After buying the plot and approving the drawings, choosing the contractor is the biggest decision you will make. The contractor handles your foundations, your concrete and everything that will be covered and never seen again, and a poor choice is hard to undo once work has started and payments have gone out. This guide covers how to verify a contractor in Riyadh: which registrations to look for and how to check them, what to look at in their work and team, and what the written contract must say.
Why licensing matters
A registered contractor is a known entity with an address and legal responsibility, someone you can hold to account. Working with an unregistered builder or an informal subcontractor without a proper contract means there may be nobody to turn to if a defect appears in the concrete or the job stops halfway.
A licence does not guarantee good workmanship, but it is the minimum starting point. The real questions come next: has this contractor built similar projects, is there real supervision on site, will they give you an itemised proposal, and will they sign a written contract that protects both sides?
Step 1: Check the Saudi Contractors Authority
The Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) regulates the contracting sector in the Kingdom and runs an online platform called Muqawil at muqawil.org, where you can look up a company and confirm its membership.
In practice:
- Ask the contractor for their SCA membership number, or search by company name.
- Check that the name on the platform is exactly the name on the proposal and the contract.
- Look at the registered activity and whether it matches your project, such as residential buildings.
- Save a screenshot of the result with your project documents.
The platform's layout and services may change over time, so rely on the official platform itself, not on a screenshot someone sends you.
Step 2: Chamber membership and commercial registration
Membership of a chamber of commerce, such as the Riyadh Chamber, is another sign that the business is properly established. Ask for copies of the membership certificate and the commercial registration and check that:
- The company name and registration number match across all documents.
- The registered activity covers general contracting or building.
- The documents are current, not expired.
Step 3: VAT registration
A VAT-registered contractor issues tax invoices showing their VAT number, so every payment is documented. Ask for the number, make sure it appears on the proposal and invoices, and verify it through the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority's services if you wish.
Also ask plainly whether the proposal includes VAT. That one question avoids confusion at the first invoice and keeps your comparison between contractors fair.
Step 4: Past work and the team
Documents tell you who the contractor is; sites tell you how they work.
Visit a live site if you can
A project under construction reveals more than any photo: site tidiness, how the steel is fixed, whether columns are plumb, safety equipment, and whether a supervisor or engineer is actually there.
Ask for progress photos, not just finished ones
Finished photos always look good. Photos of reinforcement before the pour, footing waterproofing and blinding concrete show the work that gets covered, which is what really decides the quality of a building.
Ask who will be on site
Who is there every day? Does an engineer check the steel before each pour? Who is the responsible supervisor? A good contractor answers clearly.
Step 5: A written, itemised contract
Never start on a verbal agreement or a one-page quote. A written contract protects you and the contractor, because it records exactly what you agreed.
| Contract item | What it should make clear |
|---|---|
| Parties | Company name, CR number, SCA membership number, VAT number |
| Scope | Itemised work with quantities, and explicit exclusions |
| Specification | Materials per the drawings; block, insulation and finishing types |
| Schedule | Duration of each stage and of the project |
| Payments | Tied to completed, inspectable stages |
| Variations | Approved and priced in writing before the work |
| Handover | How each stage is accepted and the final handover record |
| Drawings | Compliance with approved drawings and the Saudi Building Code |
If you have not yet decided between a structure-only contract and a full build, read skeleton vs turnkey before requesting proposals.
Warning signs
- Reluctance to share an SCA membership or VAT number, or numbers that do not match the company name.
- A one-line quote with a lump sum and no items or specification.
- A large upfront payment before any work, or payments tied to dates rather than stages.
- Playing down the drawings or suggesting "shortcuts" in steel or waterproofing.
- Avoiding a written contract in favour of "trust".
- No visible supervision; the site is run by phone.
One sign alone does not prove a contractor is bad, but it is reason enough to ask more questions. When you compare the shortlist, put each proposal into one table with the same items, look for what is missing, and compare specifications rather than headings. Our guide to what decides construction cost in Riyadh goes into this in detail.
Marafi: our details are open to check
Marafi Al Tamyeez General Contracting is a Saudi establishment in Al Aqeeq, Riyadh, registered with the Saudi Contractors Authority under membership number 2119211993, a member of the Riyadh Chamber and VAT registered. You can see our licence details on the About page and verify them yourself on Muqawil.
On every project we provide an itemised proposal by stage, a clear written contract and full adherence to the engineering drawings. A full team of labourers, technicians, supervisors and engineers works on our sites with modern equipment and high safety standards, and owners receive photo updates at each stage. See Villa Construction, Structural Skeleton Works and our stages in photos on How we build.
Checklist before you sign
- SCA membership, verified on Muqawil.
- Current commercial registration and chamber membership under the same name.
- VAT number on the proposal and invoices, and clarity on whether VAT is included.
- A live site visit or genuine progress photos.
- A named supervisor and engineer.
- A written, itemised contract with specification, schedule and stage-based payments.
Looking for a contractor for your villa in Riyadh? Contact us to arrange a site visit, and we will send an itemised proposal along with our company documents so you can verify them before committing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check that a contractor is registered with the Saudi Contractors Authority?
Search for the company name or membership number on the authority's Muqawil platform (muqawil.org) and confirm the name and activity match the proposal and the commercial registration.
Is a commercial registration enough?
It is a first step. Also check Saudi Contractors Authority membership, chamber of commerce membership and VAT registration, then look at past work and the proposed contract.
What should a construction contract include?
Itemised scope with quantities, specifications, a schedule, payments tied to completed stages, how variations are approved, how work is handed over, and full company details.
Is the lowest quotation the best choice?
Not necessarily. Compare proposals with the same scope and specification and ask about every missing item, because a very low proposal often leaves out work that appears later.
