Saudi Arabia Activity Code for Advertising agency

Industry Sector: Professional, Legal & Business Services | Official Classification: SSIC 731011 — Advertising agencies and institutions
Authoritative Standard: Saudi SSIC 2026

Executive Summary & Official Classification

To legally establish or license a Advertising agency (وكالة دعاية وإعلان وتسويق) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the official primary economic activity code registered with the Ministry of Commerce (MC) and municipal authorities is SSIC 731011 — Advertising agencies and institutions.

This classification governs municipal commercial zoning on the Balady portal, MISA foreign investment licensing (subject to sector criteria), Qiwa electronic employment contracts, and Nitaqat Saudization benchmarks under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD).

Primary Classification Entity

★ Official Primary Classification Code

Saudi SSIC Code: SSIC 731011 — Advertising agencies and institutions

Arabic Designation: مؤسسات ووكالات الدعاية والاعلان

Parent Economic Group: 7310 — Advertising

Section Category: Section M — Professional, scientific and technical activities

Governing Authority: Ministry of Media

Municipal / Sectoral License: Ministry of Media

View Complete SSIC 731011 Specifications & Compliance →

Key Facts & Regulatory Matrix for Advertising agency

Regulatory Parameter	Specification in Saudi Arabia
Business Entity / Activity	Advertising agency (وكالة دعاية وإعلان وتسويق)
Primary Saudi SSIC Code	`731011` — Advertising agencies and institutions
Parent Classification Group	`7310` — Advertising
Economic Section Category	`Section M` — Professional, scientific and technical activities
Industry Sector	Professional, Legal & Business Services
Supervisory Government Body	Ministry of Media
Operational Licensing Portal	Ministry of Media
MISA Foreign Investment	Eligible under general regulatory framework (Subject to MISA criteria & sector rules)
Commercial Registration (CR)	Instant Digital Issuance via Ministry of Commerce
Labor & Saudization Compliance	Qiwa Portal & Nitaqat Framework (Benchmark depends on company headcount)

Practical Business Setup Workflow in Saudi Arabia

Commercial Registration (CR) Issuance: Log in to the Ministry of Commerce portal and select primary activity code 731011.
Municipal Licensing (Balady Portal): Apply for the commercial premise license adhering to municipal shop, safety, and parking requirements under code 731011.
MISA Foreign Investment License: International investors can apply for a MISA foreign investment license subject to standard regulatory guidelines under Saudi foreign investment regulations. Review our MISA License Guide.
ZATCA Tax & Zakat Enrollment: Automatic registration for Corporate Income Tax (20% for foreign shares) or Zakat (2.5% for Saudi/GCC shares), along with 15% VAT and Fatoora e-invoicing. See ZATCA Tax Guide.
Qiwa Portal & Saudization: Register Saudi and expat employees in Qiwa under approved SSCO Occupational Codes to maintain a compliant Nitaqat tier. Check our Nitaqat Saudization Guide.

Regulatory & Classification Status for Advertising agency

Verification Parameter	Official Status	Verification Source
Commercial Code Mapping	✅ Standard Match	Mapped to primary activity `SSIC 731011`
GASTAT National Framework	✅ Active Standard	Official Saudi SSIC 2025/2026 Edition
Instant CR Issuance (Ministry of Commerce)	✅ Eligible	Commercial Registration Law (Direct Digital Issuance)
MISA Foreign Investment Eligibility	✅ General Framework	Foreign investment permitted subject to MISA licensing criteria
Licensing Platform	✅ Documented	Ministry of Media

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the official Saudi SSIC activity code for a Advertising agency?

The official primary classification code is SSIC 731011 (Advertising agencies and institutions).

2. Can foreign investors open a Advertising agency in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Under the Ministry of Investment (MISA) regulatory framework, foreign companies and entrepreneurs can establish commercial entities subject to standard licensing rules.

3. Which government authority licenses Advertising agency operations?

Supervision is overseen by Ministry of Media, and municipal premises licenses are issued via the Balady portal.

4. How do I add this activity to an existing Commercial Registration (CR)?

You can amend your Commercial Registration online through the Ministry of Commerce portal by adding code 731011.

Related Professional, Legal & Business Services Businesses: Architect · Lawyer Referral Service · Business management consultant · Carpet cleaning service · Caterer · Coin operated laundry equipment supplier

Official Source Attribution & Disclaimer

Official Classification Standard: General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) — SSIC 2026.

Primary Entity Reference: SSIC 731011 — Advertising agencies and institutions

This page is an independent regulatory lookup tool. Always verify specific commercial activity requirements on official government portals (Ministry of Commerce, MISA, Balady, and ZATCA) before finalizing legal filings.