Registering a Contracting Company across 22 Arab countries
15 of 22 countries offer a documented online registration portal, and chamber membership is required in UAE, Qatar, Jordan.
Side by side
| Country | Commercial registry | Online registration portal | Chamber membership required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | GAFI (Investor Service Center) with the Commercial Registry office | General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) | — |
| Saudi Arabia | Ministry of Commerce — Commercial Register | Ministry of Commerce e-services | — |
| UAE | Each emirate's economic department (Dubai DET, Abu Dhabi ADDED) and free-zone authorities | — | Yes |
| Kuwait | Ministry of Commerce and Industry — Commercial Registry & licence | Ministry of Commerce and Industry | — |
| Qatar | Ministry of Commerce and Industry — Commercial Registry | Single Window platform | Yes |
| Bahrain | Ministry of Industry and Commerce — Commercial Registration | Sijilat | — |
| Oman | Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion — Commercial Register | Oman Business Platform (formerly Invest Easy) | — |
| Iraq | Ministry of Trade — Companies Registration Department | Company registration portal (one-stop window) | — |
| Jordan | Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply — Companies Control Department | Companies Control Department e-services (new company registration) | Yes |
| Syria | Ministry of Economy and Industry — General Directorate of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection (companies departments and commercial registries) | — | — |
| Morocco | Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office (OMPIC) and commercial courts — Trade Register | DirectEntreprise online company-creation platform | — |
| Algeria | Ministry of Commerce — National Centre of the Trade Register (CNRC) | — | — |
| Libya | Ministry of Economy and Trade — Commercial Registry Office | Commercial Registry System | — |
| Lebanon | Trade Register at the Court of Commerce | — | — |
| Palestine | Ministry of National Economy — Companies Registration | Companies portal (eRegistrations) | — |
| Yemen | Ministry of Industry and Trade — Commercial Registry | — | — |
| Sudan | Commercial Registrar General | — | — |
| Tunisia | National Business Register (RNE) | RNE portal | — |
| Mauritania | Commercial Court — Trade Register | Investment Promotion Agency of Mauritania (APIM) — Single Window | — |
| Somalia | Office of the Company Registrar — Ministry of Commerce and Industry | Somali Business Registration and Licensing System (eBusiness) | — |
| Djibouti | Office Djiboutien de la Propriété Industrielle et Commerciale (ODPIC) | ODPIC website (RCS procedures and published registrations) | — |
| Comoros | Commercial Court — Trade and Personal Property Credit Register (RCCM, OHADA) | — | — |
— no documented figure in the sources, or set by each tender or contract.
FAQ
Which Arab countries register companies online?
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Libya, Palestine, Tunisia, Mauritania, Somalia, Djibouti.
Where is chamber membership required?
UAE, Qatar, Jordan.
Other comparisons
Gulf countries head to head
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