This program is designed for ambitious Bahraini startups and enterprises who seek to expand their businesses to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

This program has been created in partnership with AstroLabs, the Gulf’s leading business expansion and soft-landing platform and provider into KSA. AstroLabs have been partnered with Ministry of Investment (MISA) since 2018 to set up high-growth global companies into KSA and are well-placed to support Bahraini startups and enterprises ready to tap into the KSA market. Successful applicants will be provided with a comprehensive range of advisory services, on-the-ground assistance through connecting them with an expert that provides expansion, growth, and business development support services to guide them on their expansion journey into KSA.

Participating Enterprises will either have the objective of fully setting up in KSA or looking to expand their services/products into KSA’s market and access business development opportunities.

• Bahrain-based enterprises with an active CR/license
• Enterprise committed to retaining the head office in Bahrain post-expansion
• Enterprise must retain a minimum of 30% Bahraini ownership in the new KSA entity
• Enterprise must be in one or more of the key sectors:
  • Creative Industries
  • Education
  • Financial Services
  • Food & Beverage
  • Healthcare
  • Information Communication Technology (ICT)
  • Oil & Gas
  • Manufacturing & Logistics
  • Tourism
• Enterprise must be fully ready to scale to KSA as soon as you are accepted into the program, with secured funding to sustain your operations in the KSA market, and the needed documentation ready. For more information on the business setup process, please refer to: https://www.setupinsaudi.com/en/setup-for-foreigners
• Enterprise is prepared with a realistic and validated path to revenue generation in the KSA market, and must be able to demonstrate your readiness to expand in to KSA’s market through documentation for e.g. market research or feasibility studies
• Enterprise must not have violations from Tamkeen or LMRA
• Enterprise must not have the activity of a Holding Company as the only activity
• Enterprise must be prepared to share audited financial data for a minimum of one (1) year, no older than two (2) years and adhere to the data sharing and monitoring requirements of the program
• Enterprises owned by a GCC National or has GCC National Shareholders must be prepared to submit identification documents of their ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) to obtain the necessary licenses (required by MISA).

This program offers:

• Support for the establishment of a commercial entity in KSA including:
  • Sponsorship of the setup process to obtain a KSA CR
  • Advice and guidance on KSA regulatory requirements, local laws, cultural differences and business opportunities
  • Advice on recruitment, employment regulations and employment services in KSA
  • On-the-ground support in location identification and office setup
•  Decrease knowledge gap and enable opportunity identification through:
  • Support in developing a go to market strategy for KSA’s market
  • Assistance with creating and reviewing business plans, proposals, and sales presentations to secure partnerships and clients
  • Provide market insight on KSA’s regulatory and competitive landscape to identify opportunities and risks
• Providing business growth services in KSA through:
  • Assistance with completing procurement process, registering as suppliers and flagging relevant tenders for key players in the KSA market
  •  Facilitation of business opportunities, introductions to accelerators, investors, events, connections and partnerships
  •  Support with business development activities such as introductions to potential clients and support in reviewing business plans and sales decks

The program is 8 months long and is divided into phases as follows:

• Selection Phase (January 2025): Selection process to identify and finalize applicants that demonstrate the greatest potential for successful expansion in to KSA market.
• Onboarding Phase (End of January 2025): Onboarding of startups/enterprises to the program including welcome sessions, program briefings, assigning of account managers, workshops, webinars and paperwork preparation.
• Setting Up and Soft Landing Phase (February 2025): A comprehensive program which covers set up and soft landing in to KSA, advisory services and business development support.
• Integration Phase (Onwards until October): Continued mentorship, business development support, access to networking events with potential partners and investors, and showcase events.