Translating an Agency Contract for Registration
This guide addresses the Arabic translation required within a commercial agency registration request; it is not a standalone translation service. If the contract is not drafted in Arabic, an Arabic translation from an accredited translation office must be provided. The Ministry also refers to accredited Arabic translations of the contract and other documents written in a foreign language when they form part of the file, without publishing an exhaustive document-by-document list for every case. The service description does not identify a particular translation office, explain its accreditation process, prescribe a translator’s certificate format, or state a translation-validity period. In addition to the translation, the request requires a signed contract and any attachments, plus a commercial registration whose activity matches the agency activity. The contract must cover the parties, goods or services, territory, term, effective date, termination and renewal method, and the court or country selected for disputes. Where there is a foreign principal, the service description requires the foreign company’s official name in Arabic and English, without abbreviations or symbols. The request is made through the electronic service: the applicant starts the service, signs in, creates a commercial agency, completes the data, uploads documents, and makes the acknowledgment and undertaking before submission. The Ministry reviews the request, then issues an acceptance notification and payment number; after payment, the registration certificate is printed electronically. The service displays a SAR 500 registration fee and a one-business-day processing duration for registration, while the request remains subject to review by a Ministry employee. Renewal, amendment, and write-off remain separate workflows, so the current portal fields and fees should be checked for each procedure.
- Signed commercial agency or distribution contract
- Contract attachments and schedules, if any
- Arabic translation from an accredited translation office for a non-Arabic contract
- Accredited Arabic translations of accompanying foreign-language documents, where applicable
- Commercial registration matching the agency activity
- Foreign principal’s original contract completed through the published authentication route or an Apostille, as applicable
Confirm that a commercial registration matching the agency activity is in place before starting the request.
Prepare the signed agency or distribution contract and any attachments, and check that it states the parties, goods or services, territory, term, effective date, termination, renewal, and dispute forum or country.
If the contract is not in Arabic, obtain its Arabic translation from an accredited translation office. Also account for accredited Arabic translations of other accompanying foreign-language documents where applicable.
If both parties are Saudi, have the contract authenticated by the Saudi Chamber for both parties. If the principal is foreign, follow the published authentication route for the original contract or the Apostille route, as applicable.
Open the electronic service, sign in with a username and password or through National Access, and choose to create a commercial agency.
Complete the agency data and upload the contract, translation, and applicable documents, then complete the acknowledgment and undertaking and submit the request.
Wait for the Ministry’s review. Upon acceptance, you receive a notification and payment number; after paying the published registration fee, you can print the registration certificate electronically.
| Document type | Common use | Note |
|---|---|---|
Is translation a standalone Ministry of Commerce service?
Translation is presented as a requirement within a commercial agency registration file when the contract is not in Arabic, rather than as a standalone translation service in this procedure.
When must the contract be translated into Arabic?
The contract must be translated into Arabic if it is not in Arabic, and the translation must be from an accredited translation office for the registration request.
Does the translation requirement cover other foreign-language documents?
An accredited Arabic translation is mentioned for the contract and other documents written in a foreign language, but no published exhaustive list identifies every document required in every case.
Does the Ministry name a specific translation office?
The service description does not name a particular translation office or explain its accreditation process; the published condition is that the translation be from an accredited translation office.
What are the core documents for the registration request?
The core documents include the contract and any attachments, plus a commercial registration matching the agency activity. An Arabic translation is added for a non-Arabic contract.
What is the published fee for commercial agency registration?
The service displays a SAR 500 registration fee. This amount applies to registration, and the current fee should be checked in the portal when filing.
How long does the registration service take?
The service displays a one-business-day processing duration for registration, while the request remains subject to review by a Ministry employee.
What is the first electronic step?
Start the service, sign in with a username and password or through National Access, and choose to create a commercial agency.
Is a commercial registration matching the activity required?
Yes. The registration request requires a commercial registration whose activity matches the agency activity.
What must the contract state about its term?
The contract must state the effective date, duration, termination method, and renewal method.
Must the foreign company’s name appear in both languages?
Yes. The foreign company’s official name must appear in Arabic and English without abbreviations or symbols.
What authentication route is stated for a foreign principal?
For the original contract, the stated route includes competent authorities in the principal’s country, the Saudi Embassy, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Saudi Chamber, or an Apostille route. Details vary by case, and the procedure does not set requirements for every country.
Are renewal, amendment, and write-off part of the initial registration request?
No. Renewal, amendment, and write-off are separate services, each with its own procedure and documents. Published information states that these services carry no fee, while the current portal fees and fields should be checked when taking the action.
Is the official commercial agency model mandatory?
The model is presented as a guiding form that may be amended to suit the activity and agreed conditions; it is not presented as a mandatory form for every contract.
Does registration validate the contract or guarantee a dispute outcome?
The service description does not state that registration validates the contract or guarantees a dispute outcome. Registration is a service request subject to review and does not by itself determine the translation’s evidentiary effect or the contract’s enforceability.
This guide is for general information and is not legal or consular advice. Always verify current requirements with the receiving authority.