Business & Entrepreneurship
Register a business
Apply here with your trade name and activity, then pay the fee with the Saudi Business Center. Your registration is usually issued the same day.
Start application · here on Al Munawarah
OnlineBusiness
Paths by goal · Start a business
Start & Grow
Turn an idea into a business that grows with Madinah. Start, license, fund and grow — every step explained, and each service ready to start here.
ForBusiness
How this path works
Step 1: Shape your idea
Choose your activity and check which licences it needs.
Step 2: Register
Create your commercial registration, or register a home-based business.
Step 3: Get licensed
Apply for your municipal licence and staff health certificates.
Step 4: Fund and grow
When you’re ready for your next step, new opportunities are waiting: financing, accelerators and openings for local businesses.
Services along this Path
Business & Entrepreneurship
Register a home-based business
For productive families selling food, crafts or services from home — all you need is your national ID and a description of the activity.
Register your activity · here on Al Munawarah
OnlineBusinessBusiness & Entrepreneurship
Municipal licence for a shop or activity
Licence your premises and commercial activity with the municipality, with an inspection visit if needed. It takes 1–5 working days.
Start application · here on Al Munawarah
OnlineBusinessCity & Resident Services
Get health certificates for food workers
Every worker who handles food or drinks, including in cafés, needs their own certificate. Start by booking the medical examination.
Start application · here on Al Munawarah
Online & in personBusinessBusiness & Entrepreneurship
Find SME financing and support
Financing programmes, guarantees and advice from Monsha’at for registered small and medium businesses.
Book a consultation · here on Al Munawarah
OnlineBusinessCity & Resident Services
Permit for a temporary event or activity
Needed to host a market, pop-up or public event in the city. Once it’s approved, you can list your event on Al Munawarah.
Apply for a permit · here on Al Munawarah
OnlineBusinessBusiness & Entrepreneurship
Dummy textApply to a startup programme
Incubation and acceleration programmes for founders in Madinah, with mentors and workspace.
Start application · here on Al Munawarah
Online & in personBusinessBusiness & Entrepreneurship
Dummy textBook business training
Short courses for owners and staff — starting a business, bookkeeping, marketing, barista and food safety.
Book a course · here on Al Munawarah
Online & in personBusinessBusiness & Entrepreneurship
Dummy textBook a workspace or meeting room
Hot desks, private offices and meeting rooms in business centres around the city.
Book a space · here on Al Munawarah
OnlineBusinessBusiness & Entrepreneurship
Business events and networking
Meetups, forums and exhibitions where Madinah’s businesses and investors meet.
See business events
OnlineBusiness
Opportunities for your next step
- InnovationOpenDummy text
Tourism experience accelerator
For startups designing new experiences for Madinah’s visitors: twelve weeks of mentoring and pilots to test your idea.
- Sector
- Tourism & innovation
- Location
- Madinah
- Size
- 15 startups
- Term
- 12 weeks
Deadline 17 Nov 2026
- SMEUpcomingDummy text
Café kiosks along heritage walks
Run a small café along the heritage walks at Quba and Uhud — units set aside for local operators and productive families.
- Sector
- Food & beverage
- Location
- Quba & Uhud
- Size
- 14 units
- Term
- 3-year licence
Opens 7 Nov 2026
- ProgrammeOpenDummy text
Madinah creative residency
Three months to create from Madinah’s heritage — a residency for artists and designers.
- Sector
- Creative industries
- Location
- Madinah
- Size
- 8 residents
- Term
- 3 months
Deadline 3 Dec 2026
What’s coming up
Wed 21 Oct08:00
Business & investmentFreeRegister
Wed 21 Oct19:00
Business & investmentFreeRegister
Thu 29 Oct16:00
Culture & heritageFreeEnter the competition
Guides & resources
Checklist · 1 page - Dummy textGuide
Guide for event organisers
Permits, safety and how to list your event in the city calendar.
GuideDummy textOpen a café in Madinah: from idea to opening day
The five steps in the right order, the platforms you’ll use and what each one asks of you.
2 Oct 20266 min read
Related paths
Invest & Develop
For investors and developers building in Madinah: from market insight to an open tender — find the opportunity, check the requirements, reach the right authority.