Saudi Arabia

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Commercial Registration Required

Yes. Registration through the Ministry of Commerce, with a registered activity that matches what the company actually does. Operating trucks to carry customers’ goods, and arranging transport carried out by other operators (brokerage), are separate TGA activities, and the registered activity needs to cover the one the company performs.

Foreign Investors Register with MISA

Yes, where applicable. Under the Investment Law, a foreign investor must register with the Ministry of Investment (MISA) before making an investment in Saudi Arabia. The Investment Law repealed the earlier Foreign Investment Law, under which foreign investors held a “SAGIA” or “MISA” licence. This applies only to companies with foreign ownership; it is not a document every Saudi mover will have.

TGA Licence for the Goods Transport Activity Required

Yes

Yes, where applicable. The Land Transport on Roads Law prohibits carrying out any road transport activity without a licence. TGA licenses goods transport by activity: heavy goods transport (trucks with a gross weight above 3,500 kg), light goods transport (smaller vehicles), and brokerage in goods transport (arranging transport services between the parties). A mover that operates its own vehicles needs the goods transport licence for the class of vehicles it operates. A TGA brokerage licence applies where a mover arranges goods transport through other carriers in its own name. An application on its own is not a licence.

Licence Conditions Include GOSI, Zakat and Saudization Certificates

Yes, for a company licensed to operate goods vehicles. To be licensed to carry goods for others, a company must show, among other conditions, a valid commercial registration covering the activity, a valid certificate from GOSI (the General Organization for Social Insurance), and a valid Zakat and income certificate from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) if its commercial registration is more than one financial year old. At licence renewal, TGA also requires a valid Saudization (localization) certificate, which the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development issues only to establishments meeting their required Saudization ratios under the Nitaqat program. These are conditions TGA checks; they are not a fixed sequence of steps.

Minimum Fleet and Premises

Yes, for a company licensed to operate goods vehicles. A company licensed to carry goods for others must have suitable premises in the licensed city and a minimum number of vehicles registered for public transport and owned directly or under a finance lease. TGA’s current regulations set this at 10 trucks and/or tractors for heavy goods transport, and 5 vehicles for light goods transport.

Operating Card for Every Vehicle

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Each vehicle used in the activity needs a TGA operating card. To obtain one, the vehicle must have valid registration, insurance covering civil liability to third parties from an insurer approved in Saudi Arabia, a valid periodic technical inspection certificate, and a link to TGA’s electronic platform, which tracks vehicle location and operation. A company licence does not replace the operating cards for its vehicles.

Drivers Need a Professional Driver Card

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Drivers need a valid driving licence of the appropriate class and a TGA professional driver card, issued after passing a professional competency test. Non-Saudi drivers also need a residence permit occupation that fits the activity, and a contractual relationship with the operator.

Transport Document for Paid Goods Movements

Yes, for the operator carrying the goods. TGA rules require the carrier to issue a transport document (the document that records the transport contract and confirms the carrier has received the goods) for each paid transport operation, in TGA’s approved form, and a load statement (cargo manifest) where one trip carries goods for more than one sender or recipient.

Subcontracted Carriers

Movers commonly contract the underlying transport to other carriers. Where they do, the carrier’s own TGA licence and vehicle operating cards cover the transport it performs, and the mover does not need to license that transport itself. A licensed operator may also use additional vehicles through operating contracts with other licensed operators, and remains responsible to third parties for that transport.

Foreign-Registered Trucks

Non-Saudi trucks may not carry out domestic transport within Saudi Arabia.

Consumer Protection

Yes, where the mover advertises or contracts online. Available official sources did not confirm that a general Consumer Protection Law has been enacted and is in force; earlier Ministry of Commerce material referred to a draft. Where a mover advertises or contracts with consumers online, the E-Commerce Law (Royal Decree M/126 of 1440H, 2019) applies: it requires the business to disclose its identity, commercial registration and licence details, to give the contract terms and the full price before the contract is concluded, and it treats online advertising as binding and prohibits false or misleading claims. The Ministry of Commerce oversees these rules and receives consumer complaints. TGA separately receives reports and complaints about transport operators.

Enforcement

Meaningful. The Land Transport on Roads Law allows penalties including warnings, fines of up to SAR 5,000,000, suspension or cancellation of a licence, suspension of a driver or vehicle, and impoundment of a vehicle for up to 60 days.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Saudi Arabia licenses goods transport nationally, through the Transport General Authority, without a province-by-province system to navigate. In 2025 the Land Transport on Roads Law (Royal Decree M/188 of 1446H) replaced the earlier Public Road Transport Law, and TGA issued new implementing regulations for heavy goods transport, light goods transport and brokerage in goods transport. Existing operators have a transition period to bring their licences into line.

For a household goods mover, the key question is which activity the company actually performs. A mover that carries customers’ belongings in its own trucks needs a TGA goods transport licence for the class of vehicles it operates, an operating card for each vehicle, insured and inspected vehicles, and drivers with professional driver cards. Movers commonly contract the underlying transport to other carriers; where they do, the carriers’ own TGA licences and operating cards cover the transport they perform. TGA licenses brokerage in goods transport, defined as arranging goods transport services between the parties, as a separate activity, and a brokerage licence applies where a mover arranges goods transport through other carriers in its own name. A mover that both operates vehicles and arranges transport in this way holds what each activity requires.

For a company licensed to operate goods vehicles, TGA’s licence conditions link transport licensing to other government records: a valid GOSI certificate, a Zakat and income certificate, and, at renewal, a Saudization certificate that depends on the company meeting its Nitaqat (Saudization program) ratios. Such a mover’s workforce compliance is therefore relevant to whether it can keep its transport licence. Other employment obligations, such as documenting contracts through the Qiwa platform and paying wages through the Wage Protection System, apply to all employers and are not listed here as transport licence documents.

Foreign-owned movers must also register with MISA under the Investment Law before investing.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

Company licensing

1. Hold a valid Commercial Registration through the Ministry of Commerce, with a registered activity that matches the services the company performs.
2. Register with MISA, if the company has foreign investment, before making the investment.
3. If the company operates its own goods vehicles, hold a valid TGA goods transport licence for the class of vehicles it operates (heavy goods transport, light goods transport, or both). Apply through TGA’s approved electronic channels.
4. If the company arranges goods transport through other carriers in its own name, hold a valid TGA brokerage in goods transport licence.
5. If the company holds a TGA goods transport licence, maintain the licence conditions, including a valid GOSI certificate, a valid Zakat and income certificate (where the commercial registration is more than one financial year old), suitable premises in the licensed city, the minimum fleet, and a link to TGA’s electronic platform, and hold a valid Saudization certificate at licence renewal, which requires meeting the company’s Nitaqat Saudization ratios on an ongoing basis.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

6. Obtain a TGA operating card for each vehicle the company operates, and keep it valid.
7. Keep each vehicle registered, insured and inspected: valid vehicle registration, insurance covering civil liability to third parties from an approved insurer, and a valid periodic technical inspection certificate.
8. Keep each vehicle linked to TGA’s electronic platform for tracking and operating data, as TGA requires.
9. Use drivers who hold a valid driving licence of the correct class and a TGA professional driver card.
10. Issue a transport document for each paid transport operation in TGA’s approved form, and a load statement where one trip carries goods for more than one sender or recipient.

Subcontracted transport

11. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Customer practices

12. Where services are advertised or contracted online, comply with the E-Commerce Law: disclose the company’s identity, commercial registration and licence details, give the contract terms and full price before the contract is concluded, and keep advertising accurate.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Commercial Registration valid, with registered activity matching the services performedVerified by DocumentRequired
• MISA registrationWhere applicable (company has foreign investment)Verified by DocumentRequired
• TGA goods transport licence for the class of vehicles operated (heavy goods transport and/or light goods transport)Where applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• TGA brokerage in goods transport licenceWhere applicable (mover arranges goods transport through other carriers in its own name)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Valid GOSI certificateWhere applicable (TGA goods transport licence condition; mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Valid Zakat and income certificateWhere applicable (TGA goods transport licence condition, where the commercial registration is more than one financial year old; mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Valid Saudization certificate at licence renewalWhere applicable (TGA goods transport licence renewal condition; mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Company linked to TGA’s electronic platformWhere applicable (TGA goods transport licence condition; mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• TGA operating card for each vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Each vehicle registered, with valid periodic technical inspection certificateWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Each vehicle insured for civil liability to third parties with an insurer approved in Saudi ArabiaWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Each vehicle linked to TGA’s electronic platformWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Drivers hold a valid driving licence of the correct class and a TGA professional driver cardWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Transport document issued for each paid transport operation in TGA’s approved form, with a load statement where one trip carries goods for more than one sender or recipientWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Online advertising and contracting comply with the E-Commerce Law (identity and registration disclosure, contract terms and full price before contracting, no false or misleading advertising)Where applicable (mover advertises or contracts with consumers online)Verified by AffirmationRequired