Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands at a glance
- Stamp
- Apostille, Hague Convention in force for Saudi Arabia since 7 December 2022
- Issued by
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, apostille service through the Foreign Ministry portal (Enjaz)
- Language
- Arabic, sworn translation
- Register
- Ministry of Commerce, Commercial Registration (CR) via the Saudi Business Center
- Tax treaty
- Signed 2008, in force 2010 (Rijksoverheid, 1 October 2026)
- EU trade
- Gulf free trade talks suspended since 2008
- In the Netherlands
- 15 companies controlled from Saudi Arabia in 2024, 15 in 2021, about 3,000 jobs, €12.1 billion turnover (CBS, 9 October 2026)
- Moving here
- Residence permit needed
Documents from Saudi Arabia
Passport copy, certified by a notary in Saudi Arabia.
Proof of address in Saudi Arabia, at most three months old.
Power of attorney. Sign the power of attorney at a Saudi notary (Najiz). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) then issues the apostille through the Enjaz portal.
Ownership statement, one page from us.
The apostille. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, apostille service through the Foreign Ministry portal (Enjaz). The apostille costs 30 Saudi riyals (SAR). Saudi Arabia joined the Convention in December 2022. Commercial documents are first attested by the Chamber of Commerce.
Good to know. The CR shows the company, and sometimes leaves out the individual owners. Add the articles of association with the list of partners.
If a company from Saudi Arabia becomes a shareholder
Register extract, at most three months old: Ministry of Commerce, Commercial Registration (CR) via the Saudi Business Center. Plus articles, signing authority and ownership chart.
Saudi Arabia and the EU: trade and tax
Saudi Arabia is the EU’s largest trading partner in the Gulf, with goods trade of about €75 billion a year. EU investment in the Kingdom grew by 50% in two years, from €19.9 billion in 2020 to €30 billion in 2022 (European Commission, 2024).
In 2024 the first European chamber of commerce in the Gulf opened in Saudi Arabia: the European Chamber of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia signed a cooperation arrangement with the EU in 2021, and since July 2025 the EU may open talks on a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Kingdom.
The Dutch tax treaty with Saudi Arabia limits Dutch dividend tax to 5% for a Saudi company with at least 10% of the shares, and to 10% in other cases. Under Dutch law, a company in a treaty country with 5% or more of the shares can receive dividends at 0%, within the anti-abuse rules.
Saudi exporters of polymers, chemicals and food can sell in the EU through one Dutch company; see Saudi exporters and the EU. Families can read relocating your family from Saudi Arabia.
Your next step from Saudi Arabia
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