Saudi Arabia SSIC Group 851: Pre-primary and primary education

Saudi Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC 2026)
Classification Level: Group | Official Code: 851

Executive Summary & Classification Scope

SSIC code 851 designates Pre-primary and primary education (التعليم قبل الابتدائي والتعليم الابتدائي) under the official Saudi Standard Industrial Classification (January 2025 / 2026 Edition, based on UN ISIC Rev. 4) administered by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

It serves as the mandatory regulatory benchmark for Commercial Registration (CR) with the Ministry of Commerce, MISA foreign investment licensing (allowing up to 100% foreign equity ownership), municipal permits on the Balady portal, and Nitaqat Saudization quota determinations by MHRSD.

Key Classification Facts

Parameter	Official Value
Saudi SSIC Code	`851`
Official Title (EN)	Pre-primary and primary education
Official Title (AR)	التعليم قبل الابتدائي والتعليم الابتدائي
Classification Level	Group
Section Category	Section P — Education
Parent Entity Code	`85` — Education
Supervisory Authority	Ministry of Commerce / Standard Sectoral Regulator
Licensing Entity	Balady / Sector Ministry
Standard Custodian	General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT)
Edition / Version	SSIC 2025 / 2026 Edition

Sub-Classes in Group 851 (1)

Code	Title (EN)	Title (AR)	Details
`8510`	Pre-primary and primary education	التعليم قبل الابتدائي والتعليم الابتدائي	View Code 8510 →

Official 6-Digit Activity Codes in Group 851 (20 Codes)

Below are official economic activity codes registered under Group 851 for Commercial Registration (CR) and municipal licensing in Saudi Arabia:

6-Digit SSIC Code	Official Activity Title (EN)	Official Activity Title (AR)	Details
`851010`	Preschool education - kindergarten with national curriculum	التعليم في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة - رياض الأطفال بمنهج وطني	View Activity 851010 →
`851011`	Operating independent schools (kindergarten education) with a national curriculum	تشغيل المدارس المستقلة (تعليم رياض الأطفال) بمنهج وطني	View Activity 851011 →
`851012`	Preschool education -kindergarten with international curriculum	التعليم في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة - رياض الأطفال بمنهج عالمي	View Activity 851012 →
`851013`	Operating independent schools (kindergarten education) with a international curriculum	تشغيل المدارس المستقلة (تعليم رياض الأطفال) بمنهج عالمي	View Activity 851013 →
`851014`	Preschool education – kindergartens with a national curriculum for Quran memorization	التعليم في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة – رياض أطفال بمنهج وطني تحفيظ قرآن	View Activity 851014 →
`851021`	Primary education of male students with a national curriculum	التعليم الابتدائي للطلاب بمنهج وطني	View Activity 851021 →
`851022`	Primary education of female students with a national curriculum	التعليم الابتدائي للطالبات بمنهج وطني	View Activity 851022 →
`851023`	Primary education of students of both genders (including, schools of mixed communities)	التعليم الابتدائي المختلط، يشمل مدارس الجاليات	View Activity 851023 →
`851024`	Operating independent schools (primary education) with a national curriculum	تشغيل المدارس المستقلة (التعليم الابتدائي) بمنهج وطني	View Activity 851024 →
`851025`	Primary education of male students with an international curriculum	التعليم الابتدائي للطلاب بمنهج عالمي	View Activity 851025 →
`851026`	Primary education of female students with an international curriculum	التعليم الابتدائي للطالبات بمنهج عالمي	View Activity 851026 →
`851027`	Operating independent schools (primary education) with an international curriculum	تشغيل المدارس المستقلة (التعليم الابتدائي) بمنهج عالمي	View Activity 851027 →
`851031`	Primary education of male students with disabilities with a national curriculum	التعليم الابتدائي للطلاب ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة بمنهج وطني	View Activity 851031 →
`851032`	Primary education of female students with disabilities with a national curriculum	التعليم الابتدائي للطالبات ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة بمنهج وطني	View Activity 851032 →
`851033`	Primary education of male students with disabilities with an international curriculum	التعليم الابتدائي للطلاب ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة بمنهج عالمي	View Activity 851033 →
`851034`	Primary education of female students with disabilities with an international curriculum	التعليم الابتدائي للطالبات ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة بمنهج عالمي	View Activity 851034 →
`851040`	provision of literacy programs for adults	تقديم برامج محو الأمية للكبار	View Activity 851040 →
`851051`	Male elementary education with a national curriculum for Quran memorization.	التعليم الابتدائي للطلاب بمنهج وطني تحفيظ قرآن	View Activity 851051 →
`851052`	Female elementary education with a national curriculum for Quran memorization.	التعليم الابتدائي للطالبات بمنهج وطني تحفيظ قرآن	View Activity 851052 →
`851061`	Educational compounds for kindergarten and primary school levels	المجمعات التعليمية لمرحلة رياض الأطفال والابتدائية	View Activity 851061 →

Commercial Business Types Operating in Group 851

Business Type	Arabic Name	Primary Code	Industry Sector	Guide
Agricultural high school	مدرسة ومعهد Agricultural high	`851011`	Education	Setup Guide →
Bilingual preschool	التعليم في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة - رياض الأطفال بمنهج وطني	`851010`	Education	Setup Guide →
Folk high school	مدرسة ومعهد Folk high	`851011`	Education	Setup Guide →
Hospitality high school	مدرسة ومعهد Hospitality high	`851011`	Education	Setup Guide →
International school	مدرسة عالمية ودولية	`851011`	Education	Setup Guide →
Montessori preschool	التعليم في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة - رياض الأطفال بمنهج وطني	`851010`	Education	Setup Guide →
Nursery	التعليم في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة - رياض الأطفال بمنهج وطني	`851010`	Agriculture	Setup Guide →
Nursery school	مدرسة ومعهد Nursery	`851010`	Agriculture	Setup Guide →
Primary school	مدرسة ومعهد Primary	`851011`	Education	Setup Guide →
Senior high school	مدرسة ومعهد Senior high	`851011`	Education	Setup Guide →
Waldorf kindergarten	التعليم في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة - رياض الأطفال بمنهج وطني	`851010`	Education	Setup Guide →

Regulatory & Business Setup Use Cases in Saudi Arabia

Ministry of Commerce (MC): Required on your Saudi Commercial Registration (CR) to legally define the company’s business activities.
Ministry of Investment (MISA): Determines eligibility for 100% foreign-owned investment licenses and capital requirements. See our MISA Licensing Guide.
ZATCA Taxation & Zakat: Activity categorization for Corporate Income Tax (20%), Zakat (2.5%), and 15% VAT filing rules. See our ZATCA Tax Guide.
MHRSD / Qiwa (Nitaqat Quotas): Determines the required percentage of Saudi national employees. Check our Nitaqat Saudization Guide.
Balady Municipal Licensing: Establishes commercial shop, office, and warehouse zoning compliance.

Compliance & Regulatory Risk Assessment

Assessment Factor	Verification Status	Regulatory Source / Evidence
Official GASTAT Registry	✅ Verified	Confirmed in official GASTAT SSIC January 2025 / 2026 release
ISIC Rev. 4 International Crosswalk	✅ Aligned	Standardized UN International Industrial Classification mapping
Commercial Registration (CR) Active	✅ Eligible	Available for immediate filing on Ministry of Commerce portal
MISA Foreign Investment Path	✅ Permitted	100% foreign equity eligible under MISA investment criteria
5-Tier Structural Hierarchy	✅ Complete	Full parent-child relationship verified from Section to Activity
Overall Regulatory Readiness Score	🟢 10 / 10	Low Compliance Risk / Ready for Commercial Setup

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What does Saudi SSIC code 851 cover?

SSIC 851 covers Pre-primary and primary education (التعليم قبل الابتدائي والتعليم الابتدائي) under Saudi Arabia’s official industrial classification system.

2. Which authority regulates activities under SSIC 851?

Activities under this code fall under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and respective sectoral regulators.

3. Can international investors establish a business with code 851?

Yes. In most sectors, the Ministry of Investment (MISA) permits 100% foreign equity ownership. Refer to our MISA Guide for full requirements.

4. How does SSIC 851 affect my company’s Nitaqat rating?

MHRSD calculates your Saudization tier based on your primary SSIC activity registered on your Commercial Registration.

Official Source Attribution & Disclaimer

Primary Data Source: General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) — National Classification for Economic Activities.

Commercial Portal: Ministry of Commerce (MC)

This page is an independent reference resource. Cross-verify critical licensing details on official government portals before filing commercial applications.