Issuing a scientific and technical office license

A definition of the service for issuing a scientific and technical office license
The service of issuing a scientific and technical office license is a specialized regulatory and investment service provided by the Saudi Ministry of Investment in cooperation with the relevant sectoral authorities. It aims to enable foreign or GCC companies to open scientific or technical offices within the Kingdom to support their products or technologies and to practice permitted activities in this field in a regulated manner. This license is considered an important gateway for representing international companies in Saudi Arabia, especially in sectors such as: pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, industrial or technical devices and equipment, engineering solutions, advanced technology, and scientific and technical services.

The application is submitted electronically, where the parent company (foreign or GCC) must complete the following requirements:

A copy of the parent company's commercial registration in its country, authenticated and translated into Arabic.
The parent company's financial statements for the last three years (in most cases).
An official authorization letter for the company's representative in the Kingdom, certified by the chambers of commerce and embassies.
A detailed description of the scientific or technical activity that the office will provide.
Proof of professional qualifications and experience in the targeted field.
Payment of the prescribed regulatory fees.


The importance of the service for issuing a scientific and technical office license:

Enabling foreign and GCC companies to have a regulated presence within the Saudi market through official offices.
Supporting the transfer of technical and scientific knowledge and expertise to the Saudi market.
Enhancing the quality of products and services through the presence of official offices that provide technical support and after-sales services.
Raising the level of local competitiveness and innovation as a result of the entry of international expertise and standards.
Enhancing trust between foreign companies and local clients through the presence of an official and accredited representative office.
Facilitating cooperation with government agencies and the private sector in major scientific and technical projects.
Contributing to the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and attract qualitative investments.


Difficulties related to completing or issuing a scientific and technical office license:

The multiplicity of competent authorities supervising scientific or technical activities, which requires additional approvals before issuing the license.
The need to fully translate and authenticate foreign documents, which may cause delays.
Strict financial or administrative requirements such as providing recent and certified financial statements.
The possibility of the application being rejected if the activities are not listed within the scope of permitted foreign investment.
The long review period in the case of precise technical activities that are subject to special standards, such as medical supplies or advanced devices.
Difficulties in proving technical and scientific competence if the parent company does not provide sufficient documents or a resume of its expertise.