Saudi Arabia Activity Code for Pharmacy

Industry Sector: Healthcare & Medical Services | Official Classification: SSIC 477211 — Pharmacies activities
Authoritative Standard: Saudi SSIC 2026

Executive Summary & Official Classification

To legally establish or license a Pharmacy (صيدلية) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the official primary economic activity code registered with the Ministry of Commerce (MC) and municipal authorities is SSIC 477211 — Pharmacies activities.

This classification governs municipal commercial zoning on the Balady portal, MISA foreign investment licensing (subject to sector criteria), Qiwa electronic employment contracts, and Nitaqat Saudization benchmarks under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD).

Primary Classification Entity

★ Official Primary Classification Code

Saudi SSIC Code: SSIC 477211 — Pharmacies activities

Arabic Designation: أنشطة الصيدليات

Parent Economic Group: 4772 — Retail sale of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles in specialized stores

Section Category: Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Governing Authority: Ministry of Health

Municipal / Sectoral License: Ministry of Health

View Complete SSIC 477211 Specifications & Compliance →

Key Facts & Regulatory Matrix for Pharmacy

Regulatory Parameter	Specification in Saudi Arabia
Business Entity / Activity	Pharmacy (صيدلية)
Primary Saudi SSIC Code	`477211` — Pharmacies activities
Parent Classification Group	`4772` — Retail sale of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles in specialized stores
Economic Section Category	`Section G` — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
Industry Sector	Healthcare & Medical Services
Supervisory Government Body	Ministry of Health
Operational Licensing Portal	Ministry of Health
MISA Foreign Investment	Eligible under general regulatory framework (Subject to MISA criteria & sector rules)
Commercial Registration (CR)	Instant Digital Issuance via Ministry of Commerce
Labor & Saudization Compliance	Qiwa Portal & Nitaqat Framework (Benchmark depends on company headcount)

Practical Business Setup Workflow in Saudi Arabia

Commercial Registration (CR) Issuance: Log in to the Ministry of Commerce portal and select primary activity code 477211.
Municipal Licensing (Balady Portal): Apply for the commercial premise license adhering to municipal shop, safety, and parking requirements under code 477211.
MISA Foreign Investment License: International investors can apply for a MISA foreign investment license subject to standard regulatory guidelines under Saudi foreign investment regulations. Review our MISA License Guide.
ZATCA Tax & Zakat Enrollment: Automatic registration for Corporate Income Tax (20% for foreign shares) or Zakat (2.5% for Saudi/GCC shares), along with 15% VAT and Fatoora e-invoicing. See ZATCA Tax Guide.
Qiwa Portal & Saudization: Register Saudi and expat employees in Qiwa under approved SSCO Occupational Codes to maintain a compliant Nitaqat tier. Check our Nitaqat Saudization Guide.

Regulatory & Classification Status for Pharmacy

Verification Parameter	Official Status	Verification Source
Commercial Code Mapping	✅ Standard Match	Mapped to primary activity `SSIC 477211`
GASTAT National Framework	✅ Active Standard	Official Saudi SSIC 2025/2026 Edition
Instant CR Issuance (Ministry of Commerce)	✅ Eligible	Commercial Registration Law (Direct Digital Issuance)
MISA Foreign Investment Eligibility	✅ General Framework	Foreign investment permitted subject to MISA licensing criteria
Licensing Platform	✅ Documented	Ministry of Health

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the official Saudi SSIC activity code for a Pharmacy?

The official primary classification code is SSIC 477211 (Pharmacies activities).

2. Can foreign investors open a Pharmacy in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Under the Ministry of Investment (MISA) regulatory framework, foreign companies and entrepreneurs can establish commercial entities subject to standard licensing rules.

3. Which government authority licenses Pharmacy operations?

Supervision is overseen by Ministry of Health, and municipal premises licenses are issued via the Balady portal.

4. How do I add this activity to an existing Commercial Registration (CR)?

You can amend your Commercial Registration online through the Ministry of Commerce portal by adding code 477211.

Related Healthcare & Medical Services Businesses: Cosmetic dentist · Dental clinic · Dental implants periodontist · Dentist · Doctor · Emergency veterinarian service

Official Source Attribution & Disclaimer

Official Classification Standard: General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) — SSIC 2026.

Primary Entity Reference: SSIC 477211 — Pharmacies activities

This page is an independent regulatory lookup tool. Always verify specific commercial activity requirements on official government portals (Ministry of Commerce, MISA, Balady, and ZATCA) before finalizing legal filings.