Saudi Arabia is spending heavily to turn itself into the logistics heart of the Middle East, and no project captures that ambition better than Riyadh Integrated, the flagship development of the Special Integrated Logistics Zone Company (SILZ). Global names such as DHL, Lenovo, SHEIN, iHerb, Unipart, Bahri Logistics, and JD (Jingdong) Logistics have already signed on, and the zone’s incentive package is among the most aggressive anywhere in the region.
If you are weighing a Saudi market entry, this guide walks through everything that matters: what SILZ is, who qualifies, the tax and customs incentives, the step-by-step incorporation journey, official fees, post-licensing registrations, employee visas, and how to lease and build on a plot inside the zone. Every figure below is drawn from SILZ’s official investor documentation.
What Is the Special Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ)?
The Special Integrated Logistics Zone Company (SILZ) is the government-backed entity, operating under MATARAT Holding, responsible for developing and operating Special Integrated Logistics Zones across Saudi Arabia. Its stated vision is to revolutionize global trade through integrated logistics zones, and its mission is to set the global benchmark as a leading developer and operator of free trade zones supporting efficient, integrated, and sustainable end-to-end supply chains.
Its flagship project, Riyadh Integrated Special Logistics Zone, is the Kingdom’s first logistics zone. SILZ plays a dual role in the project:
SILZ as a Developer
- Laying out the Special Integrated Logistics Zone master plan
- Attracting investors and developing value-added products
- Approving and endorsing tenant designs and issuing construction permits
SILZ as an Operator
- Managing and leasing land and warehouses to investors
- Managing ongoing relationships with zone investors
- Developing value-added services for tenants
- Issuing permits for occupancy, operations, and infrastructure activities
Location and Value Proposition: Why Riyadh Integrated Stands Out
Location is the zone’s single biggest structural advantage. Riyadh Integrated sits beside King Khalid International Airport (KKIA), bounded by Airport Road, Mohamed Bin Faraj Road, and King Salman Road, placing tenants approximately 10–12 minutes (around 8 km) from the KKIA Cargo Village. For air-freight-dependent businesses, that proximity translates directly into faster customs cycles and lower drayage costs.
| Key Metric | Value |
| Distance to KKIA Cargo Village | Approx. 10 minutes (≈8 km) |
| Total land area | 3 million sqm |
| Leasable area | 2 million sqm |
| Development model | Phased approach |
| Operator | Special Integrated Logistics Zone Company (MATARAT Holding) |
Beyond geography, SILZ positions Riyadh Integrated around ten pillars: a best-in-class regulatory framework with competitive incentives, an effortless business hub tailored for multinationals, a gateway to global and local markets, technology enablement, operational excellence, connectivity and integration, cutting-edge infrastructure, a bespoke ecosystem, social infrastructure that empowers lives, and engaging community-oriented spaces.
SILZ Tax Incentives and Investor Benefits
The incentive framework is the reason most multinationals shortlist SILZ. Under the Special Tax Rules for the Special Integrated Logistics Zone, qualifying entities receive:
| Incentive | What It Means for Investors |
| 50-year tax relief period | Long-horizon fiscal certainty rarely offered by competing zones |
| 0% corporate income tax | Zone profits are not subject to Saudi corporate income tax |
| VAT exemptions | Qualifying zone transactions are VAT-exempt (zero-tax declaration still required) |
| Withholding tax exemptions | Cross-border payments escape Saudi withholding tax |
| Remittance tax exemptions | Profits can be repatriated without remittance tax |
| Customs duty suspension | Duties suspended for goods remaining in the zone and goods moved from any port (including the airport) into the zone |
| Certification standards suspension | Import certification standards and restrictions suspended for goods entering the zone |
| 100% foreign ownership | No local partner or sponsor required |
| Relaxed labor laws | Greater workforce flexibility than mainland Saudi rules |
Important note on tax registration: although investors are exempted from tax under the zone’s special rules, registration with ZATCA (Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority) remains mandatory in order to file the zero-tax declaration. Exemption does not mean exemption from compliance.
Who Can Set Up in SILZ? Investor Criteria and Targeted Industries
Riyadh Integrated is deliberately selective. The zone targets established operators rather than startups, and applications are assessed against the strength of the existing business.
Investor Criteria
- Industry leaders and product owners
- Logistics service providers
- Regional and global distributors
Targeted Industries
- Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
- Advanced Technologies
- Medical Technologies
Permitted Activities in the Zone
- Light assembly, manufacturing, and repair
- Trade and distribution activities
- Import and export activities
- Logistics and value-added services
- Recycling
If your business falls outside these profiles, mainland Saudi Arabia or another economic city may be a better fit — a comparison a qualified setup consultant can run for you before you commit application fees.
Real Estate Products and Tenant Services Inside the Zone
SILZ offers four core real estate products, letting tenants choose their preferred balance of speed, control, and capital expenditure:
- Land plots – vacant plots for tenants who want to design and build their own facility
- Build-to-suit units – SILZ constructs to the tenant’s specification
- Pre-built warehouses – ready units for the fastest possible go-live
- Offices & showrooms – commercial space for front-of-house operations
Tenants are supported by three core services — technology services, facilities management, and security services — wrapped in a wider layer of value-added services covering telecommunications, accommodation, mobility, logistics, recruitment, utilities, food and beverage, consolidation, advertising, and e-government services. The practical effect is that a tenant can run its entire operational stack, from staff housing to customs paperwork, without leaving the zone.
Who Is Already in Riyadh Integrated? Current Tenants and Timeline
Tenant traction is the strongest evidence of a zone’s viability. Riyadh Integrated’s phased development has attracted a roster of global operators:
| Company | Milestone |
| Unipart | Started operating: August 2022 |
| Sapphire | Groundbreaking: September 2024 |
| Chalhoub Group | Groundbreaking: February 2025 |
| Lenovo | Groundbreaking: February 2025 |
| SHEIN | Contract signed: March 2025 |
| Bahri Logistics | Contract signed: June 2025 |
| iHerb | Started operations: July 2025 |
| DHL | Contract signed: November 2025 |
| Rotortrade | Contract signed: December 2025 |
| JD (Jingdong) Logistics | Contract signed: December 2025 |
CJ Logistics also appears on the zone’s master plan alongside these names. The mix — e-commerce giants, 3PLs, consumer brands, and technology manufacturers — mirrors exactly the investor criteria above.
The 5-Step Entity Incorporation Journey
Establishing a legal entity in Riyadh Integrated follows a defined sequence managed through the zone’s online portal:
- Conduct due diligence and market assessment. Check your eligibility, review all Zone Regulations, and prepare your documents and business plan before starting.
- Fill out the application form on the Riyadh Integrated website.
- Submit supporting documents and application. The Governing Body evaluates the application; once approved, you are prompted to begin incorporation.
- Fill out the incorporation form for your new SILZ entity on the Riyadh Integrated website.
- Issue your Articles of Association and Commercial License to begin operating in the zone.
What the Application Form Asks For
Applicants must outline the existing company’s profile: name, sector, practiced activities, nationality, and global presence. Publicly listed companies must state their stock exchange; private companies must disclose annual revenue.
Business Plan Requirements
A business plan covering at least 5 years must accompany the application. No fixed template is required, but it must include:
- Project description: services provided, type of goods, volumes broken down by transport mode (total, import, export into the mainland, and re-export volumes per country), targeted clients and markets, required product type and size, and a land plot utilization plan
- Headcount plan: number of qualified employees and the positions to be recruited, with FTE counts per position type
- Financial plan: OPEX and CAPEX costs, projected revenues, and projected cash inflows and outflows
The Governing Body reviews proposals against three tests: the strength of the existing company portfolio (activities, current volumes, revenues), the validity and feasibility of projected volumes and revenues, and the impact on Saudi Arabia’s economic development.
Legal Structures Available
Only two entity forms are authorized inside the zone: a SILZ Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Branch of a principal company. An LLC requires a notarized and attested board resolution, Articles of Association form, and passport copies of shareholders and the general manager. A Branch requires the parent’s certificate of incorporation, notarized board resolutions establishing the branch and granting signatory authority or POA, the general manager’s passport copy, and the GM’s duly attested specimen signature.
Incorporation and License Issuance: The Portal Workflow
Once your application is approved, the incorporation request runs through eight portal steps:
- Begin your incorporation request from the approved application
- Select your entity type (LLC or Branch of Company)
- Upload the necessary legal documents (AoA, shareholder’s resolution, POA) — your application data carries over automatically
- Define the company’s management type and each manager’s authority
- Enter legal representative information and upload related POA documents
- Review the incorporation request and the auto-generated AoA form
- Pay the license fees once the incorporation request is approved
- View and download your new entity’s license after payment
SILZ Business Setup Fees: Official Price List
Budgeting a SILZ entry is straightforward because the fee schedule is published. All amounts are in Saudi Riyals (SAR):
| Fee | Price (SAR) |
| Application fee (one-time, non-refundable) | 5,100 |
| One-year license | 16,100 |
| Three-year license | 48,300 |
| Five-year license | 80,500 |
| Chamber of Commerce – special services subscription | 5,750 |
| Chamber of Commerce – standard subscription | Based on license duration and entity capital |
| Qiwa subscription | 935 |
| Single work visa (permanent) | 2,000 |
| Iqama card issuance – employee | 650 |
| Iqama card issuance – dependents over 18 | 500 |
A realistic first-year budget for a small operation — application, one-year license, Chamber registration, Qiwa, and one expatriate hire — lands at roughly SAR 25,500–30,000 before leasing, insurance, and attestation costs.
The Post-Incorporation Journey: 7 Registrations Every New Entity Needs
The commercial license is the beginning, not the end. New entities must then complete seven government registrations:
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD): view establishment details and access MHRSD services via Nafath login.
- ZATCA (Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority): obtain your Tax Identification Number (TIN), activate tax and customs accounts, and register for VAT services — required even though zone investors are tax-exempt, for the zero-tax declaration.
- Saudi Post (SPL): register the establishment and obtain your National Address Certificate (currently requires contacting SPL directly).
- Chamber of Commerce: a physical activation — the General Manager must be in Saudi Arabia and visit GACA HQ to register their signature. SILZ entities may register under the special service plan at SAR 5,750.
- GOSI: register the establishment and employees with the General Organization for Social Insurance.
- Visa issuances: issue visas, work permits, and Iqama cards for non-Saudi employees via Qiwa, Absher, and Muqeem.
- Bank account: open a corporate account with a SAMA-authorized bank — SILZ can facilitate the initial bank introduction on the investor’s behalf.
GOSI Contribution Rates at a Glance
| Coverage | Rate | Who Pays |
| Pension (Saudi employees only) | 18% of salary | Employer 9% / Employee 9% |
| Occupational hazards (all workers) | 2% of salary | Employer (fully) |
| Unemployment insurance / SANED (Saudis only) | 1.5% of wage | Employer 0.75% / Employee 0.75% |
Hiring Expat Staff: Work Visas and Iqama in 12 Steps
SILZ’s investor guide maps the full employee onboarding flow for non-Saudi hires:
- Register your account on the Qiwa platform using the legal representative’s Saudi ID or Iqama
- Activate your Qiwa subscription (SAR 935 per year)
- Deposit visa fees to your establishment’s Absher or Muqeem account — a single permanent work visa costs SAR 2,000
- Request the visa under the Permanent Work Visa table in Qiwa services
- Prepare and sign the employment contract with the new employee
- Delegate your non-Saudi hires on the Enjaz visa platform
- Attest the employment contract at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and ship it to the employee
- Have the employee submit their visa application and passport at the Saudi Embassy in their country of residence
- Once the employee enters Saudi Arabia, issue a work permit within 90 days via Qiwa
- Purchase medical insurance for the employee (required before the Iqama application)
- Clear any fines or traffic violations on the employee or employer record
- Issue the residency permit (Iqama) via Absher within 90 days of arrival — SAR 650 for the employee, SAR 500 per dependent over 18
Leasing a Vacant Plot: The 8-Stage Facility Set-Up Journey
Tenants taking a vacant plot (VP) lease build their own facility under the Master Developer’s supervision:
- Sign the lease agreement — negotiate commercial terms and plot allocation with the Master Developer (prerequisite: Commercial License Certificate).
- Land plot handover — formalized by signing the Unit Delivery Minutes.
- Submit the project brief — objectives, scope, deliverables, stakeholders, timeline, and constraints.
- Submit the facility design — concept design, schematic design, and detailed design.
- Construction permit issuance — the building permit issued by GACA once the Master Developer approves the design.
- Execute construction — implementation, resourcing, quality, risk management, and project closure preparation.
- Occupancy permit — GACA confirms the completed building complies with codes, regulations, and safety standards.
- Operation permit — granted by the Master Developer once the facility is confirmed ready; operations can then begin.
Across the wider tenant development lifecycle, SILZ defines five formal stages — scope definition and briefing, design, procurement, execution, and occupancy/operations/handover — each with defined deliverables such as RFPs, pre-qualified vendor lists, closeout documents, the taking-over certificate, and the operations permit.
Common Mistakes Investors Make When Applying to SILZ
- Submitting a business plan shorter than the mandatory 5-year horizon or missing required components such as re-export volume breakdowns per country
- Assuming tax exemption removes the need for ZATCA registration — the zero-tax declaration is still compulsory
- Underestimating the Chamber of Commerce step: activation is physical and requires the General Manager’s presence in Saudi Arabia
- Missing the 90-day windows for issuing work permits and Iqama cards after an employee’s arrival
- Failing to notarize and attest board resolutions correctly, which stalls the incorporation request
- Applying with a profile outside the investor criteria (industry leaders, logistics providers, distributors) and losing the non-refundable SAR 5,100 application fee
Key Takeaways
- SILZ’s Riyadh Integrated is Saudi Arabia’s first special logistics zone, 10 minutes from KKIA Cargo Village, with 2 million sqm of leasable space
- Incentives include a 50-year tax relief period, 0% corporate income tax, VAT/withholding/remittance exemptions, customs suspension, 100% foreign ownership, and relaxed labor laws
- The zone targets industry leaders, logistics service providers, and global distributors in ICT, advanced tech, and medical technologies
- Setup runs through a 5-step incorporation journey, with license fees from SAR 16,100 (one year) to SAR 80,500 (five years)
- Seven post-license registrations (MHRSD, ZATCA, Saudi Post, Chamber of Commerce, GOSI, visas, banking) are required before full operation
- Global tenants — DHL, Lenovo, SHEIN, iHerb, Unipart, Bahri, JD Logistics — validate the zone’s commercial momentum
Conclusion: Is Riyadh Integrated Right for Your Business?
For logistics providers, distributors, and technology companies with real regional volumes, SILZ’s Riyadh Integrated offers a combination that is hard to match: airport-side positioning, a 50-year zero-tax runway, full foreign ownership, suspended customs duties, and a tenant roster that already includes the world’s biggest logistics and e-commerce brands. The trade-off is selectivity — the Governing Body approves only credible operators with feasible five-year plans and a demonstrable contribution to the Saudi economy.
That is exactly where expert guidance pays for itself. MSZ Corporate Services Provider supports investors across the UAE and Saudi Arabia with end-to-end company formation — from eligibility assessment and business plan preparation to license issuance, ZATCA and GOSI registrations, visa processing, and corporate bank account opening. If you are considering SILZ, a Saudi mainland entity, or a UAE free zone as your regional base, our consultants will map the fastest, most cost-effective route for your specific business.
Ready to explore Saudi Arabia’s first special logistics zone? Contact MSZ Consultancy today for a free consultation on your SILZ business setup.
Mohammed Sultan Zubair
Founder & Managing Director - MSZ Corporate Services Provider
Mohammed Sultan Zubair is a leading business consultant and entrepreneur based in Dubai, recognized for his expertise in business setup in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. As the Founder and Managing Director of MSZ Corporate Services Provider, he has helped entrepreneurs, investors, and multinational companies establish and expand their businesses across the Middle East.
With over 15 years of industry experience, Zubair specializes in company formation in UAE mainland, free zones, and offshore jurisdictions, as well as Saudi Arabia business setup, regulatory compliance, and cross-border expansion strategies.
His mission is to simplify business setup in the Middle East, enabling clients to focus on growth while MSZ handles complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions About SILZ and Riyadh Integrated
SILZ is the Saudi company, under MATARAT Holding, that develops and operates Special Integrated Logistics Zones. Its flagship project, Riyadh Integrated, is Saudi Arabia’s first special logistics zone, located next to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The zone sits approximately 10 minutes (about 8 km) from the KKIA Cargo Village in Riyadh, bounded by Airport Road, Mohamed Bin Faraj Road, and King Salman Road.
Yes. The zone permits 100% foreign business ownership with no requirement for a Saudi partner or sponsor.
Qualifying entities benefit from a 50-year tax relief period with 0% corporate income tax plus VAT, withholding, and remittance tax exemptions. Registration with ZATCA is still mandatory to file the zero-tax declaration.
Customs duties are suspended for all goods that remain in the zone and for goods transported from any port — including the airport — into the zone. Certification standards and restrictions on goods imported into the zone are also suspended.
The application fee is SAR 5,100 (one-time, non-refundable). Licenses cost SAR 16,100 for one year, SAR 48,300 for three years, or SAR 80,500 for five years.
Only two forms are authorized: a SILZ Limited Liability Company or a Branch of a principal (parent) company. Both are incorporated through the Zone portal with Governing Body approval.
Yes. A business plan covering at least 5 years is mandatory, including a project description with volume breakdowns, a headcount plan with FTE numbers, and a financial plan covering OPEX, CAPEX, revenues, and cash flows.
Permitted activities are light assembly, manufacturing and repair; trade and distribution; import and export; logistics and value-added services; and recycling.
Unipart has operated since August 2022 and iHerb since July 2025. Chalhoub Group, Lenovo, and Sapphire have broken ground, while SHEIN, Bahri Logistics, DHL, Rotortrade, and JD (Jingdong) Logistics signed contracts during 2025.
The Iqama application must be submitted within 90 days of the employee’s arrival in the Kingdom. Work permits must likewise be issued within 90 days of the employee starting work.
Expect SAR 2,000 for the permanent work visa, SAR 650 for the employee’s Iqama card, SAR 500 per dependent over 18, plus the SAR 935 annual Qiwa subscription and mandatory medical insurance.
Pension contributions (Saudis only) total 18% of salary, split equally between employer and employee. Occupational hazards coverage of 2% applies to all workers and is fully employer-borne. Unemployment insurance (SANED) adds 1.5% for Saudis, split equally.
Yes. As part of its streamlined process, SILZ can facilitate the initial contact with your chosen SAMA-authorized bank on your behalf, after which you submit documents and meet the bank representative to finalize the account.
It is Saudi Arabia’s equivalent of a special economic free zone: 100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions, and customs suspension inside a bonded perimeter. The key differences are the 50-year relief horizon, the selective investor criteria, and integration with Saudi platforms like Qiwa, GOSI, and ZATCA.