Company Name Reservation Certificate in Saudi Arabia

Before a company can be registered in Saudi Arabia, the name has to be locked in. That’s what the Company Name Reservation Certificate does. It’s issued by the Ministry of Commerce and confirms that the business name you chose is available, acceptable under Saudi regulations, and temporarily protected.

Once approved, no other company can register that same name during the reservation period. This step usually happens right at the beginning, before any formal registration work starts.

Why it matters more than people expect

Skipping name reservation often leads to problems later. Names can be rejected for being too similar to existing companies, for cultural reasons, or for not meeting language rules. When that happens, everything else slows down.

For foreign investors, the reserved name is also important because it’s commonly referenced in the MISA Investment License application. That same name is then used again when applying for the Commercial Registration. Keeping the name consistent helps avoid corrections and resubmissions.

What the Company Name Reservation Certificate covers

• Issued by the Saudi Ministry of Commerce
• Confirms the proposed company name follows local legal and naming standards
• Verifies the name is not already registered or reserved
• Protects the name from being used by others
• Valid for a limited period and may need renewal if it expires

What you can do once the name is reserved

After the certificate is issued, you can:

• Continue with company incorporation and Commercial Registration
• Use the approved name in MISA Investment License applications, if required
• Include the name in legal and pre-incorporation documents
• Prevent third parties from registering the same or a similar business name
• Use the same name consistently across all government filings

Who needs to reserve a company name

A Company Name Reservation Certificate is required for:

• Entrepreneurs starting a new company in Saudi Arabia
• Foreign investors setting up entities through MISA
• Businesses opening branches or subsidiaries under a new name
• Companies planning to change or secure an alternative company name
• Not reserving a name often leads to registration delays or rejected applications.

How it fits into the registration process

Name reservation comes before Commercial Registration and is generally required for incorporation. While the certificate does not allow a company to operate, it does secure the business name within Saudi Arabia’s commercial registry.