Non-Saudis will be permitted to buy real estate within specific areas—most notably in Riyadh and Jeddah.Agency
Dubai: Saudi Arabia will allow non-Saudis to own property in designated areas of the Kingdom beginning in January 2026, under a newly approved law that marks a major step in the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment and expand its real estate sector.
The announcement followed the Saudi Cabinet’s approval of the updated legislation, which was hailed by Majed Al Hogail, Minister of Municipal and Affairs and Housing and Chairman of the Real Estate General Authority. Al Hogail commended the law, calling it “an extension of the Kingdom’s comprehensive real estate reform agenda.”
“The updated law aims to increase real estate supply, attract global investors and developers, and further stimulate foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Saudi market,” Al Hogail said. He stressed that the law was crafted with safeguards to protect the interests of Saudi citizens, including strict procedural controls and designated geographic zones.
Non-Saudis will be permitted to buy real estate within specific areas—most notably in Riyadh and Jeddah—while ownership in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina will be subject to additional conditions and regulatory oversight.
Under the law, the Real Estate General Authority will be responsible for identifying the geographic areas where non-Saudis may own property and will issue the executive regulations governing the process. These regulations are expected to be released for public consultation via the “Istitlaa” platform within 180 days of the law’s publication in the official gazette. The regulations will outline the steps for foreign ownership, eligibility criteria, and enforcement mechanisms—balancing economic development with social considerations.
The new law aligns with other regulatory frameworks such as the Premium Residency Law and provisions governing property ownership by GCC citizens. It also reflects broader reforms under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to diversify the economy beyond oil and transform the Kingdom into a global investment destination.