Can a foreign company import into Saudi Arabia without a local entity?
Not directly — the importer of record must be a Saudi-registered entity with a FASAH number. Foreign companies solve this two ways: an importer-of-record (IOR) service, where a licensed local entity imports for a fee, or incorporating via a MISA investment licence (100% foreign ownership possible for trading).
IOR suits market entry and one-off project deliveries; incorporation wins once flows are steady. Setup takes 2–8 weeks for a clean trading company.