Real Estate and Property in Saudi Arabia

Real Estate and Property in Saudi Arabia

Saudi matters are handled in cooperation with the firm's announced partner office in the Kingdom. The firm does not itself hold a Saudi law practice license, and local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter. Saudi Arabia replaced its 2000 foreign-ownership law with the Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis (Royal Decree No. M/14, July 2025), in force since 22 January 2026 under the Real Estate General Authority (REGA). The law has 15 articles, an implementing regulation and a geographical scope document that sets where non-Saudis may own.

Who may own, where, and how to apply

The law covers non-Saudi individuals, non-Saudi companies and entities, and Saudi companies with non-Saudi shareholders. Ownership is allowed only within the areas in the geographical scope document, which includes defined areas in Riyadh and Jeddah; in Makkah and Madinah it is limited to Muslim individuals and Saudi companies. Applications run through the REGA "Saudi Properties" portal: residents apply with their Iqama number, non-residents start at a Saudi embassy abroad to obtain a digital identity, and non-Saudi entities with no presence in the Kingdom first register with the Ministry of Investment on Invest Saudi and obtain a Unified Number (700).

Registry status, other rights and leases

The property must be registered in kind in the Real Estate Registry. The law allows ownership and other rights in rem, such as usufruct, within the limits the scope document sets. Leases are a separate track: under Council of Ministers Resolution No. 292 (1438 AH), a lease not registered on the Ejar network does not produce administrative or judicial effects. We check registry status, the permitted zone and right, the applicant category and the lease position, and coordinate the file with our partner office. For the wider practice, see General Commercial & Corporate; to scope a specific transaction, contact our team.

MENA coordination

The firm was founded in Kuwait in 1986 and has a branch in Cairo. It covers MENA matters in cooperation with partner offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, and partner offices in Turkey and the United States. Those partner offices are not branches owned by the firm; local licensing and advice are assessed in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is general information, not advice for a particular entity or transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners buy property in Saudi Arabia?

Yes, under the Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis (Royal Decree No. M/14), in force since 22 January 2026 - but only within the areas set in the geographical scope document, and through the "Saudi Properties" portal.

Who can own property in Makkah and Madinah?

REGA states that ownership in the two holy cities is limited to Muslim individuals and Saudi companies, whether the individuals live in the Kingdom or abroad.

Who handles Saudi property matters at the firm?

Saudi matters are handled in cooperation with the firm's announced partner office in the Kingdom. The firm does not itself hold a Saudi law practice license, and local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter.

Other markets

Company Formation in Saudi Arabia · Real Estate and Property in Egypt · Real Estate and Property in the UAE · Real Estate and Property in Qatar · Real Estate and Property in Oman · Real Estate and Property in Bahrain