How do I register a charity in Saudi Arabia and get approval to collect donations online?

There will be certain regulations for starting this kind of business, and it is restricted by the Saudi Center for Nonprofit Organizations.

In Saudi Arabia, registering a charity and collecting donations online must be done through the National Center for Non-Profit Sector Development, and the organization must be formally licensed as a charitable association or foundation with approved bylaws, a governing board, a registered address, and a bank account in the charity’s name; separate approval is then required to collect donations, especially online or via bank transfer, with clear disclosure of fundraising goals, use of funds, and compliance with anti-money-laundering and reporting requirements. Importantly, charitable associations and fundraising licenses are generally restricted to Saudi nationals, and founders, board members, and authorized signatories are typically required to be Saudi citizens; non-Saudis may participate only in very limited roles and cannot independently establish or run a licensed charity. The overall process usually takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the completeness of documentation and regulatory review.

In Saudi Arabia, accepting donations for a charity project—whether through a website or bank transfer—requires formal approval, as fundraising without authorization is not permitted even for small or pilot initiatives. To legally collect donations, you must either register a charitable association with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), which typically takes around three to six months and requires approved governance documents (such as articles of association, a board charter, financial and fundraising policies, and audited reporting), or partner with an already licensed charity, which is faster and often allows you to launch within a few weeks under a formal agreement. Once approved, you are required to maintain strict financial and operational reporting, use an authorized charity bank account and payment gateway, and clearly display licensing and transparency information on any donation website.