft landingNo equityRead more
- Accelerator — RiyadhInspireU by stcDigital startups (Saudi + international)Soft landingNo equityRead more
- Accelerator — RiyadhMisk AcceleratorNetwork access without giving equitySoft landingNo equityRead more
Incorporation
Or skip the queue and have it done for you.
Choosing a programme is the easy part. The licence, the commercial registration, the bank account and the Iqama are where people stall for months. See what it costs before you decide to take it on yourself.
Work out what it costs