Buying property in Saudi Arabia: what a foreigner is allowed to do
On 21 January 2026 Saudi Arabia opened property ownership to foreigners. Not everywhere, and not to everyone in the same way. This page tells you where you stand in about four minutes, then points you at the page that answers your next question.
The short answer
- If you live outside Saudi Arabia, you can buy — but only inside an approved zone.
- If you live here on a valid iqama, you can buy one home for yourself, with approval from the Ministry of Interior.
- If you hold a GCC passport, the law treats you the same as a Saudi citizen.
Everything below is the detail behind those three lines.
Can you buy? Find yourself in this list
| You are | What you may buy | Where | Approval you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living outside the Kingdom | Residential, commercial, or a share in a project | Approved zones only | Registration on the Saudi Properties portal |
| Resident on a valid iqama | One home for you and your family to live in | Most cities, including Al Khobar and Dammam | Ministry of Interior approval |
| GCC passport holder | The same as a Saudi citizen | Anywhere a Saudi may buy | Nothing extra |
| Premium Residency holder | Wider rights than an ordinary resident | Broader, but Makkah and Madinah stay restricted | Held under your Premium Residency |
| A foreign company | Property for the licensed activity it runs here | Approved zones, and where its licence allows | MISA licence, then the usual registration |
Where you can buy
The approved zones are published by the Real Estate General Authority on the Saudi Properties portal, with a map. As things stand in September 2026 they are:
- Riyadh
- Nine areas — Diriyah Gate, King Abdullah Financial District, King Salman Park, New Murabba, Qiddiya, Sedra, Sports Boulevard and Arts District, King Salman International Airport, and the transit-oriented sites.
- Jeddah
- Jeddah Central and Al Arous, plus 55 numbered areas spread across the governorate — the widest opening in the Kingdom.
- AlUla
- Seventeen zones across the governorate, open to all foreign buyers.
- The giga-projects
- NEOM, Amaala and the Red Sea Project, all in Tabuk. No residency needed.
- Economic zones
- Ras Al-Khair in the Eastern Province, Jazan, and King Abdullah Economic City.
- Makkah and Madinah
- Twelve zones in Makkah and around ten in Madinah, open to Muslim buyers only, since 21 January 2026.
Dammam, Al Khobar and Dhahran are not on that list. If you are buying from outside the Kingdom, you cannot buy there yet — and any agent who tells you otherwise is either wrong or hoping you will not check. Ras Al-Khair, in the same province, is open.
The list grows. REGA has said ownership will be opened in more cities gradually. We watch the portal and tell our clients when a zone they asked about opens.
What it costs on top of the price
| What | How much | Who normally pays |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate transaction tax | 5% of the price | Usually the seller, but negotiable — put it in writing |
| Deed transfer | around SAR 1,600 – 2,150 | Buyer |
| Brokerage | up to 2.5% | Capped by regulation; ours is agreed before you sign |
| Valuation | varies by property | Buyer, and required if you are heading for Premium Residency |
| Annual property tax | none | There is no yearly property tax in Saudi Arabia |
| Disposal fee when a non-Saudi sells | up to 5% may apply | Confirm the current figure with us before you commit |
How a purchase actually works
- Check the zone
Before anything else, confirm on the Saudi Properties portal that a person in your situation may own at that address.
- Read the deed
We pull the deed electronically and check for a mortgage, a dispute, or a restriction. This happens before any money moves.
- Agree the terms
Price and conditions in writing, including who pays the 5% transaction tax.
- Security approval
Obtained through Absher where your case needs it.
- Register as a non-Saudi buyer
On the Saudi Properties portal, if that is your situation.
- Pay the transaction tax
The transfer cannot complete without proof of payment.
- Transfer the deed
Electronically through Najiz, with the funds held in the real estate wallet rather than paid hand to hand.
- Sign with Nafath
The national identity service confirms it is really you.
- Receive the new deed
In your name, usually within about a day of signing.
Paying for it from abroad
Most overseas buyers do not use a Saudi mortgage. Banks here lend against a salary paid into a Saudi account, which a non-resident does not have. A few private banks will lend against full cash collateral, which defeats the point.
So the two normal routes are cash, or a developer’s instalment plan on an off-plan unit — typically 10–20% down and the rest spread across construction, usually with no interest added.
The riyal is pegged to the US dollar, so if you think in dollars your purchase price does not move while you decide. If the numbers are what you are weighing up, read what Saudi property actually returns.
If residency is the reason you are buying
A built residential property worth SAR 4 million or more, owned outright with no mortgage, can support an application for Premium Residency under the Real Estate Owner route. Land does not count. An off-plan unit does not count until it is finished and registered in your name.
We are a brokerage, not an immigration agent. What we do is make sure the property itself will stand up: the right zone, a TAQEEM valuation that supports the figure, a clean deed with no mortgage on it. Your licensed advisor files the application. We would rather say that plainly than let you find out later.
Where we work
One office, in Dammam, working across the Kingdom. Prices, tenant demand and who may buy, city by city: where we work.
What we do, and what we charge
We find the property, check the zone, read the deed before you pay anything, negotiate, and take you through the transfer at Najiz. After you own it, we can let it and manage it for you. Brokerage in Saudi Arabia is capped at 2.5% and we tell you our fee before you sign anything, not after.
If you already know roughly what you want, start with what is on the market.
Questions people ask
Can a foreigner buy property in Saudi Arabia in 2026?
Yes. Since 21 January 2026 non-Saudis can own property, but only inside zones approved by the Real Estate General Authority. Residents on a valid iqama have a separate, older route for one personal home.
Can I buy a house in Al Khobar or Dammam from abroad?
Not at the moment. The Eastern Province cities are not among the approved zones, apart from Ras Al-Khair. If you live in the Kingdom on an iqama, or hold a GCC passport, you can still buy there.
How much tax do I pay when I buy?
A 5% real estate transaction tax applies to the sale. It is usually paid by the seller, but who pays is negotiable and should be written into the contract. There is no annual property tax.
Do I need to be in Saudi Arabia to complete the purchase?
Not for every step. Much of it runs through Najiz and Nafath. A properly attested power of attorney lets us act for you on the parts that need someone present.
Does buying property give me residency?
Not by itself. A built, mortgage-free residential property valued at SAR 4 million or more can support a Premium Residency application under the Real Estate Owner route, which is a separate application to a separate authority.