Hi 6 key steps to getting a graduate job in engineering:

Hi 6 key steps to getting a graduate job in engineering:

No one said finding your first job would be easy but 

if you follow this guide you’ll be well placed to go 

after that engineering role of your dreams.

You’ve probably heard that the UK has a shortage of engineers, but that doesn’t mean getting a job in engineering is easy.

What employers really mean by a “shortage” is that there aren’t enough engineers with the right mix of technical ability, personal skills and practical experience in specific areas.

But with the right mix of research, planning and action, you can make yourself very attractive to companies who are desperate to find the right people to make their businesses grow.

Here’s our introductory guide on how to find and secure your dream engineering job.

1. Start early:

- "As an engineering student, you should be used to starting early."

If you want to finish your degree and go straight into a job you’ll need to have used your university time effectively to build up your CV. Of course this means getting a good academic result – many employers won’t look at anything below a 2.1 – but also carrying out work experience and taking part in extra-curricular activities. You didn’t think this would be easy, did you?

‘You can never start too early,’ says Fran Shaw, engineering placement manager at Huddersfield University. ‘You’ll be applying for jobs quicker than you think. And if you want to do a work placement you’ll be applying in your second year.’

During your first year at uni you should try to work out what you want your CV to look like by the time you start applying for jobs and then go out and get the experiences to fill it up.

2. Get some experience:

- "Employers are desperate for graduates with practical experience."

The single most important thing that will improve your chances of getting a job in engineering is work experience.

Many university courses include time for year-long placements and these can often lead directly to permanent jobs. They could even help you do better in your degree when you return to uni the following year.

‘Placements help develop academic skills because you will better understand how the theory is applied,’ says Mike Grey, head of Coventry University’s Engineering Futures career team. ‘They also allow you to make decisions about your career path. For example you might change your mind from wanting to be a design engineer to operations.’

But given that over 40 per cent of engineering employers believe graduates lack practical experience, according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology, any time you can put in with a real company will help you stand out.

Of course, the age-old problem is that employers often want you to have experience before they’ll even take you on for a placement. Start by asking firms if you can come in for just a day to see how things work. Then try to undertake a few weeks work experience or a summer internship. This will put you in good stead if you do want to apply for year-long placements, which can be almost as competitive as permanent jobs.

And don’t forget that practical skills don’t just come from work experience. They could come from social clubs, sports teams, part-time jobs or anything where you’ve demonstrated you can do more than just calculations.

‘We’re looking for lots of dimensions that give a person character,’ says Nicky Bassett, UK HR director at multinational engineering firm Eaton. ‘We’re not looking for real geeks who can’t interact. Have they supported themselves? Do they have good motivation?’

3. Aim high – but keep your horizons broad:

Don’t rule yourself out for the top jobs - or miss less obvious opportunities.

‘My advice is to aim high – don’t be afraid to apply for the companies you really want to work for.’ That’s the opinion of Maria Zaretskaya, who secured a coveted place on Eaton’s engineering leadership development programme last year.

The UK is home to some of the biggest and best engineering companies in the world, as well as outposts of many international giants. Graduating from a British engineering department creates a fantastic opportunity to target world-class employers.

And don’t let your degree subject stop you from going for a particular firm or job that specialises in a different discipline – the basic principles of engineering are widely applicable.

‘Students tend to rule themselves out more than the companies do,’ says Coventry’s Mike Grey. ‘They might pick mechanical engineering because it’s broad but something else doesn’t necessarily narrow their options.’

But it’s also important to remember some of the most interesting and innovative engineering on the planet is going on in the legions of British small and medium-sized technology firms, most of which you’ve probably never heard of.

If you just apply to the household-name firms like Rolls-Royce and BP, you’ll not only be pitching yourself against the fiercest competition and risk coming out empty-handed, you’ll also be missing out on some amazing opportunities.

Small firms tend to require more niche skills and experience and so struggle to find the right graduates. Matching yourself to the right employer can create fantastic opportunities. ‘Smaller companies can offer an accelerated career path so you’ll get more responsibility quicker,’ says Grey.

‘And it’s not just traditional engineering companies who recruit engineers,’ says Debbie Laing, careers adviser at the University of Huddersfield. ‘For example you could work as a lighting engineer in the entertainment industry, or in the head offices of big companies such as Morrisons.’

4. Make the most of your university:

- "Your lecturers may be able to let you know about interesting job opportunities."

Your uni isn’t just an expensive place to spend three years locked away from sunlight in an engineering lab. It’s also likely to be a hotbed of research that is often called upon by engineering firms to collaborate on exciting new technologies.

As such, your lecturers may be able to give you the lowdown on different companies and relate their own experiences working for them. In fact, it’s not unusual for engineering firms, especially interesting startups, to get in touch with universities they’ve worked with in the past to search for new recruits.

Danny Fennell and Elton Nunes are helping to develop an engine that runs on liquid air for startup firm The Dearman Engine Company, and both heard about their job openings through their universities, Fennell from his lecturer and Nunes by speaking to career advisers.

‘Do check out your career centre,’ says Nunes. ‘It sounds obvious but a lot of people don’t look there.’ As well as job listings and other information, career departments often provide personal advice sessions and coaching in skills such as interview technique.

5. Tailor your applications:

- "Don’t just send the same application to every employer - think carefully about why you want each individual job."

Every employer has stories about candidates sending them applications with the wrong company name on (a surefire way to get your CV thrown in the bin). But getting your form right isn’t just about careful proofreading - although that’s essential. You’ve got to demonstrate not just that you’re a good engineer but that you’re the very best person for that specific job.

‘People often think sending out lots of apps increases your chances,’ says Coventry Univeristy’s Mike Grey. ‘It’s about quality not quantity. Applications need to be targeted, researched, with skills matched to the role. Professionals look at this so they know when someone hasn’t taken care.’

As well as thinking about your individual skills and experience, this means finding out more about the company and demonstrating an understanding of their technology, their challenges and the broader sector in which they operate.

‘Candidates need to understand role they’re going for,’ says Mark Newland, a consultant at specialist recruitment agency STEM Graduates. ‘That means more than just checking website. For example, use LinkedIn to find a profile of the interviewer.’

6. Don’t give up:

- "Keep trying and eventually you’ll be rewarded with your first job."

‘A lot of people have a lot of rejections but it’s important to stay positive and keep going,’ says Maria Zaretskaya from Eaton.

Every time you miss out on a job, take some time to think about why. Was there a gap in your CV? Did you make mistakes in the interview? Were you really right for the role in the first place?

If you made it past the initial application stage then ask for feedback and you’ll be more likely to succeed next time. Each job you’re rejected from is a step towards the one you’ll eventually get.

Hi ENGINEERING EFFICIENCY/EFFECTIVENESS - KEY METRICS!.

Hi ENGINEERING EFFICIENCY/EFFECTIVENESS - KEY METRICS!.

Companies or organizations often misuse Engineering resources at the expense of accomplishing the goals for these technical resources.  

Measurement is key to identification of the activities and limit of the “leaks” affecting the department.  

It has been said “you can only manage what you can measure” and measurement is key to an efficient/effective engineering department or organization.

As a guiding principle, application of metrics should embody these characteristics:

• simple to record and track; minimize the total number of measures.
• meaningful in relation to the work at hand and practical.
• related to or in support of the business goals.
• kept active and accurate (revise as required).
• available at all times to key personnel responsible (post or distribute).
• reviewed periodically with all of the personnel (obtain feedback).
• management interest, involvement and support in achieving results.

The metrics applied should be tailored to the activity or department and documented using a meaningful frequency.  

Many of the metrics may stand alone or be plotted against hours, orders or project elements.  

For an on-going effort such as backlog or changes per a base number of features, a rolling average may be desirable in addition to a single time related value.

In other words, focus on the issues important to the business and activities key to success.  

Initiate one or two metrics per area of interest or product type.  

Begin with a few immediately and grow into the desired full set.

The following list is broader than needed but it provides an indication of the types of metrics that can be applied.  

This list assumes a business that supplies a product or service per customer request or potential multiple selection of model sizes or custom features.

STAFFING:

• Hours spent (or % of total) for submittals, sales orders, product development, manufacturing support, change, or “other” support. 

ORDERS:

• Total number of active orders per product group over time.
• Number of submittals in process vs active orders (backlog).
• Schedule performance, actual vs estimated, or % on time.

SUBMITTALS:

• Estimated hours per order vs actual hours per order.
• Number of sales orders in process and hours required.
• On time (schedule) release to next group (release to design).
• Average drafting hours per order or per estimate of project.
• Available man-hours per product vs backlog hours per product.
• Number of changes: pre and post release per order or project.

DESIGN/DRAFTING:

•  Estimated hours per order vs actual hours per order or project.
• Number of sales orders in process and hours required.
• On-time (schedule) release to production (days missed included).
• Average drafting hours per order or per project element.
• Available man-hours per product vs backlog hours per product.
• % errors vs total number of drawings per order, time period, project.
• Number of changes pre and post release (per order, project, etc.).

DESIGN/ENGINEERING:

• Proposals won vs total submitted.
• Estimated hours per order, project vs actual expended.
• Number of sales orders in process and hours required.
• Available man-hours per product vs backlog hours per product.
• Number of changes, pre and post release.
• % of corporate revenue from products developed in last 4 years.

ENGINEERING/PRODUCT QUALITY:

• Warranty expense as a % of shipped $.
• Field or customer complaints vs total items shipped.
• Retrofit or rework $ as % of shipped $.
• Engineering hrs addressing complaints vs total available.
• Product or component MTBF (mean time between failures).

Hi 'UAE Top Ten Construction Companies in Dubai!'.

Hi 'UAE Top Ten Construction Companies in Dubai!'.

Construction companies in Dubai are the lifeblood of this state. Dubai cannot survive without construction companies. Dubai is the place, which has the largest number of construction projects in the world. Here is a review of major construction companies in Dubai.

ACTCO

ACTCO is a local company operating in the UAE, belonging to a group of multinational shareholders. Since its establishment in 1975, ACTCO has prided itself on an impressive record of successfully completed projects, and has enjoyed the reputation of meeting its schedules and doing so within budget and to the highest client satisfaction.

ACTCO currently employs over 3300 employees in various disciplines and activities over a wide spectrum of civil turn-key projects in industrial developments, infrastructure/ utilities, power plants, desalination plants, oil and gas projects, industrial buildings, airport facilities and commercial/residential buildings.

Arabian Construction Company (ACC)

ACC has been operating since 1967, through a comprehensive regional network throughout the Middle East. From power generation and desalination plants, to factories, hotels, hospitals, and intricately sophisticated smart buildings, ACC's track record is a prestigious list of efficiently delivered projects.

Established contacts in the region, a dedicated workforce and an exacting standard for completion have gained the company a competitive edge well recognized in the industry. ACC benefits from a working network in many areas in the Middle East which allows it to mobilize rapidly throughout the region.

ACC offers full contracting services and has the flexibility to assist the client by securing additional expertise for feasibility studies, preliminary designs, financing opportunities and joint venture partners for optimum project delivery.

Dutco GroupThe history and development of the Dutco Group of Companies is inextricably interwoven with that of Dubai itself. The establishment of Dutco, as the company is generally known, dates back to 1947, when a leading local businessmen Mr. Yousuf Baker established Dubai Transport Company.

From these beginnings, the company has grown steadily and today it is one of the largest construction companies in Dubai. There is virtually no aspect of Dubai's infrastructure development in which the Dutco Group does not play a part, with successes extending well beyond Dubai and the UAE.

Activities include large-scale civil engineering works, mechanical and electrical engineering, Piling & soil improvement, civil engineering, dredging, survey and reclamation, pipeline engineering, information technology and telecommunications, shipping and freight services, trading and luxury hotel operations.

Nakeel Group
Nakheel is the largest property developer in Dubai. They are responsible for mega projects such as The Palm Island project, The World island project etc.

Emaar

Emaar Properties PJSC is one of the world’s largest real estate companies and is rapidly evolving to become a global provider of premier lifestyles. A Dubai-based Public Joint Stock Company, Emaar is listed on the Dubai Financial Market and is part of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index.

In Dubai, Emaar is extending its expertise in creating master-planned communities to international markets. Simultaneously, Emaar is developing new competencies in hospitality & leisure, malls, education, healthcare and financial services, which have evolved from its integrated approach to customer service and property development.

With six business segments and more than 60 active companies, Emaar has a collective presence in over 36 markets spanning the Middle East, North Africa, Pan-Asia, Europe and North America. The company has established operations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, USA, Canada and United Kingdom.

DAMAC

DAMAC Properties is part of DAMAC Holdings. DAMAC properties was established in 1995 and has grown into one of the most successful residential, leisure and commercial developers in Dubai and the Middle East, and is expanding rapidly into North Africa, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the Far East.

DAMAC Properties manage all their projects from start to finish, the company’s diverse range of expertise allows them to control land purchase activity, appointment of architects and designers, construction and sales and after sales service. In addition to support services provided by their Dubai headquarters, the company’s comprehensive Customer Care Program provides solutions through its vast regional network with offices in the UK (London, Manchester, Reading, Leicester, Birmingham and Glasgow), Ireland, Italy, UAE, Russia, Jordan,Lebanon, Egypt, KSA, Pakistan and Qatar.

Al Naboodah

Established in 1975, Al Naboodah Contracting Company- Civil Engineering Division has achieved a notable record in the field of civil construction.

This is one of the most respected locally owned construction companies in Dubai.

Their construction projects are part of the landmarks that symbolise the development of United Arab Emirates.

Maritime Industrial Services

Established in the Middle East since 1979, Maritime Industrial Services Co. Ltd. Inc. (MIS) enjoys continued success in the petroleum-related construction and services industry.

MIS is one of the leading contractors in the Middle East, providing a full line of engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, safety, operating, and maintenance services to the oil, gas, petrochemical, power generation, marine, and heavy industries.

DCC

DCC is a leading international construction company in Dubai. Right from its inception in 1962, DCC has been committed to achieving the highest standards in its field.

DCC offers a wide range of services ranging from turnkey projects to construction and service contracts.

With an eye to the future, DCC established early alliances with leading architectural, design and engineering firms, and it began to build a network of companies which, though launched in the United Arab Emirates, soon rose to global prominence.

Today, after four decades of achievements that constantly raised the bar for excellence, the company's reputation is well established in the skylines of some of the world's most modern cities.

Kanoor

Kanoor contracting is leading Civil and Electro-Mechanical construction company in the G.C.C. for more than two decades. Kanoor is a leading contractor for oil and Gas, Industries, Refineries, Cement, Fertilizer, Steel and Aluminum Plant and Power Plants, Infra-structure, Villas, Warehouses etc. in the Gulf Countries - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and U.A.E.

Kanoor Contracting (LLC) established in U.A.E. in the year 2001 with an aim to cater booming local Industrial, Civil & Electro Mechanical Industry. The company has played a significant role in the industrialization with well-qualified and experienced Managers, Engineers and Workforce.

Hi Featured Business Article of The Month!.

Hi Featured Business Article of The Month!.

Saudi Arabia: Wednesday, October 10 - 2012 at 10:44

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been developing key economic sectors including services, industry and real estate, and in 2000 the kingdom's cabinet approved the Foreign Capital Investment Law. It stemmed from a recognition by King Abdullah that certain sectors require foreign expertise to grow and prosper, and was introduced to regulate outside investors keen to do business in Saudi Arabia.

This overview provides some general guidance on the laws and principal legal factors that must be considered when doing business in Saudi Arabia. Since the kingdom's laws can often be confusing, and even contradictory, it is recommended that foreign investors seek specific legal advice before entering into a business venture in the country.

The foreign investment licence;

Those who are keen to invest in Saudi Arabia must obtain a foreign capital investment licence from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia).

All Saudi companies, or those registered within other GCC countries, are treated as GCC nationals if they are wholly owned by citizens or governments of GCC member states. GCC firms with foreign shareholders, foreign businesses, or any investor who is not a national of one of the GCC countries must obtain a foreign capital investment licence.

The Foreign Capital Investment Law allows the establishment of companies with 100 per cent foreign ownership within most economic sectors.
When an investment is licensed under the Investment Law, a business enjoys all the privileges and incentives offered to wholly Saudi-owned firms. These include: ownership of freehold property (if that property is necessary for the company to carry out its licensed activities); privileges granted by the anti-double-taxation treaties to which the kingdom is a party; legal protection against expropriation or confiscation of investments; and the right to repatriate profits.

Incorporating a local entity;

Saudi company regulations regulate the establishment and governance of corporate entities in the kingdom. The limited liability company (LLC), joint stock firm and branch of a foreign business are the most common forms of legal entities. Others include sole proprietorship, scientific offices and temporary commercial registration (TCR), which is granted to foreign entities that sign contract agreements with a government or semi-government department to execute a project. A TCR is limited to one contract and lasts until that contract's final date.

Limited liability companies (LLCs);

An LLC is the most common corporate vehicle for equity participation by foreign investors. It must have a minimum of two shareholders, and not more than 50. People and corporate entities may be shareholders. Generally, shareholders are liable for the debts of the company only to the extent of their respective interests in the firm's shares.

Transfer of shares between parties is effective on the date of notarising the articles of association amendment to reflect that transfer, and the liability of a selling shareholder ceases from that date. Sagia regulations and requirements are applied to new foreign shareholders who form a licensed LLC, and the procedures are the same for existing shareholders.

Joint stock companies;

A joint stock company must have a minimum of five shareholders, but there is no maximum.

Shareholders may be people or corporate entities. A minimum of SR2m ($533,000) of share capital must be used to establish a closed joint stock company, and the firm's foundation is subject to approval by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Branches of foreign companies;

Branches of foreign firms in Saudi Arabia are subject to regulations, laws and rules applicable to their activities. As with LLCs and joint stock companies, foreign businesses that establish branches in Saudi Arabia must deposit capital in a local bank. The deposited capital will be blocked until the Ministry of Commerce & Industry issues a certificate of registration for the branch.

Contracting firms must have at least a third-class contractor's classification certificate and completion certificates for projects undertaken outside Saudi Arabia. They must be able to prove they are financially solid and require minimum capital of SR1m. If they are working on an industrial project, the capital required will depend on a feasibility study carried out by the investor. If the project's capital requirements are more than SR5m, Sagia allows the company to deposit only 25 per cent of the capital in the bank.

Laws;

Some of the legislation that companies operating under the Foreign Capital Regulation Law must adhere to include:

Anti-cover-up Law
The Anti-cover-up Law prohibits non-Saudis from conducting or investing in any business in the kingdom without a foreign capital investment licence issued by Sagia and prohibits any Saudi person from assisting in such activity.

Environmental Law
The Presidency for Meteorology and Environment (PME) is the entity responsible for regulating pollution control and related environmental matters. The PME (previously known as the Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration, or Mepa) has issued environmental protection standards regarding ambient air quality, air pollution sources, receiving-water guidelines, direct discharge performance and discharge pre-treatment guidelines.

Saudi Arabia has also approved the General Environmental Regulation and the Environmental Assessment Regulation for the GCC. The General Environmental Regulation prohibits any act or failure to act that may result in adverse environmental effects and requires that precautionary and pre-emptive measures be implemented to ensure that such adverse effects do not occur as a result of the construction of any project. The Environmental Assessment Regulation applies to a long list of projects that may have an environmental impact and requires that an environmental assessment be conducted on projects that fall under its coverage.

Immigration;

Non-Saudi citizens (other than GCC nationals) must obtain visas to enter the kingdom and must obtain permits to reside there. Visas and permits are not granted on arrival and must be obtained in advance.

Companies are required to register their employees' contracts with the Ministry of Interior before a residency permit can be issued. Each firm is permitted to have a certain quota of residency visas. Employees with residency visas who earn above a threshold salary may sponsor family members. Residency visas are valid for up to one year. Employees cannot work for anyone other than their sponsor and sponsorship cannot be transferred until the employee has worked for his original sponsor for at least two years.

Real estate;

'Ownership of real property is evidenced by title deeds.'

There is a central registry under the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs where all real property rights are recorded. A long-awaited mortgage law was approved in July and should become effective in the near future.
A non-GCC investor in possession of a foreign investment licence from Sagia may own real property in the kingdom, provided the property is necessary for the investment project. This includes real estate used to house the project's employees.

Requirements for setting up a company;

Commercial activity in Saudi Arabia has been broken down into eight categories:

Industrial
Commercial
Agricultural
Contracting
Real estate
Specialised services
Non-specialised services
Consultancy

To operate in any of these activities, a firm must fulfil specific requirements before it is licensed by Sagia.

Industrial activity;

1 The company must inform the Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation and Sagia whether it will be using Saudi, American or European specifications for its products and methods of manufacturing. It must then ensure the specifications of the product it wishes to manufacture are met and make sure the techniques of production adhere to the kingdom's rules. If Saudi certification is not available, certification from the US or EU can be used.
2 The company's capital must be at least SR1m.
3 It must provide a schedule for completing each stage of its project.
4 The investor must produce paperwork from the Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon) to show it is leasing or buying industrial land for the purpose of its investment activity.
5 If the company's capital is more than SR5m, each partner must submit a bank certificate for 25 per cent of its share of the capital. If the capital is less than SR5m, a bank guarantee for the whole sum must be submitted to Sagia. This must be done through a bank licensed in Saudi Arabia after the firm shows its investment licence and submits the deposit certificate. Sagia's commercial registration department will not issue a licence until this has been done.

Commercial activity;

1 The company must submit to Sagia a commitment that up to 75 per cent of its management and technical employees will be Saudis.
2 A Saudi partner must own at least 25 per cent of the firm. Foreign partners may not own more than 75 per cent of the capital, but their share must exceed SR20m.
3 The business must submit a commitment to train more than 15 per cent of its Saudi employees each year to Sagia.
4 The company must submit a bank certificate showing each foreign investor has access to a percentage of SR20m proportionate to its shares in the firm. This must be ratified by the Saudi embassy in that investor's home country.

Agricultural activity;

1 The minimum investment must be SR25m.
2 A company's activities are subject to approval by the Ministry of Agriculture.
3 The firm must submit to Sagia a bank certificate indicating each foreign investor has access to at least 25 per cent of its shares in the company. This must be ratified by the Saudi embassy.
4 The business must submit to Sagia a schedule for completing each stage of the project.

5 A company must commit to deposit its capital in a bank licensed in Saudi Arabia after Sagia has issued an investment licence. It must submit the investment and deposit certificates to the commercial registration department of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

There is a branch of this department within Sagia.

Contracting activity;

1 The investor must submit three financial statements for its operations outside the kingdom, covering the three years before it has requested its licence. The statements must be prepared by a certified accounting firm and ratified by the tax office and Saudi embassy in the investor's home country. They will be used to demonstrate the investor's operations are financially sound.
2 The investor must submit to Sagia completion certificates for major projects it has undertaken in the same field in which it plans to invest.
3 The company must be classified in its home country in the same activity and must be classified as at least a third-class contractor or its equivalent. Its classifications must be ratified by the Saudi embassy in its home country.
4 The firm must submit to Sagia a bank guarantee proving each partner has access to at least SR250,000, and this must be ratified by the Saudi embassy. (Recently, Sagia stopped allowing individuals to invest in contracting, preferring investment to come from large companies with more experience.)
5 Consultancy work may only be carried out by an LLC.
6 The business must submit a schedule for completing each stage of the project to Sagia.
7 The company must commit to deposit its capital in a bank licensed in the kingdom after Sagia has issued an investment licence. It must submit the investment and deposit certificates to the commercial registration department of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Real estate activity;

1 Foreign investors may only deal in properties worth more than SR30m.
2 The property must be developed and leased or sold within five years of the investor beginning its activity on the project.
3 The property must be outside the borders of Mecca and Medina.
4 The company must submit a bank certificate for the capital or the share of each partner. This must be ratified by the Saudi embassy in the firm's home country.
5 The company must submit a schedule for the completion of each stage of the project to Sagia.
6 Before it can invest in property, the business must submit a study from a local, approved engineering firm showing the value of the land and the aggregate cost of the scheme.
7 A company must commit to deposit its capital in a bank licensed in Saudi Arabia after Sagia has issued an investment licence. It must submit the investment and deposit certificates to the commercial registration department of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Specialised services;

Under Sagia's classifications, specialised services include communications and tourism.
1 The firm must obtain permission from the government body that regulates the field in which it will operate. For example, the Communications and Information Technology Commission, or the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.
2 The company must submit a schedule for the completion of each stage of the project to Sagia.
3 The business must submit to Sagia a commitment to invest its capital in a bank licensed in Saudi Arabia, once Sagia has issued its investment licence. If the capital is more than SR5m, the company does not have to deposit the whole amount but can deposit 25 per cent of it. It must submit the investment and deposit certificates to the commercial registration department of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Non-specialised services;

1 The company must submit to Sagia a commitment that 10-50 per cent of workers in its facilities will be Saudis.
2 After Sagia has issued its investment licence, the firm must submit a schedule for the completion of each stage of its project.
3 The company must submit a bank certificate to Sagia proving each partner has access to SR250,000.

This must be ratified by the Saudi embassy in each investor's home country.
4 Non-specialised services may only be carried out by an LLC.
5 The company must submit three balance sheets ratified by the tax office and the Saudi embassy in the investor's country to Sagia.
6 The company must submit to the commercial registration department at the Ministry of Commerce & Industry an acknowledgement that it has deposited its capital in a bank licensed in Saudi Arabia and that its investment licence has been issued by Sagia. It will then be granted commercial registration.

Consultancy activity;

1 The applicant for the licence must have a bachelor's degree or a higher qualification in the field in which he is consulting. This must be ratified by the Saudi embassy in his home country.
2 He must submit to Sagia three recommendation certificates from consultancy facilities. These must be ratified by the Saudi embassy.
3 He must submit to Sagia experience certificates proving he has worked as a consultant in his specialism for at least five years.
4 A consultancy must submit to Sagia a commitment that 75 per cent of its employees will be Saudi.

The negative list;

A list of sectors in which foreign investment is not allowed can be found on the Supreme Economic Council's website, Click Here.

Sectors that are restricted or partially restricted include:

Oil exploration, drilling and production
Manufacturing of military equipment, devices and uniforms
Manufacturing of civilian explosives
Catering to military sectors
Security and detective services
Real estate investment in Mecca and Medina
Tourist orientation and guidance services related to Hajj and Umrah
Recruitment and employment services, including local recruitment offices
Real estate brokerage
Printing and publishing
Audiovisual and media services
Land transportation services, excluding intra-city passenger transport by trains
Some medical services
Fisheries
Blood banks, poison centres and quarantines

Key contact;
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Website: www.mci.gov.sa
Tel: (+966) 1 401 2220/4708

Applicable laws; 'Regulations that a branch of a foreign company must adhere to include':

Anti-cover-up Law
Competition Law
Immigration Law
Labour and Labourer Act
Social Insurance Act
Zakat and taxes regulations
Sharia Appeals Act
Act of Criminal Procedures
Law Act
Regulation of commercial registration
Regulation of commercial fraud
Banking regulations
Regulations protecting intellectual property
Trademarks Act
Copyright Protection Act
Patents Act
Residence Act
Foreign Investment Act (and its executive regulations and supplementing resolutions)
Regulations governing foreign ownership of real estate
Act of Encouraging and Protection of National Industries

Key contact;
Presidency for Meteorology and Environment
Website: www.pme.gov.sa
Tel: (+966) 2 651 2312/9868

Key contact;
Ministry of Interior
Website: www.moi.gov.sa
Tel: (+966) 1 401 1944

Key contact;
Ministry of Justice
Website: www.moj.gov.sa
Tel: (+966) 1 405 7777/5399

Key contact;
Ministry of Municipalities & Rural Affairs
Website: www.momra.gov.sa (Arabic only)
Tel: (+966) 1 441 5434

Key contact;
Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation
Website: www.saso.org.sa
Tel: (+966) 2 675 1013

Key contact;
Ministry of Agriculture
Website: www.saso.org.sa
Tel: (+966) 1 401 6666

Key contact;
Communications and Information Technology Commission
Website: www.citc.gov.sa
Tel: (+966) 1 461 8000

Key contact;
Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities
Website: www.scta.gov.sa
Tel: (+966) 1 880 8855

*About the writer;

Hazem Midani is director of Jumana House, a Riyadh-based specialist in company regulation, foreign investment and business formation: 'Click Here To Visit Jumana House Website'.

"The laws for setting up a business in Saudi Arabia can be complex."