National Address in the KSAThe gateway to seamless operations in Saudi Arabia

This innovative endeavor lies at the heart of the Kingdom's visionary Vision 2030 plan, marking a pivotal step towards the digital transformation and modernization of Saudi Arabia's economy. By implementing the national address system, Saudi Arabia is committed to elevating its postal infrastructure to international standards, fostering streamlined processes and enhanced service delivery.

Mandated for all entities operating within the Kingdom, the national address system represents a cornerstone for businesses seeking to optimize their electronic transactions with key government bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labor, and Ministry of Commerce.

Moreover, the national address system unlocks a plethora of advantages for businesses in Saudi Arabia, particularly pertaining to delivery efficiency and coverage access. Through precise address information, businesses can ensure prompt and accurate deliveries, enhancing customer satisfaction and operational effectiveness.

What Is the National Address?

The National Address, developed by Saudi Post, is a uniform address format designed to standardize address information across the Kingdom. The format includes a detailed description of a residence location, including the short address, building number, street, secondary number, district, postal code, and city. The secondary number represents the accurate location coordinates, which is extremely beneficial when there are no street or district names.

The introduction of the “short address” system simplifies the traditional address format into an easily memorizable code, comprising 4 letters and 4 numbers, which is a significant leap forward in user convenience and operational efficiency. The first three letters of the short address represent the codes for the region, branch, and district, while the fourth letter is a unique code. The four numbers represent the building number.

Benefits of the National Address

The advantages of adhering to a national address system are multifold. The national address:

• Covers every area of Saudi Arabia with an accuracy of 1 square meter.
• Allows you to obtain 10 worldwide addresses through Alami.
• Accelerates shipment delivery without the need for follow-up calls.
• Assures the delivery of government documents and commercial and personal shipments to the door, without the need for in-person pick-up.

Why do foreign businesses need to file their business addresses?

In Saudi Arabia, foreign businesses must provide their business addresses for legal compliance, tax purposes, and to maintain transparent operations. Registering an address is crucial for communication, accountability, receiving legal notifications, and establishing a local presence.

When deciding where to register an office, companies should consider factors such as proximity to their target market, access to infrastructure and talent, industry-specific requirements, and the overall business environment in the region.

If a business in Saudi Arabia doesn't provide a registered office after incorporation, it could lead to penalties, legal issues, difficulties in communicating with stakeholders, and even closure. Maintaining a registered office is vital for smooth operations within the country's regulatory frameworks.

National Address for Residents

For individuals, the national address improves the delivery of mail and packages directly to homes, reducing the need for pickups from postal offices. It also makes it easier for residents to receive government documents and personal shipments reliably and on time and eliminates the risk of routing mistakes. Everyone can get the national address free of charge, and it’s easy to obtain, remember, and share it.

Requirements for Registration

The registration of a national address is mandatory for all residents and businesses in the Kingdom. However, the process is streamlined and easily accessible.

The Saudi Post has made registration available through multiple channels, including its official website, customer service centers, and a dedicated mobile application.

Individuals and businesses can register by providing personal identification details and information regarding their commercial registration, respectively.

National Address Components:

To register a national address – Saudi ID, phone number, company registration, and Articles of Association are some of the most important components required to register the address, along with the following:

• Short address: Consists of 4 letters representing your Unique Code, Region Code, Branch Code, and Division Code and 4 numbers representing your Building Number
• Building number: 4 distinctive numbers representing a building
• Street: Represents the location of the main entrance of the building
• District: Represents the district of the building
• Secondary number: 4 numbers representing the accurate location coordinates
• Postal code: 5 numbers, each digit has a significant location
• City: The city where the National Address is located in

Can foreign companies use a virtual office as a registered address?

As per the latest regulations, foreign companies cannot use a virtual office as a registered address for official purposes in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabian regulations generally require that companies have a physical office space in the country to make sure that companies have a tangible presence and are accessible for regulatory and legal matters.

Regulations can change, so staying informed with the latest updates from authorities like SAGIA and the Ministry of Commerce is mandatory to ensure compliance.