Unified Commercial Register in Saudi Arabia: 2025 Key Updates

What Every Business Needs to Know in 2025 : A Deep Dive into Saudi Arabia’s Unified Commercial Register

Unified Commercial Register :The Ministry of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has enacted the New Commercial Register Law and the Trade Names Law, effective April 3, 2025. These reforms mark the abolishment of branch commercial registrations and the launch of a unified commercial register, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to digital transformation and a transparent business environment.

In light of these major updates, our law firm—recognized for its extensive experience in corporate legal matters in Saudi Arabia—has received numerous inquiries addressing critical issues, such as:

What are the required steps to register a new commercial register under the New Commercial Register Law 2025?
What should companies with multiple branch commercial registrations do now under the commercial register transition guide?
What will happen to these branch registers following the abolishment of branch commercial registrations?
Is it necessary to visit the Ministry in person to complete the updates, or can it all be done via Saudi Business Center electronic services?
What is the meaning of the annual confirmation commercial register?
What are the specific requirements for updating the register under the new unified system?

This article provides detailed and comprehensive answers to these and other common questions business owners may face.

A Major Shift in the Commercial Register: From Multiple Registrations to a Unified Record

One of the key features of the update is the elimination of branch commercial registers, allowing the merchant or company to conduct all commercial activities in the Kingdom through a single Unified Commercial Register Saudi Arabia. It is no longer required to issue a separate commercial register for each branch or activity in different cities.

According to Article 6 of the Implementing Regulations of the Commercial Register Law 2025:

“The merchant shall be registered in the commercial register only once, even if he engages in multiple activities or has several branches.”

This change means that the commercial register will now cover all activities and entities of a merchant within the Kingdom—reducing bureaucratic procedures, enhancing business efficiency, and facilitating regulatory oversight.

What Changed under the New Commercial Register Law

Single Registration per Merchant

Under Article 6 of the Implementing Regulations, “The merchant shall be registered in the commercial register only once, even if he engages in multiple activities or has several branches.”

No More Branch Registers

All commercial activities—from Riyadh to Jeddah—are now consolidated under one record.

Key Benefits:

Based on the announced rules, the foreign companies should respect and comply with the rules of the Saudization which is expressly stated in the GOSI rules, labor law and Nitaqat as well as its updates

Annual Confirmation of Data Instead of Expiry Dates

Another important change is the abolishment of the commercial register’s expiration date, which is now replaced with an annual confirmation commercial register obligation requiring merchants to update their data each year.

Article 10 of the Implementing Regulations stipulates that:

“The merchant must submit an annual confirmation of the accuracy of the registered data.”

This confirmation becomes due one year after the date of registration and may be submitted up to 30 days prior to the due date. This mechanism ensures the continuous validity of the commercial register, improves transparency, and enables regular updates of business data in accordance with best practices for digital records.

Rectification Period: What Is Required from Companies with Multiple Branches?

With the cancellation of branch commercial registers, companies operating multiple branches under separate registers are now required to rectify their status in accordance with the commercial register transition guide. The Ministry of Commerce has granted a five-year transitional period—until April 3, 2030—during which companies may adjust their records to comply with the new New Commercial Register Law 2025 requirements.

Steps for Companies to Comply with the New System

To ensure compliance and benefit from the Saudi Business Center electronic services, companies may follow the steps below:

Reassign the Main Commercial Register

Through the Saudi Business Center’s platform, the Ministry of Commerce offers an electronic service to convert a commercial register from “branch” to “main” status—without requiring an in-person visit.

Submit the Annual Confirmation for the Main Register

An annual mandatory service enabling businesses to confirm the accuracy of the commercial register’s data through the Saudi Business Center’s platform.

Conditions:

Fees:

A More Flexible and Efficient System

These updates signify a major evolution of the Saudi commercial registration system—towards greater flexibility and effectiveness that meets the needs of both local and international businesses. The transformation boosts governmental service efficiency, simplifies commercial procedures, and reduces administrative burdens. Moreover, it aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 digital transformation goals and enhances transparency in the Saudi commercial market.

Contact US

Your Trusted Partner

Info@almadanilaw.com

How We Can Help

If you are seeking specialized legal support to adapt to the New Commercial Register Law 2025 and the abolishment of branch commercial registrations, Al Madani & Co. is your ideal legal partner. We provide comprehensive legal services—backed by our expertise in corporate law—to help companies rectify their status and ensure full compliance with the new framework. Let us assist you in simplifying the process and updating your commercial records with the highest level of efficiency and professionalism—so you can focus confidently on growing your business.