Saudi Arabia 2019 Saudi Arabia 2019 1 Table of Contents Doing Business in Saudi Arabia ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Market Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Market Challenges ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Market Opportunities ................................................................................................................................................ 8 Market Entry Strategy ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Political Environment................................................................................................................................................... 10 Selling US Products & Services .................................................................................................................................... 11 Agents and Distributors ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Establishing an Office .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Franchising ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 Direct Marketing ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 Joint Ventures/Licensing.......................................................................................................................................... 15 Selling to the Government ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Distribution and Sales Channels .............................................................................................................................. 17 Leading Sectors for U.S. Exports & Investments.......................................................................................................... 25 Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals .................................................................................................................................... 25 Power ....................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Smart Grid/Distribution & Transmission ................................................................................................................. 32 Energy Efficiency ...................................................................................................................................................... 34 Kingdom’s Atomic Energy Program ......................................................................................................................... 35 Architectural, Engineering and Construction .......................................................................................................... 36 Mining and Minerals ................................................................................................................................................ 40 Defense and Security ............................................................................................................................................... 43 Transport and Logistics ............................................................................................................................................ 45 Information and Communications Technology ....................................................................................................... 52 Agricultural Sector ................................................................................................................................................... 56 Healthcare ............................................................................................................................................................... 57 Medical Devices Sector ............................................................................................................................................ 59 Pharma and Biosciences .......................................................................................................................................... 62 Dental Services ........................................................................................................................................................ 65 2 Franchising ............................................................................................................................................................... 65 Water Resources Equipment (WRE) and Technologies Market .............................................................................. 69 Education & Training Services ................................................................................................................................. 73 Travel, Tourism, and Entertainment ........................................................................................................................ 78 Customs, Regulations & Standards .............................................................................................................................. 83 Trade Barriers .......................................................................................................................................................... 83 Import Tariff ............................................................................................................................................................ 85 Import Requirements & Documentation ................................................................................................................. 86 Labeling/Marking Requirements ............................................................................................................................. 87 U.S. Export Controls ................................................................................................................................................. 90 Temporary Entry ...................................................................................................................................................... 90 Prohibited & Restricted Imports .............................................................................................................................. 91 Customs, Regulations & Standards .......................................................................................................................... 91 Standards for Trade ................................................................................................................................................. 91 Trade Agreements ................................................................................................................................................... 95 Licensing Requirements for Professional Services .................................................................................................. 96 Investment Climate Statement .................................................................................................................................... 97 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 97 Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment ..................................................................................... 99 Bilateral Investment and Trade Agreements, and Taxation Treaties .................................................................... 102 Legal Regime .......................................................................................................................................................... 103 Industrial Policies ................................................................................................................................................... 107 Protection of Property Rights ................................................................................................................................ 109 Financial Sector ...................................................................................................................................................... 112 State-Owned Enterprises ....................................................................................................................................... 114 Responsible Business Conduct .............................................................................................................................. 115 Corruption ............................................................................................................................................................. 116 Political and Security Environment .......................................................................................................................