Article 237 of the Saudi Companies Law

المادة 237 من نظام الشركات · الباب الحادي عشر: الشركات الأجنبية

The article requires every branch or representative office of a foreign company to put on its papers, documents and publications its address in the Kingdom and the company's full name, address and head office.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

يجب على كل فرع أو مكتب تمثيل لشركة أجنبية أن يضع على جميع أوراقه ووثائقه ومطبوعاته عنوانه في المملكة، بالإضافة إلى الاسم الكامل للشركة وعنوانها ومركزها الرئيس.

This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers

Article 237 explained in plain English

This article aims at transparency and at enabling those dealing with the branch to know who they are dealing with. It requires every branch or representative office of a foreign company to put on:

all its papers;
all its documents;
all its publications

the following information:

Its address in the Kingdom.
The full name of the foreign company.
The company's address.
Its head office.

The obligation covers branches and representative offices alike, and the text uses the word "all", so it is not limited to a particular type of document.

This article is linked to Article 236, which states that a foreign company carries on its activity inside the Kingdom through a branch, a representative office or any other form. Article 238 also regulates the financial side of a foreign company's branch, such as the fiscal year, the financial statements and the auditor.

To review whether a company's forms and documents comply with these requirements, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in company or foreign investment matters.

Practical example

A branch of an American technology company in Jeddah issues price quotes and contracts to its customers. These documents and its other papers and publications must include the branch's address in Jeddah and the parent company's full name, address and head office.

Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.

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