What is a commercial registration?
Published
The commercial registration (CR) is the official document evidencing a commercial entity's existence in the Kingdom, issued through the Ministry of Commerce (Saudi Business Center). It carries a unique number identifying the business to every government body and commercial partner.
It contains
- The trade name
- The legal form (sole proprietorship, LLC, joint stock, ...)
- Capital
- The licensed activity or activities
- Head office address
- Partners or owners and their ownership shares
- Date of issue and validity period
Branches have sub-registrations linked to the main one.
The difference from other numbers
See the tax identification number page for the full table - briefly: the CR evidences the entity, the tax number evidences tax registration, and the GOSI number evidences the employer with the General Organisation for Social Insurance. Three identities for one business, each with its use.
Where it appears in practice
- Invoices and contracts
- Official correspondence
- The physical shop and website where required
- Dealings with banks and government bodies
- Participation in tenders
Frequently asked questions
When must it be renewed?
It has a defined validity, renewed before expiry to avoid penalties and stalled dealings. Notifications are tracked in the Saudi Business Center account.
Changing activity or partners?
An amendment to the CR through the Saudi Business Center platform, followed by data updates at other bodies (GOSI, ZATCA).
Before starting to invoice, is the CR sufficient?
The CR opens the door, but taxable invoicing requires tax registration if the thresholds are crossed - see VAT and the tax identification number.