Saudi Arabia Enforces New Property Ownership Rules for Foreigners

This new legislation on real estate ownership by non Saudis is formally established in Saudi Arabia, which means that as of January 2026, the Kingdom will significantly change its investment landscape. This new law is an upgrade to the limiting 2000 system, where foreign citizens and legal entities (non-resident and resident) are allowed to purchase property rights within specified zones. The law targets the expansion of the real estate industry contribution to the economy under the vision 2030 under the Real Estate General Authority (REGA). There is now a digital system of processing requests of applicants through the single portal called the Saudi Properties and this ensures there is transparency and efficiency in registering property titles. for more news updates, visit our Gulf Independent News page.

Eligibility Under Saudi Arabia New Property Ownership Rules

The new laws are seen to substantially expand membership of those who can invest. Unlike previous limitations, the Saudi Arabia new property ownership rules permit foreign companies and non-resident individuals to own real estate, subject to approval. A council of ministers will publish a document known as Geographic Scope Document that defines the permissible areas in such major cities as Riyadh and Jeddah. Although there is limited ownership to holy cities Makkah and Madinah by Muslims as a leasehold or usufruct, other areas are now open to full freehold ownership provided that the ownership is registered properly in the Real Estate Registry.

Read more: Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate Boom: Where the Smart Money Is Moving in 2025

Foreign Real Estate Investment KSA Opportunities

To streamline foreign real estate investment KSA, the government has introduced a 5% transfer fee on property disposals by non-Saudis. This fee substitutes previous and more complicated taxation models. Its platform, Saudi Properties is the core centre, where investors can check eligibility and make transactions without the physical presence. This reform will bring in a lot of international capital, which will result in a strong market of international customers who want to get a long-term investment in the development of the Kingdom in housing and commercial markets.

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