Saudi Arabia’s Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) has launched the second edition of the Estrdad initiative, allocating SAR 1.5 billion to refund various government fees for startups and SMEs in their first three years of operation.
The programme allows eligible businesses to register from now until the end of 2026. Refund disbursements will begin once SMEs qualify and continue on a rolling basis through the end of 2028.
Estrdad covers refunds for ten types of fees, starting with 80% coverage of expatriate fees, and includes publication of articles of association, commercial registration, municipal licence, Saudi Post and Chamber of Commerce subscriptions, trademark registration, economic activity licences, and, new to this edition, patent registration to promote innovation.
Eligibility is limited to micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises that have been in operation for no more than three years, with business commencement defined as the registration of the first employee and not prior to January 1, 2024. Businesses must meet Saudisation and licensing requirements, maintain at least 60% Saudi ownership, and new businesses must be fully Saudi‑owned unless specific exceptions apply.
Monsha’at has provided the programme via a digital platform to verify eligibility and process refunds efficiently, reflecting the broader push for digital transformation and government‑service modernisation.
