How long does vendor registration take, and what does it cost?
Timelines are influenced by the portal and how organised you are. If your documents are complete and meet the portal’s criteria, standard vendor registration can take around 3-4 weeks on general government platforms like Etimad. More specialised portals like Saudi Aramco or SABIC usually require additional technical questionnaires and pre-qualification steps, which can extend the process to 6-8 weeks. Regarding costs, many government portals do not impose a registration fee, but you should plan for expenses related to document translation, legalisation, and internal administrative time.
Certain corporate portals might impose annual vendor fees that usually range from around SAR 1,000 to SAR 10,000, based on category and scope. These expenses are a normal part of the investment for business setup in Saudi Arabia, especially if you aim to pursue large or long-term contracts.