Regional HQ (RHQ) Program

1. Overview: Regional HQ (RHQ) Program Services (2026 Updates)

At Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy, we provide comprehensive, end-to-end assistance for multinational corporations seeking to establish a Regional Headquarters (RHQ) in Saudi Arabia under the Kingdom's flagship RHQ Program. The RHQ Program, launched by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), is designed to position Saudi Arabia as the premier regional hub for multinational corporations operating across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. As of 2026, the RHQ Program offers unprecedented incentives including a 30-year tax holiday (0% corporate income tax and 0% withholding tax), relaxed visa quotas, unlimited work permits, and priority access to government contracts. Our team stays current with all RHQ regulatory updates, eligibility criteria, and incentive structures to ensure your RHQ application is strategically positioned, fully compliant, and processed without delays.

Our Regional HQ (RHQ) Program services include:

RHQ Eligibility Assessment – Evaluating your multinational's qualifications for the RHQ Program.
RHQ Strategic Advisory – Aligning your regional structure with MISA and RCRC requirements.
RHQ License Application – Complete submission through MISA's dedicated RHQ portal.
Document Preparation & Attestation – Parent company documents, regional structure, and board resolutions.
Incentive Package Navigation – Assisting with tax holiday applications and visa quota benefits.
RHQ Commercial Registration – Obtaining CR under the RHQ license.
Post-RHQ Setup Services – ZATCA, GOSI, Qiwa, Muqeem, and bank account opening.
Ongoing RHQ Compliance – Tracking reporting obligations and incentive renewals.

2. What is the Regional HQ (RHQ) Program?

The Regional Headquarters (RHQ) Program is a strategic Saudi government initiative designed to attract multinational corporations to establish their regional headquarters for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region within the Kingdom. As of 2026, companies holding an RHQ license are eligible for exclusive benefits that are not available to standard foreign investors. The RHQ structure requires the parent company to have existing operations in at least two other countries in the MENA region and to demonstrate that the Saudi RHQ will oversee, manage, and provide strategic direction to those regional operations. Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy specializes in guiding multinationals through the complex RHQ eligibility, application, and ongoing compliance requirements.

Key benefits of the RHQ Program (2026):

30-year tax holiday – 0% corporate income tax and 0% withholding tax for 30 years.
Unlimited work visas – Relaxed visa quotas for RHQ employees.
Priority government contracts – Exclusive access to government procurement opportunities.
100% foreign ownership – Full ownership without Saudi partner requirement.
Profit repatriation – Unlimited transfer of profits and capital.
Sponsorship flexibility – RHQ can sponsor dependents and domestic workers.
Expat employee benefits – Reduced Saudization requirements for RHQ roles.
Premium Residency access – Streamlined path for RHQ executives.

3. RHQ Eligibility Assessment

Not every multinational corporation automatically qualifies for the RHQ Program. MISA has established specific eligibility criteria that must be met before an RHQ license application can be submitted. Key requirements include: the parent company must have existing legal entities or branches in at least two other countries in the MENA region; the Saudi RHQ must be responsible for managing, overseeing, and providing strategic direction to those regional operations; and the parent company must demonstrate sufficient financial capacity and operational history. Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy conducts a comprehensive eligibility assessment to determine if your multinational qualifies and, if not, provides a roadmap to achieve eligibility.

Our RHQ eligibility assessment services include:

MENA regional footprint review – Evaluating existing operations in MENA countries.
Regional management capability assessment – Determining if your structure qualifies for RHQ oversight.
Financial capacity verification – Reviewing audited financials against MISA thresholds.
Sector eligibility check – Confirming your industry qualifies for RHQ incentives.
Gap analysis & roadmap – Identifying steps to achieve RHQ eligibility.
Strategic advisory – Recommendations on regional restructuring if needed.
Pre-application consultation with MISA – Coordinating preliminary discussions with authorities.

4. RHQ License Application Process

The RHQ license application is submitted through MISA's dedicated RHQ portal and requires extensive documentation, including parent company incorporation documents, audited financial statements, board resolutions authorizing RHQ establishment, a detailed regional strategy, and evidence of existing MENA operations. Applications are reviewed by a joint committee from MISA and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC). The process typically takes 4-8 weeks for complete, well-prepared applications. Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy manages the entire RHQ application process, from document preparation to final license issuance, ensuring your submission is complete, accurate, and strategically compelling.

Our RHQ license application services include:

RHQ application strategy – Developing a compelling regional headquarters narrative.
Document compilation & attestation – Preparing all required parent company and regional documents.
Board resolution for RHQ – Drafting resolution authorizing RHQ establishment and regional oversight.
Regional strategy document – Preparing detailed plan showing RHQ's regional management role.
MENA operations evidence – Compiling CRs, licenses, or branch registrations from other MENA countries.
RHQ portal submission – Filing complete application through MISA's dedicated RHQ system.
Follow-up & query management – Handling MISA/RCRC requests for additional information.
RHQ license issuance – Receiving the official RHQ license certificate.

5. RHQ Incentive Package & 30-Year Tax Holiday

The RHQ Program's most attractive benefit is the 30-year tax holiday, which includes 0% corporate income tax on RHQ activities and 0% withholding tax on payments to foreign affiliates. However, these incentives must be formally applied for and approved as part of the RHQ license process. Additionally, RHQs receive relaxed visa quotas, priority access to government tenders, and streamlined residency pathways for executives. Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy assists with the complete incentive application process, ensuring your RHQ maximizes the available benefits and maintains compliance with incentive terms.

Our RHQ incentive & tax holiday services include:

Tax holiday application – Submitting formal application for 0% corporate tax rate.
Withholding tax exemption request – Applying for 0% withholding tax on cross-border payments.
Visa quota negotiation – Securing optimal work visa allocations for RHQ employees.
Saudization exemption advisory – Understanding reduced Saudization requirements for RHQ roles.
Government tender registration – Registering RHQ for priority access to government contracts.
Executive Premium Residency – Assisting RHQ executives with Premium Residency applications.
Incentive compliance monitoring – Tracking ongoing obligations to maintain incentive eligibility.

6. RHQ Commercial Registration & Post-License Setup

After receiving RHQ license approval from MISA, the entity must obtain a Commercial Registration (CR) from the Ministry of Commerce, register with the Chamber of Commerce, and complete registrations with ZATCA (tax), GOSI (social insurance), Qiwa (labor platform), and Muqeem (immigration). Unlike standard entities, RHQs have additional reporting obligations to MISA and RCRC to maintain their RHQ status and incentive eligibility. Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy provides seamless post-RHQ setup services, ensuring your RHQ moves from license approval to fully operational status while maintaining full compliance with RHQ-specific requirements.

Our post-RHQ setup services include:

RHQ Commercial Registration (CR) – Filing CR with Ministry of Commerce under RHQ license.
Chamber of Commerce registration – Obtaining RHQ membership certificate.
ZATCA tax registration – Tax Identification Number (TIN) and VAT setup (noting tax holiday).
GOSI registration – Social insurance for RHQ employees.
Qiwa registration – Mandatory labor platform enrollment.
Muqeem profile creation – Immigration system access for visa and iqama processing.
Corporate bank account assistance – Introduction to premium banks in Madinah/Riyadh for RHQ accounts.
Work visa & iqama processing – Visas and residency permits for RHQ executives and employees.
Dependent visa support – Family sponsorship for RHQ employees.

7. RHQ Ongoing Compliance & Reporting

RHQ license holders have ongoing compliance obligations that differ from standard Saudi entities. RHQs must submit annual reports to MISA and RCRC demonstrating that they continue to oversee and manage regional operations, maintain the required MENA footprint, and comply with incentive terms. Failure to meet these obligations can result in loss of RHQ status and clawback of tax benefits. Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy provides ongoing compliance support to ensure your RHQ maintains its licensed status and continues to enjoy full incentives without interruption.

Our RHQ ongoing compliance services include:

Annual RHQ reporting – Preparing and submitting required reports to MISA and RCRC.
Regional operations monitoring – Tracking MENA footprint to maintain eligibility.
Incentive compliance audits – Ensuring continued qualification for tax holiday.
CR renewal management – Annual Commercial Registration renewal.
RHQ license renewal – Managing MISA RHQ license renewal process.
Amendment support – Modifying RHQ structure, activities, or regional coverage.
Expansion advisory – Adding new MENA countries to RHQ oversight.
Regulatory update alerts – Notifying clients of RHQ program changes.

8. Why Choose Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy for Your RHQ Program?

The RHQ Program is the most prestigious and lucrative foreign investment track in Saudi Arabia, but it is also the most complex. Applications require strategic positioning, extensive documentation, and navigation of a joint MISA-RCRC review process. Errors or omissions can result in application rejection or delays of several months. Madinah IT Solution & Consultancy combines deep local knowledge with specialized expertise in RHQ eligibility, application strategy, and ongoing compliance. Our team has successfully guided multinational corporations through the RHQ process, from initial eligibility assessment to license issuance and post-setup compliance.

Reasons to trust us with your RHQ Program application:

RHQ program specialists – Dedicated expertise in MISA RHQ eligibility and application requirements.
Joint MISA-RCRC navigation – Experience with the dual-authority review process.
30-year tax holiday expertise – We ensure your incentive application is complete and compelling.
Cross-border attestation mastery – Managing document attestation across multiple MENA jurisdictions.
Strategic regional advisory – Helping structure your MENA footprint for RHQ success.
Locally rooted with global reach – Madinah presence with understanding of multinational needs.
End-to-end service – From eligibility to license, CR, incentives, and ongoing compliance.
Bilingual executive team – Arabic and English fluency for board-level communication.
Transparent pricing – Clear breakdown of MISA fees, attestation costs, and service charges.
Post-approval continuity – We stay with you through CR issuance, visa processing, and annual compliance.