Required certification · Saudi Arabia
Saudi Contractors Authority (Muqawil)
الهيئة السعودية للمقاولين: authority for the contracting sector, with its Muqawil membership platform
Market position
The Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) is the public authority for the Saudi contracting sector, and Muqawil (muqawil.org) is its membership and projects platform, which Manbar News reported SCA relaunched in August 2022. Argaam reported in February 2018 that Saudi Arabia ordered firms to join the authority before bidding for tenders. An Arab News report of July 2026 put SCA's registered contractors at about 117,000 and described its Irtaqa qualification pathway for small contractors, the Maamar platform, model contracts and training programmes. SCA also publishes monthly figures on awarded contracting projects.
Saudi Arabia-specific note
For Saudi contractors, SCA membership sits next to an Etimad business account on the checklist for public work: Argaam reported in 2018 that firms must join the authority before bidding for tenders.
Pros
- + Membership reported as a condition for bidding on tenders since 2018
- + Irtaqa pathway to qualify small contractors for larger work
- + Model contracts, training and qualification programmes
- + Monthly data on awarded projects by sector and region
Cons
- − Another membership to keep current and renew when it expires
- − Without membership, tender bids can be blocked (per the 2018 order)
- − Fee schedule not confirmed; check muqawil.org before budgeting
Typical Saudi Arabia pricing
Membership fees could not be confirmed: sca.sa and muqawil.org refused automated access this run. Argaam reported in January 2022 that SCA granted free membership to small and micro enterprises.
Why this matters for Saudi Arabia trades
The Engineering Professions Practice Law requires Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) accreditation before anyone practises engineering, with fines of up to SAR 1 million. Under the Contractor Classification Law, government bodies may not accept a bid for a project subject to classification unless the contractor is classified in its field, activity and grade; classification requests and building permits are filed on Balady, where permit plans are checked against the Saudi Building Code and latent defects insurance is a required document. ZATCA’s Phase 2 requires businesses called in by turnover wave to connect their invoicing software to the Fatoora platform (EY reports that Wave 25 reaches taxable turnover above SAR 187,500 and that businesses in it should prepare to comply with Phase 2 starting from 1 February 2027). Nitaqat places each entity in one of five Saudization ranges that decide access to services such as new expatriate visas and work permits, and Argaam reported in 2018 that firms must join the Saudi Contractors Authority before bidding for tenders.
Saudi construction and trades software selection is shaped by ZATCA’s mandatory e-invoicing regime (Phase 2 integration with the Fatoora platform, rolled out in turnover waves), contractor classification by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing for public projects, building permits on Balady checked against the mandatory Saudi Building Code, Saudization ranges under Nitaqat tracked on Qiwa, and government tenders run on Etimad. Several vendors listed here offer Arabic and English interfaces, and some publish SAR prices.
Frequently asked
Is Saudi Contractors Authority (Muqawil) a good fit for Saudi Arabia trades?
The Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) is the public authority for the Saudi contracting sector, and Muqawil (muqawil.org) is its membership and projects platform, which Manbar News reported SCA relaunched in August 2022. Argaam reported in February 2018 that Saudi Arabia ordered firms to join the authority before bidding for tenders. An Arab News report of July 2026 put SCA's registered contractors at about 117,000 and described its Irtaqa qualification pathway for small contractors, the Maamar platform, model contracts and training programmes. SCA also publishes monthly figures on awarded contracting projects. For Saudi contractors, SCA membership sits next to an Etimad business account on the checklist for public work: Argaam reported in 2018 that firms must join the authority before bidding for tenders.
What does Saudi Contractors Authority (Muqawil) cost in Saudi Arabia?
Membership fees could not be confirmed: sca.sa and muqawil.org refused automated access this run. Argaam reported in January 2022 that SCA granted free membership to small and micro enterprises. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Saudi Arabia pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other Saudi Arabia vendors
Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE)
Required certification
Contractor Classification (MOMAH)
Required certification
Balady Platform
Required certification
Saudi Building Code (SBC)
Required certification
ZATCA E-Invoicing (Fatoora)
Required certification
Qiwa & Nitaqat (Saudization)
Required certification