Balady licence in Saudi Arabia: key facts
- What the Balady e-service issues
- The municipal licence together with a Civil Defense safety permit, for approved activitiesOfficialBalady: Issuing a commercial licence
- Office visit
- Not needed; the application is made online on BaladyOfficialBalady: Issuing a commercial licence
- When you can apply
- After the commercial registration (CR) is issuedSecondary sourceTASC Outsourcing: Municipal licensing requirements in Saudi Arabia
- Premises documents
- An Ejar-registered lease and the building's completion certificateSecondary sourceTASC Outsourcing: Municipal licensing requirements in Saudi Arabia
- Civil Defense safety permit
- Typically instant for low-risk offices; restaurants and factories are inspected firstSecondary sourceNoble Core: Issuing a municipal licence in Saudi Arabia
- Licence details on the CR
- Updated at each CR annual confirmation on business.saOfficialMinistry of Commerce: CR annual confirmation
Who needs a Balady licence
- Companies with a CR opening an office, shop, warehouse, workshop or similar premises.
- Businesses moving to new premises or adding a location.
- Foreign-owned companies completing the steps that follow formation.
Who it is not for
- Companies without a CR yet. Formation comes first, and our company formation guide covers it.
- Businesses with no physical premises. A Balady application is made for a specific premises.
- Manufacturing projects, which also need an industrial licence from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. We confirm that route case by case.
How to get a Balady licence, step by step
- 01
Check the activity and the premises
On a first call, our team checks whether your activity needs a municipal licence and what the premises must provide. If you have not signed a lease yet, we review the premises details before you commit. We could not confirm a general exemption for office-only businesses, so we check each case.
- 02
Prepare the CR and premises documents
A Balady application is premises-based and comes after the CR is issued. You need an Ejar-registered lease for the premises and the building's completion certificate. We review both against your CR before anything is filed.
- 03
Apply on Balady
Our team prepares and submits the application through Balady's commercial licence e-service. No office visit is needed. We handle offices, shops, warehouses, workshops and similar premises.
Platform: Balady (Issuing a commercial licence)Time: Varies by activity and municipality
- 04
Complete the Civil Defense (Salamah) safety step
For approved activities, Balady issues the Civil Defense safety permit together with the municipal licence. Low-risk offices typically get the permit instantly. Restaurants and factories are inspected first, and we prepare you for the inspection.
Platform: Balady and Civil Defense (Salamah)Time: Typically instant for low-risk offices; higher-risk premises are inspected first
- 05
Pay the fees and receive the licence
Balady fees depend on the activity, the area of the premises and the municipality. We found no official fee schedule, so we confirm the amount when the application is assessed. Once approved, the licence is issued on Balady.
Platform: BaladyTime: Varies by activity and municipality
- 06
Keep the licence current
Licence details are updated at the CR annual confirmation on business.sa, together with activities and the National Address. Our team tracks the licence and handles changes when you move, expand or add premises.
Platform: business.sa (CR annual confirmation)
Documents for a Balady licence
A Balady application is tied to a specific premises. For most activities, expect to provide:
- The company's commercial registration (CR), which must be issued first.
- An Ejar-registered lease for the premises.
- The building's completion certificate.
- Details of the activity and how the premises will be used.
Requirements differ by activity and municipality, and higher-risk premises are inspected by the Civil Defense. We confirm the exact list for your premises before applying.
Balady licence fees
Government fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Balady municipal licence | Varies by activity, area and municipalityTo confirm |
| No official fee schedule published | |
| Civil Defense safety permit | Varies by activityTo confirm |
| Issued with the licence for approved activities | |
Our fee
Our fee is quoted after a short first call, once we know your activity, premises and city. We always show it separately from government fees.
Checked on 22 October 2026. Balady fees vary by activity, area and municipality, and we found no official fee schedule, so we do not quote an amount.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
Licence details now update with the CR annual confirmation
Since the Commercial Registration Law took effect in April 2025, CRs no longer expire. The company confirms its CR data every year on business.sa. Activities, licences, the National Address and contacts are updated at the same time.
One CR now covers every branch
A single CR, under a unified national number starting with 7, covers all of a company's activities and branches. Separate branch CRs are no longer issued, and existing branch registers have until around April 2030 to regularise. The CR is valid nationwide, so moving region needs no new CR.
Delays we see
Draft
This section is written from our team's recent Balady licence files.
What we handle
- Check whether your activity needs a Balady licence before you sign a lease.
- Review the Ejar lease and completion certificate against your CR.
- Prepare and submit the Balady application for offices, shops, warehouses, workshops and similar premises.
- Handle the Civil Defense (Salamah) safety permit step where it applies, and prepare you for any inspection.
- Follow the application with the municipality until a decision is made.
- Update licence details at the CR annual confirmation, and handle changes when you move or add premises.
Balady licence questions
What is a Balady licence?
A Balady licence is the municipal licence for a business's premises, issued on the Balady platform. In Arabic it is called الرخصة البلدية. For approved activities, Balady issues it together with the Civil Defense safety permit.
Do I need a CR before applying for a Balady licence?
Yes. The CR comes first, and the Balady application is then made for a specific premises. It needs an Ejar-registered lease and the building's completion certificate.
How long does a Balady licence take?
It varies by activity and municipality, and there is no official timeline. For approved activities, the licence and safety permit are issued together online. Low-risk offices typically get the safety permit instantly, while restaurants and factories are inspected first.
How much does a Balady licence cost?
It depends on the activity, the area of the premises and the municipality. We found no official fee schedule, so we do not quote a figure before checking your premises. Our own fee is quoted separately after a short first call.
What is the Civil Defense (Salamah) safety permit?
It is the Civil Defense safety permit for a business's premises. For approved activities, Balady issues it together with the municipal licence. Low-risk offices typically get it instantly, while restaurants and factories are inspected first.
Does an office-only business need a Balady licence?
We could not confirm a general exemption for office-only businesses, so we check each case. The answer depends on your activity and the premises. We tell you on a first call whether you need one.
Can I get a Balady licence with a virtual office?
A Balady licence is tied to a physical premises. The application needs an Ejar-registered lease and the building's completion certificate. We confirm whether a specific address meets your licence requirements before you commit.
Which premises does your team handle?
Our Dammam team handles Balady licences for offices, shops, warehouses, workshops and similar premises. That includes the Civil Defense (Salamah) safety permit step where it applies.
Sources
- Balady: Issuing a commercial licence (checked )
- Ministry of Commerce: CR annual confirmation (checked )
- Ministry of Commerce: Commercial registration FAQ (checked )
- SAMA circular on the Commercial Registration Law (checked )
- Clyde & Co: Commercial Registration Law and Trade Names Law (September 2025) (checked )
- TASC Outsourcing: Municipal licensing requirements in Saudi Arabia (checked )
- Noble Core: Issuing a municipal licence in Saudi Arabia (checked )
- Middle East Briefing: Types of business licences in Saudi Arabia (2025) (checked )