The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises “Manshaat,” the second edition of the “Istirdad” initiative to refund government fees, with a total of 1.5 billion riyals, to support startups in their first three years, stimulate the business environment, and enhance their sustainability and competitiveness.
The initiative embodies the wise leadership’s —may God support them—to create a stimulating and sustainable business environment and to enhance the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to building a diversified and prosperous national economy, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Registration for small and medium-sized enterprises will begin on the initiative’s launch date and continue through the end of 2026, Payments will be made periodically to eligible small and medium-sized enterprises starting from the date of their qualification and continuing until the end of 2028, with the aim of supporting their financial stability and promoting their growth.
The initiative includes reimbursement of ten types of fees and financial costs, starting with the 80% fee for expatriates, publication of the articles of incorporation, commercial registration, municipal license, Saudi Post and Chamber of Commerce subscriptions, trademark registration, economic activity licenses, as well as patent registration, which has been added in this version; to promote innovation and invention among national enterprises in accordance with the requirements and provisions announced on the initiative’s page at the link: Estrdad.monshaat.gov.sa .
The initiative allows registration for anyone who meets the relevant criteria, namely that the enterprise is classified as micro, small, or medium-sized, that no more than three years have passed since it began its commercial activity, and that the date of commencement of operations is no earlier than January 1, 2024. The registration of the first employee at the enterprise is considered the criterion for the commencement of operations, provided that the enterprise meets the Saudization rate approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the shares or equity owned by micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises or individuals must not be less than 60% of the company’s total ownership, while the establishment must be wholly owned by Saudi nationals, with the exception of establishments whose activities are classified according to the terms and conditions of the initiative, and registration and refund applications submitted by institutions will not be accepted if they do not engage in economic activities requiring a license.
The initiative provides a unified digital experience for verifying eligibility and refunding government fees efficiently and reliably, keeping pace with the digital transformation and reflecting the evolution of government sector services in supporting entrepreneurship.
“Monsha’at” emphasized that this initiative is an extension of the wise leadership’s —may God support them—and its ongoing commitment to empowering startups and strengthening their active contribution to the national economy, reflecting the effective partnership between the public and private sectors in achieving sustainable economic development.
The first edition of the initiative benefited more than 27,000 businesses, with the beneficiary businesses contributing to the creation of more than 89,000 jobs, with a survival rate of 75.1%, reflecting its direct impact on supporting economic growth and generating job opportunities.
