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Entrepreneur Premium Residency — Category One

Saudi ArabiaStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

This route is for entrepreneurs and innovators who wish to work on developing sectors in Saudi Arabia.

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What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

Category One requires an entrepreneurial licence from the Ministry of Investment, a recommendation letter from the investing entity, and the applicant's shareholding in the company of at least 20%.

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What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

Category One requires investment round(s) from an investment entity approved by the Premium Residency Center, worth SAR 400 thousand (400 ألف) as a minimum.

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What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

Holder may conduct commercial business under the Investment Law, move freely between establishments and own/use real estate; the establishment is exempt from Nitaqat for the first 3 operational years; two team members (e.g. executives) may be nominated for Exceptional Competence residency exempt from its criteria. Family members who may reside with the holder: parents, spouses and children under 25. The spouse and children may work in private-sector establishments and move between them.

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What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

Category One grants limited residence for 5 years, renewable once if the Category One eligibility criteria continue to be met and the holder has resided 30 months within the 5 years. The official source does not state the approval or application sequence or a longer-term residence direction.

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Limits of the record
  • Approval/application sequence and any longer-term (permanent) direction for Category One are not stated

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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