# .sa domain registration in Saudi Arabia: who can register .sa, .com.sa and .السعودية, and how

> Saudi domain names are managed by SaudiNIC, the Saudi Network Information Center, under the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), and since SaudiNIC stopped registering domains directly, a business registers through one of its licensed registrars. The rules differ by extension: .sa and the Arabic .السعودية are open to any natural or legal person, .com.sa is reserved for entities with a valid commercial registration or a locally registered trade name or trademark, and .net.sa, .org.sa, .med.sa, .edu.sa, .sch.sa and .pub.sa each have their own category. Every registrant must meet SaudiNIC's general eligibility test, name an administrative contact based in Saudi Arabia, and show that the domain relates to them. Registrations run for one to ten years, and most names go live after the registrar's own review; reserved names and the .med.sa, .org.sa, .sch.sa and .edu.sa extensions are checked by SaudiNIC within two working days. This guide walks through the rules, the steps, the documents and what a Saudi domain does for search.

- Canonical: https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/sa-domain-registration
- Arabic version: https://www.ogblabs.com/ar/guides/sa-domain-registration
- Author: OGB Labs (https://www.ogblabs.com)
- Published: 2026-10-13
- Updated: 2026-10-13

## Who runs Saudi domains, and where you actually register

The registry for .sa and .السعودية is [SaudiNIC](https://nic.sa/en), which issues the Saudi Domain Names Registration Regulations and the procedures around them. Its registrar FAQ states that SaudiNIC "stopped providing registration services for all TLDs": government bodies register through the Digital Government Authority, and everyone else registers through a licensed registrar.

SaudiNIC's [registrar directory](https://nic.sa/en/registrars) names the licensed registrars: Hawsabah, Solutions, NourNet, Sahara Net, DNet and T2, with the Digital Government Authority handling .gov.sa. Registrars may handle every Saudi extension except .gov.sa, and most bundle the domain with hosting and email. International resellers also sell Saudi domains, but the regulation prohibits resale through anyone other than a licensed registrar, so check that whoever you buy from is on that list or works through someone who is.

Two practical consequences follow. The registrar, not SaudiNIC, is your point of contact for pricing, payment, DNS and transfers. And the registrar's own checks come before anything reaches SaudiNIC, so the documents you prepare should satisfy the registrar's onboarding first.

## The general eligibility test every registrant must pass

Section 4 of the [Saudi Domain Names Registration Regulations](https://nic.sa/en/help/regulation) limits registration to four categories. A registrant must be one of the following:

- An entity physically located in Saudi Arabia.
- A Saudi national or a holder of Premium Residency.
- An entity that holds a registration or licence from a Saudi authority.
- The owner of a trademark or trade name registered in Saudi Arabia.

## Which extension you can register

On top of the general test, each extension has its own category in clause 4-3 of the regulation. The quotations below are from SaudiNIC's English text; clause 22-3 says the Arabic version prevails if the two differ.

**Saudi domain extensions and who may register them**

| Extension | Who may register, per SaudiNIC |
| --- | --- |
| .sa | "Dedicated to any natural person or legal entity." The open, second-level Latin option. |
| .السعودية | Arabic domain names "may be registered within the Upper Saudi Arabic domain" by "any natural person or legal entity." |
| .com.sa | "Dedicated only for entities that provide commercial services with a valid Commercial Registration (or equivalent)," and for locally registered trade names or trademarks. |
| .net.sa | "Dedicated to entities that provide information technology services, communications services," media or postal services, with valid licences. |
| .org.sa | "Dedicated for non-profit entities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," including societies, charities, clubs and embassies. |
| .med.sa | "Dedicated only for entities that provide health services," with valid licences. |
| .edu.sa | "Dedicated only for entities that provide educational and training services directly to students," with valid licences. |
| .sch.sa | Kindergartens, elementary, secondary and high schools with valid licences. |
| .pub.sa | "Dedicated only for individuals." |
| .gov.sa | "Dedicated only for governmental entities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," registered through the Digital Government Authority. |

## .sa or .com.sa: which one a company should pick

A company with a Saudi commercial registration qualifies for both, so the choice is about positioning and reach. A short brand.sa reads cleanly in English and Arabic and is open to any legal person, which makes it the natural first choice for a new brand. A .com.sa signals a licensed commercial entity, which some buyers and procurement teams still look for, and the eligibility rule means a competitor without a Saudi commercial registration or trademark cannot take it.

Our working practice is to register both where the budget allows, serve the site on one, and redirect the other permanently. If you also sell in Oman, the same logic applies to .om and .com.om, covered in our guide to [.om domain registration](https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/om-domain-registration), and for the UAE, see [.ae domain registration](https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/ae-domain-registration).

Whichever you choose, the regulation requires that the name "has a relationship to the registrant" and was not registered in bad faith or to impersonate anyone. A domain that is unrelated to the registered company or trade name, or to a trademark held by the registrant, can be refused or later deleted.

## The Saudi administrative contact

Every Saudi domain needs three contacts: administrative, technical and billing. The administrative contact is the one that matters legally. Clause 2-7 of the regulation defines it as "a natural person or legal entity based in Saudi Arabia," designated by the registrant, and SaudiNIC's registration procedure requires that contact's details to be "complete, accurate, up-to-date and local to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," with a working Saudi mobile number and email. Notices delivered to that contact count as delivered to you.

For a company incorporated in Saudi Arabia this is simply a named manager or employee. For a foreign company that qualifies through a Saudi trademark, it means appointing someone in the Kingdom, typically a local partner, agent or law firm, before you apply. Do not let an agency register the domain in its own name to get around this: the company should be the registrant, with the agency at most as technical contact.

## How to register a .sa domain, step by step

SaudiNIC publishes a [general procedure for registering through registrars](https://nic.sa/en/help/procedures-for-registering-via-registrars) and notes that the details differ between registrars. The common path is:

1. Choose a licensed registrar from SaudiNIC's directory and open an account.
2. Check the name. Availability at submission "does not ensure the availability after the review stage," so have a second choice ready.
3. Submit the request with the registrant's full name as it appears in official documents, its national address, phone and email, and the full name, mobile number and email of the administrative, technical and billing contacts.
4. Provide evidence of three things: that you meet the general eligibility test, that you qualify for the chosen extension, and that the domain relates to you. For .com.sa that is normally the commercial registration certificate, plus a trademark certificate if the name is a product or mark rather than the company name.
5. Pick a term of one to ten years and pay the registrar.
6. The registrar reviews the request against the regulations and accepts or rejects it. For a standard name under .sa, .com.sa, .net.sa or .pub.sa, the domain is registered after the registrar's approval.
7. If the name is on the reserved list, or the extension is .med.sa, .org.sa, .sch.sa or .edu.sa, SaudiNIC reviews the request "within two (2) working days" and tells the registrar whether it is accepted.
8. The registrar notifies the administrative contact of the final decision. Then point DNS at your hosting, add the email records, and test the site with and without www over HTTPS.

## Documents, and what happens if you do not provide them

SaudiNIC may ask for evidence of eligibility before or after a registration is completed, and clause 5-4 obliges the registrant to provide documentation it requests "at any time." Its [procedure for additional documents](https://nic.sa/en/help/provide-additional-documents) explains how that works: the administrative contact receives an email with a link to a form, uploads documents as PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF or PDF, and confirms the request. If a requested document is a letter, it "must be authenticated by the chamber of commerce" for Saudi companies, or by a Saudi embassy for international ones.

Missing the deadline is not a formality. The page states that failing to supply the information within the set period "may cause suspension or/and deletion of the domain name." Keep the commercial registration, trademark certificate and the administrative contact's details current, and make sure that contact's inbox is read.

## What a Saudi domain costs

SaudiNIC does not publish a price list for registrants. Its regulation says CST "may impose fees" for registration services, and the registrar FAQ states that "there is only a fixed fee for the registration and renewal of domain names" charged to registrars, who in turn "may collect registration service fees from the registrants." The amount you pay is therefore the registrar's price, and it varies between registrars and resellers, so compare quotes for the same term before you buy.

Premium names are different: clause 10-2 allows SaudiNIC to classify names as premium, with either a fixed fee or a variable fee set by public auction, and registrars must explain premium status and fees before you commit. Unpaid fees are a ground for action against the domain, and failing to renew is a ground for deletion, so put the renewal date in the company calendar.

## Does a .sa domain help you rank in Saudi Arabia?

Google's documentation on [multi-regional sites](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/specialty/international/managing-multi-regional-sites) says country-code domains "provide a strong signal to both users and search engines" that a site is intended for that country, and that a country-code domain can only target a single country. A .sa or .com.sa is that signal for Saudi Arabia.

It is not a ranking boost on its own. Google also reads hreflang tags, local addresses and phone numbers on the pages, local language and currency, links from Saudi sites and the Business Profile. A .com with a Riyadh address, riyal prices and Arabic pages can rank in the Kingdom. What the .sa adds is an unambiguous country signal and local trust, which matters most for brands buyers have not heard of yet. Our guide to [SEO in Oman for Google and AI search](https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/seo-oman-google-ai-search) covers the signals that carry across Gulf markets.

## Disputes, ownership and transfers

- Disputes over Saudi domains are decided under CST's domain name dispute resolution regulation, through providers CST authorises. Clause 11-3 requires the registrant to take part; if you do not defend the name it "may either be transferred to the complaining party or cancelled without refund of any fees."
- Register in the company's name, with a company email on the record, never in the name of an agency or a departing employee. The same rule applies to hosting and code, as our checklist for [choosing a web development company](https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/choose-web-development-company-oman) explains.
- Transfers between registrars follow SaudiNIC's [transfer procedure](https://nic.sa/en/help/procedures-for-transferring-from-registrar-to-another-registrar). Ask the current registrar how it handles the release and keep the administrative contact unchanged during the move.
- Once the domain is live, the next legal step for a store is the E-Commerce Law's disclosure rules, covered in our guide to [Saudi E-Commerce Law requirements for online stores](https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/saudi-ecommerce-law-online-store-requirements).

## How OGB Labs helps

OGB Labs builds websites and ecommerce stores for Saudi companies from Muscat, with a team in Riyadh. We handle the domain application through a licensed registrar in your company's name, set up DNS, email and HTTPS, and build Arabic-first sites that give Google the rest of the country signals. See our [Saudi Arabia page](https://www.ogblabs.com/locations/saudi-arabia) or contact us with the name you want and your commercial registration.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who can register a .sa domain?

Any natural or legal person, as long as they pass SaudiNIC's general test: an entity physically in Saudi Arabia, a Saudi national or Premium Residency holder, an entity with a Saudi registration or licence, or the owner of a trademark or trade name registered in Saudi Arabia.

### What is the difference between .sa and .com.sa?

.sa is open to any natural or legal person. .com.sa is reserved for entities providing commercial services with a valid commercial registration or equivalent, or for locally registered trade names and trademarks.

### Can a foreign company register a .sa domain?

Yes, if it qualifies through one of the eligibility categories, most often a trademark registered in Saudi Arabia, and it appoints an administrative contact based in the Kingdom. Letters requested by SaudiNIC from international companies must be authenticated by a Saudi embassy.

### Do I need a commercial registration for a .sa domain?

Not for .sa itself, where any eligible natural or legal person can register. A commercial registration or equivalent, or a local trade name or trademark, is required for .com.sa.

### Where do I register a Saudi domain?

Through a registrar licensed by SaudiNIC. SaudiNIC no longer registers domains directly, and government entities register through the Digital Government Authority.

### How long does .sa registration take?

Standard names are registered once the registrar approves the request. Reserved names and the .med.sa, .org.sa, .sch.sa and .edu.sa extensions are reviewed by SaudiNIC within two working days, after which the registrar notifies you.

### How much does a .sa domain cost?

SaudiNIC does not publish a registrant price. It charges registrars a fixed fee, and registrars set their own prices for registrants, so compare quotes for the same term. Premium names carry a fixed or auction-based fee.

### Does a .sa domain help SEO in Saudi Arabia?

Google treats country-code domains as a strong signal that a site targets that country, but it is not a ranking boost by itself. Local content, addresses, currency, Arabic pages and local links matter too.

### Can I register an Arabic .السعودية domain?

Yes. SaudiNIC's regulation allows any natural or legal person to register Arabic domain names under .السعودية, through a licensed registrar.

## Related

- [Websites](https://www.ogblabs.com/services/websites): Company websites and web platforms designed around your brand, built to rank and to turn visitors into customers.
- [Ecommerce](https://www.ogblabs.com/services/ecommerce): Stores built to sell: storefronts that feel like your brand, a checkout people finish and inventory that stays in sync.
- [How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI: a guide for Omani companies](https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/get-cited-by-chatgpt-perplexity-google-ai): What ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini and Google AI Mode actually read before they recommend a company, which crawlers to allow, what to publish, and what to skip.
- [How to measure AI search traffic in Google Analytics 4 and Search Console: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, AI Overviews and AI Mode](https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/measure-ai-search-traffic-ga4-search-console): GA4's new AI Assistant channel, custom channel groups for ChatGPT and Perplexity referrals, and Search Console's Generative AI report for AI Overviews and AI Mode.
- [VAT registration in Saudi Arabia for online stores and apps: thresholds, foreign sellers, marketplaces and penalties](https://www.ogblabs.com/guides/saudi-vat-registration-online-sellers): When a Saudi or foreign online store, app or SaaS must register for VAT with ZATCA: SAR 375,000 and 187,500 thresholds, marketplace rules, deadlines and fines.

## Contact

- WhatsApp: +968 7111 0727 (https://wa.me/96871110727)
- Contact form: https://www.ogblabs.com/contact
- Email: hello@ogblabs.com
- Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 9:00 – 18:00 Gulf Standard Time (GMT+4)
- Locations: Muscat, Dubai, Riyadh (Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia)