How to Open a Pharmacy in Saudi Arabia: Requirements and Steps via Seha
To open a pharmacy in Saudi Arabia, the owner or at least one partner must be a licensed Saudi pharmacist. After securing a commercial registration and municipal license, you submit your application through the Ministry of Health’s Seha platform. The license is issued instantly once all requirements are met. (Source: "Statistics" opens registration for the sixth UN World Data Forum 2026)
A pharmacy license is the official authorization granted by the Ministry of Health to establishments that intend to sell pharmaceutical and herbal products inside the Kingdom. The process follows the Pharmaceutical Establishments and Products Law and its executive regulations, whose annexes the ministry publishes on its portal. (Source: 2026-05-13 - University Medical City opens registration for summer training...)
Who can open a pharmacy in Saudi Arabia?
Ownership is restricted to Saudi citizens, and a licensed pharmacist must be among the owners. According to the “Requirements for Granting Licenses to Pharmacies and Herbal Product Sales Establishments” document issued by the Ministry of Health, the ownership and management conditions include:
- Pharmacy ownership is limited to Saudi citizens.
- The owner or one of the partners must be a licensed pharmacist authorized to practice.
- The pharmacy manager must be a Saudi national, working full-time, and licensed to practice.
- Compliance with the Pharmaceutical Establishments and Products Law and its executive regulations.
In practice, this means a non-pharmacist investor can join the project as a partner, provided a licensed Saudi pharmacist handles the technical side.
What documents are required for a pharmacy license?
The Ministry of Health distinguishes between two types of locations: a pharmacy on a public street and a pharmacy inside a commercial building, health facility, or retail outlet. The official annexes to the executive regulations published on the ministry’s website — such as Annex No. 1 covering licensing requirements and Annex No. 2 covering electronic pharmacies and self-service vending machines — contain the full details (Ministry of Health).
| Requirement | Pharmacy on a public street | Pharmacy inside a commercial or health building |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal approval of the location (municipal license) | Required | Required |
| Commercial registration from the Ministry of Commerce | Required | Required |
| Registration and classification of the pharmacist owner or partner | Required | Required |
| Registration and classification of all health personnel | Required | Required |
| Lease agreement or contract with the building | Not mentioned | Required |
| Payment of the pharmaceutical establishment license fee | Required | Required |
Pharmacists and health personnel must be registered and classified with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties before submitting the application.
How do you open a pharmacy step by step?
Following the correct sequence saves time and prevents rejection. Based on Ministry of Health requirements, here is the practical order:
- Set up the partnership: Confirm that the owner or one partner is a licensed Saudi pharmacist, and appoint a full-time Saudi pharmacy manager.
- Classify staff: Register the pharmacist owner and all health personnel with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties to obtain professional classification.
- Obtain the commercial registration: Visit the Ministry of Commerce to issue a commercial registration under the appropriate pharmacy activity.
- Choose the location: Decide whether the site will be independent on a public street or inside a commercial or health center, and prepare a documented lease agreement if needed.
- Get the safety license: Issue a safety license through the Civil Defense’s Salama portal, which is a specific requirement for pharmacies.
- Obtain the municipal license: Secure location approval from the relevant municipal authorities.
- Fit out the pharmacy: Complete the setup according to the executive regulations of the Pharmaceutical Establishments and Products Law.
- Submit the license application: Access health licensing services on the Seha platform, upload the requirements, and pay the license fee.
- Receive the license: The license is issued instantly once the location, staff, and requirements are complete.
What are the municipal license requirements for a pharmacy?
The municipal license is not a formality but a fundamental approval of the location. General commercial requirements include holding a commercial registration for the activity, displaying the license visibly inside the shop, not altering the shop’s area without municipal approval, proving the location through a building permit or lease agreement, and obtaining a safety license from Civil Defense.
Specifics regarding space, equipment, and distances are defined in the executive regulations and updated municipal requirements. Review these conditions on the Balady platform and with the Ministry of Health before signing any lease to avoid losses.
How long does a pharmacy license last and how is it renewed?
A pharmaceutical establishment license is valid for five years and can be renewed. The renewal application must be submitted three months before the license expires. Mark this date in your calendar from opening day, because an expired license means operations officially stop.
How much does it cost to open a pharmacy in Saudi Arabia?
Official bodies do not publish a single figure for total project costs, as they vary by city, location, size, and inventory volume. The pharmaceutical establishment license fee is paid when submitting the application according to the tariff approved by the Ministry of Health.
When preparing a feasibility study, calculate the following items carefully: site rent, fit-out and decoration fees, storage and refrigeration equipment, initial drug inventory, and salaries for licensed health personnel.
What other licenses exist for pharmaceutical products?
Health licensing services extend beyond traditional pharmacies. The Ministry of Health portal provides access to additional regulatory annexes, including Annex No. 2, which covers requirements for licensing electronic pharmacies and approving self-service vending machines, and Annex No. 3 for licensing a drug consultation center (Ministry of Health).
Herbal product sales establishments follow the same core requirements applied to pharmacies under Annex No. 1, providing a single regulatory framework that investors can easily understand and apply.
Key figures
- License duration: 5 years, renewable (Ministry of Health).
- Renewal deadline: 3 months before expiration (Ministry of Health).
- Owner nationality: Saudi only (Ministry of Health).
- Manager nationality: Saudi, full-time, and licensed (Ministry of Health).
- License issuance: Instant upon completion of requirements (Ministry of Health).
Summary and what to follow up on
Start by securing a licensed Saudi pharmacist partner and classifying staff with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties before searching for a location. Monitor periodic updates to the annexes of the executive regulations of the Pharmaceutical Establishments and Products Law through the Ministry of Health portal, especially if you plan to launch an electronic pharmacy or use self-service vending machines. As the five-year renewal date approaches, submit your application three months early to keep operations running without interruption.