The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing announced that more than 274,000 commercial licenses were issued and renewed during the first half of 2026, reflecting the vitality of economic activity and the continued growth of businesses across the Kingdom’s cities and governorates.
The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Rasasmah, stated that the licenses included the issuance of more than 97,000 new commercial licenses and the renewal of over 177,000 licenses. He noted that these figures demonstrate the continuity of commercial activities, the ongoing enhancement of the business environment, and the Ministry’s role in enabling commercial establishments to continue their operations through streamlined digital procedures.
Al-Rasasmah added that services delivered during the same period included more than 91,000 amendments to commercial licenses, over 43,000 transactions to add commercial activities, and more than 39,000 license ownership transfer transactions. These services form part of the Ministry’s diverse range of offerings designed to meet the needs of the business sector and improve the efficiency of the beneficiary journey across digital platforms.
The official spokesperson confirmed that these results build on the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to develop the municipal licensing ecosystem, simplify procedures, and enhance the efficiency of digital services. These efforts aim to accelerate transaction completion and improve the experience of investors and business owners. He also noted that the Balady platform is one of the key digital enablers supporting the municipal sector and contributing to the delivery of integrated services to beneficiaries.
Al-Rasasmah stated that the continued growth in the number of commercial licenses reflects the attractiveness of the investment environment in Saudi cities, as well as the effectiveness of the Ministry’s initiatives to empower the private sector, stimulate commercial activity, and promote sustainable economic development, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The official spokesperson called on commercial establishment owners to take advantage of the electronic services available through the Balady platform to ensure the continuity of their business activities and access services easily and efficiently.
