
Read about all the latest news headlines out of Saudi Arabia
Latest GACA Guidance on Travel to Saudi
May 30, 2021
Saudi Arabia allows travellers from 11 countries, including the UK, to enter the Kingdom. Furthermore completely vaccinated travellers will not have to undergo quarantine, provided that they are able to present their attested vaccination certificate. The vaccinations that have been approved under this rule are Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.
Saudi targets $55bn in Privatisation and PPP Projects
May 25, 2021
Saudi Arabia hopes to raise about $55bn over the next four years as it plans to step up its nascent privatisation programme. Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Finance Minister said that Riyadh had identified a pipeline of 160 projects across 16 sectors, including asset sales and public-private partnerships, through to 2025.
Global Tourism Summit begins in Riyadh
May 27, 2021
With the tourism industry on the road to recovery after the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia opened The Tourism Recovery Summit on 26 May led by Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb, and Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the UN’s World Tourism Organization. The summit is aimed at discussing how the industry can move forward.
Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project to award contracts worth 20bn Saudi Riyals
May 17, 2021
John Pagano, CEO of The Red Sea Development Company announced the plan to award contracts worth 20bn Saudi Riyals ($5.3bn) over the span of the next 2 years. This would be investment towards the first phase of the Red Sea Development Company’s masterplan which covers a 28,000 square kilometre site aimed to be completed by 2030.
AstroLabs contributes in Saudi's win over firms in regional race
March 29, 2021
“I don’t personally see companies winding up their operations in Dubai and just moving to Saudi,” said Daniel Bateman at AstroLabs, which helps firms set up Saudi offices. “I can see a two-pronged attack on the Middle East ... where you have a strong presence in both the UAE and Saudi.”
AstroLabs discussing the new Saudi Arabia regional HQ ruling
February 20, 2021
AstroLabs founder Muhammed Mekki discusses the new ruling that Saudi Arabia is requiring organizations to have regional headquarters in the Kingdom if they wish to bid on government contracts.
AstroLabs – the first international incubator accredited in the Kingdom
February 18, 2021
AstroLabs, which has offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Jeddah has helped more than 100 companies set up in the Kingdom since 2018, the year it was given a foreign investment license by the Saudi government.
And Mekki expected another 110 firms to establish business operations in the country this year, “surpassing the total number we supported in the previous three years combined.”
AstroLabs – the first international incubator accredited in the Kingdom
February 18, 2021
AstroLabs has been helping businesses from abroad set up in Saudi Arabia for several years, becoming the first licensed international business incubator in the Kingdom in 2018.
In 2018 AstroLabs became the first international business incubator licensed in KSAT
December 10, 2020
In 2018, AstroLabs expanded into the Kingdom from Dubai, becoming the first international business incubator licensed in Saudi Arabia and since then has assisted over 80 companies from around the world with their local setup process and soft landing office in Riyadh.
Tech companies drive start-up surge into Saudi Arabia
September 15, 2020
Tech companies are driving the influx of start-ups into Saudi Arabia, according to Muhammed Mekki, the co-founder of AstroLabs, which has been developing the digital ecosystem in the Middle East for the last seven years.
Why Saudi Arabia could soon rival Dubai for fintech funding
September 14, 2020
Saudi Arabia is witnessing “exciting growth” when it comes to funding fintech start-ups, according to Muhammed Mekki, founding partner of AstroLabs, which has been developing the digital ecosystem in the Middle East for the last seven years.
أسترولابز تطلق Setupinsaudi.Com أول دليل إلكتروني للتوسع في المملكة العربية السعودية
September 13, 2020
يتضمن موقع Setupinsaudi.com عملية الإعداد الكاملة المكونة من 16 خطوة ويوفّر بالتفصيل، كامل المتطلبات لإنشاء كيان مملوك بالكامل للأجانب في المملكة العربية السعودية.
AstroLabs launches setupinsaudi.com the first comprehensive online resource on how to expand into Saudi Arabia
September 6, 2020
“Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the MENA region in terms of its population and consumer spending. Driven by the government’s Vision 2030, the Kingdom offers a competitive and open business environment ...” said Muhammed Mekki, Founding Partner of AstroLabs.
AstroLabs' New Online Platform Eases Procedures For Setting Up Foreign Companies In Saudi Arabia
September 6, 2020
The Set Up In Saudi platform, touted as the first of its kind in the region, provides users with a 16-step setup process, information on legal requirements, as well as the services of an operations team in Riyadh to manage end-to-end business processes.
AstroLabs has been helping set up 400+ companies from around the world in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It has just launched www.setupinsaudi.com, the first comprehensive online resource on how to expand into Saudi Arabia.
AstroLabs eases business set-up in Saudi Arabia with new portal
September 3, 2020
A new online portal seeks to help entities looking to set up a 100 per cent foreign-owned operations in Saudi Arabia. Launched by business incubator AstroLabs, Setupinsaudi.com lists a 16-step setup process, information on requirements and offers an operations team in Riyadh to manage the entire set-up process for businesses.
AstroLabs eases business set-up in Saudi Arabia with new portal
September 3, 2020
A online portal seeks to help entities looking to set up a 100 per cent foreign-owned operations in Saudi Arabia. Launched by business incubator AstroLabs, Setupinsaudi.com lists a 16-step setup process, information on requirements and offers an operations team in Riyadh to manage the entire set-up process for businesses.
This Week in Fintech: TFT Bi-Weekly News Roundup
September 3, 2020
Expanding into Saudi Arabia? AstroLabs has unveiled setupinsaudi.com to help companies set up 100 per cent foreign-owned entity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The online resource aims to simplify the complex business establishment procedure through a 16-step process.
AstroLabs Launches setupinsaudi.com – The First Comprehensive Online Resource On How To Expand Into Saudi Arabia
August 31, 2020
Founded in 2013, AstroLabs is a capability building company committed to developing the digital ecosystem of the MENA region through its academy, network of collaborative coworking communities and company establishment services in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
AstroLabs holds a unique status as the first international business incubator licensed in the Kingdom. In 2018, AstroLabs solidified a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment (previously SAGIA).
AstroLabs confirms a game changer for companies looking to expand to KSA
May 4, 2020
“Companies seeking to expand into Saudi Arabia are [now] able to get their investment license without having to attest the documents. That’s a game changer for companies that we've been speaking with since that process is often time consuming and can also be costly,” said Muhammed Mekki, founding partner of AstroLabs, a foreign business incubator focused on Saudi Arabia.
Astrolabs becomes first foreign business incubator in Saudi Arabia
November 22, 2018
Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) has handed over the first foreign investment license in the field of business incubators and co-working space to Astrolabs, according to Saudi press Agency (SPA).