With over $3 trillion in investment driving economic diversification, Saudi Arabia is opening its doors to strategic foreign partnerships, and US businesses are high on the priority list.
This guide explores the essential considerations for US-based companies starting a business in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on how to align with Vision 2030's sectoral priorities.
With over 15 years of experience guiding international firms through the Saudi market, Peninsula has been a trusted partner for industry giants like Amazon and Best Western.
Learn how your US business can enter one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, and stay ahead of the competition.
Setting up in Saudi Arabia requires engaging with several regulatory bodies—MISA, Ministry of Commerce, ZATCA, and more. The process, while streamlined compared to a decade ago, remains complex and opaque for newcomers.
Key Tip: Engage a local expert early. Missteps in document legalisation, shareholder structure, or business activity selection can delay approvals by months.
Saudi Arabia is investing over $65 billion to digitise and privatise its healthcare system.
US Edge: The US is a global leader in digital health, AI diagnostics, and medtech. This makes American firms ideal partners for:
Companies like Teladoc Health and GE Healthcare already have a footprint in the region. Peninsula can fast-track medical licensing, IP protection, and local JV structures.
Riyadh is aspiring to become a regional financial hub to rival Dubai. Vision 2030 has launched reforms around fintech, foreign investment, and ESG finance.
US Edge: Wall Street and Silicon Valley house world-leading institutions and startups. Areas of synergy include:
Peninsula works closely with MISA to navigate regulatory approval for US financial firms.
Saudi Arabia has committed $38 billion to developing its gaming and esports sector, aiming to become a global hub through Savvy Games Group and major international partnerships.
US Edge: Home to industry giants like Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, and EA, US firms are ideally placed to partner in:
Peninsula facilitates licensing, entity structuring, and local market entry for gaming businesses.
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Saudi Arabia is rapidly building its AI infrastructure through national strategies and global partnerships.
US Edge: US firms lead in machine learning, robotics, and quantum computing.
Peninsula assists AI firms in navigating data sovereignty laws and local pilot programme approvals.
The NEOM project alone has a budget of $500 billion, with similar mega-developments across Qiddiya and the Red Sea coast.
US Edge: American firms such as Bechtel, Jacobs, and AECOM are already involved. More opportunities exist in:
Peninsula ensures compliance with Saudisation, localisation, and sector-specific regulations.
Saudi Arabia aims to source 50% of energy from renewables by 2030. It’s investing heavily in solar, wind, and green hydrogen.
US Edge: The US leads in solar innovation, battery tech, and green hydrogen. Opportunities include:
Peninsula supports US cleantech firms in securing necessary environmental licences and forming local partnerships.
Saudi Arabia is revamping its education system and vocational training landscape.
US Edge: American universities and edtech firms are globally respected for innovation and scale.
Peninsula assists with licensing, visa structuring for faculty, and local MOUs.
The Kingdom is pushing to localise military production and advance aerospace capabilities.
US Edge: US firms like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are already embedded. New opportunities exist in:
Peninsula can guide through complex procurement and offset obligations.
From the Red Sea Film Festival to the Riyadh Season, Saudi Arabia is cultivating its entertainment and cultural economy.
US Edge: Hollywood studios, gaming firms, and production houses are highly sought-after.
Peninsula provides IP registration, content licensing, and local hiring advisory.
Saudi Arabia is pushing EV adoption with initiatives like Ceer (a local EV brand) and infrastructure development.
US Edge: US companies like Tesla and Rivian are seen as leaders in EV manufacturing and battery innovation.
Peninsula advises on customs, trade compliance, and localisation mandates.
Saudi Arabia is modernising its retail landscape with a strong push into e-commerce.
US Edge: U.S. firms like Amazon, Walmart (Flipkart), and Shopify dominate global e-commerce innovation.
Peninsula helps navigate e-commerce licensing, VAT registration, and customs clearance.
For US firms, Saudi Arabia is not just a market; it’s a frontier for scalable, first-mover impact. But success depends on understanding the rules of engagement. At Peninsula, we turn ambition into action with precision and local fluency.
Peninsula offers a free consultation tailored for US businesses evaluating Saudi expansion. Let us help you mitigate risk, accelerate setup, and unlock the full potential of Vision 2030.
Alistair Paine brings 15 years of dedicated experience in Saudi market entry, guiding Fortune 500 companies and innovative scale-ups through successful establishment in the Kingdom. His expertise in Saudi company formation, licensing and market entry strategy, positions him as a leading authority and consultant in international business expansion to Saudi Arabia.
Schedule a free consultation with Alistair and the Peninsula team to understand which market entry strategy is best suited to your business setup in Saudi Arabia.
Email: Alistair@peninsulacs.com
