How to register as a supplier on Etimad

Etimad is the Saudi Ministry of Finance platform where government entities publish tenders and suppliers buy tender documents and submit bids. Here is what registration involves, based on Etimad’s own help pages and its private-sector user manual.

Checked against official sources on 17 Oct 2026.

The short version

1. Saudi company with a commercial registration (CR): sign in to Etimad through the Business option, using Nafath the first time. You then receive a username and password by SMS.
2. Foreign company without a Saudi CR: use New Account for No CR entities of the type foreign supplier on the Etimad sign-in page, fill in the details, then sign in through Business.
3. Everyone: confirm your email from the verification link, then subscribe to the annual tenders and procurement service and pay the subscription fee before you can take part in tenders.

Before you start

• Who signs in. Private-sector users sign in through the “Etimad Business” icon with the account of the CR owner or a delegate from the Saudi Business Center, or through Nafath.
• Extra users. A company can delegate several users to Etimad through the Saudi Business Center portal (business.sa).
• One CR, one subscription. An Etimad subscription cannot be moved from one CR to another, even when both belong to the same owner. Register under the entity that will actually bid.
• An email address and mobile number you control. Etimad sends the username and password by SMS and the email verification link by email.

Step by step: Saudi companies (with a CR)

1. Go to the Etimad sign-in page (login.etimad.sa) and choose Business.
2. Users inside Saudi Arabia sign in for the first time through Nafath (National Single Sign-On). If you cannot pick the number in the Nafath app, Etimad says you can sign in with biometrics instead.
3. Confirm your contact details. Etimad then sends an SMS with your username and password.
4. Open the verification link Etimad emails to your registered address to confirm your email.
5. Open the tenders and procurement service and the annual subscription: read the introduction, accept the terms and conditions, click Join Now, then Subscribe.
6. A payment number for the subscription appears, and Etimad sends it by SMS and email. Pay the bill, or pay online by card. The fee is shown on the platform, so check it there rather than relying on figures quoted elsewhere.

Step by step: foreign suppliers (no Saudi CR)

1. On the Etimad sign-in page, choose New Account for No CR entities of the type foreign supplier.
2. Fill in the requested company details.
3. After the account is created, sign in through the Business option. Users outside Saudi Arabia sign in with their username and password; Etimad confirms the platform can be used from abroad.
4. Confirm your email from the verification link, then subscribe to the tenders and procurement service as above.

Regional headquarters: Etimad states that foreign companies do not need a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia to use the platform in general, but some services on the platform do require one. Check each tender’s conditions.

After registration: taking part in a tender

• Find tenders. In the tenders service, All Tenders lists tenders published to suppliers, and All Ads shows upcoming and finished tender announcements.
• Buy the conditions brochure. A fee is paid to download a tender’s brochure (the bidding requirements) and to submit an offer.
• Submit the offer. Attach a technical offer file and a financial offer file and fill in the bill of quantities, then send the offer.
• Ask questions. Inquiries go to the buying entity through Communication Requests on the tender.
• Bid together. The solidarity service lets a lead supplier invite other suppliers to bid jointly; invited suppliers accept the invitation to see the tender details.
• Qualification. Some tenders use pre-qualification (before the competition is launched) or post-qualification (after offers are submitted). Etimad’s manual says pre-qualification is effective for one year.
• Invitations. For limited tenders and direct purchases, suppliers accept the invitation (and pay the service fee) to see the details.

Practical tips

• Register well before a deadline you care about: verification, delegation and payment each take a step of their own.
• Delegate at least two people through the Saudi Business Center so bids don’t depend on one login.
• Read each conditions brochure in full. Eligibility requirements are set per tender, not by registration alone.