Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Estrdad Initiative: Saudi Arabia’s SR1.5 Billion Fee Refund Program for Startups and SMEs
Saudi Arabia has started the second edition of the Estrdad initiative, a program that refunds government fees to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The program is worth SR1.5 billion ($400 million).
The goal of Estrdad is to help new businesses grow and last longer. It allows startups to get back 10 types of government fees during their first three years of operation. Most Viewed: Passenger tries to open door on Saudi airlines flight after landing
The fees that can be refunded include:
➤ 80% of the expatriate levy.
➤ Commercial registration fees.
➤ Municipality license fees.
➤ Contract publication costs.
➤ Saudi Post subscriptions.
➤ Chambers of Commerce subscriptions.
➤ Trademark registration fees.
➤ Patent registration fees.
➤ Economic activity license fees.
The addition of refunds for patent registration is a major improvement in this edition that intends to encourage innovation in Saudi firms. Recommend: New Saudi Food Law violations table
The registration period for the program will last until the end of 2026, and refunds will be given out until 2028.
To be eligible, a business must:
✅ Be fully or mostly Saudi-owned.
✅ Meet the Saudization rules.
✅ Be less than three years old as of Jan. 1, 2024.
✅ Have at least one registered employee.
The first Estrdad program, launched in 2018, helped more than 27,000 businesses, created over 89,000 jobs, and reached a 75% business sustainability rate. Join Saudi Expatriates WhatsApp channel
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| Estrdad Initiative: Saudi Arabia’s SR1.5 Billion Fee Refund Program for Startups and SMEs |
