Buy Property in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Jeddah and the New Rules

Riyadh is the capital and the biggest market, with 12,555 listings, a median of €297,992 and €1,475 per m². Jeddah has 4,269 listings at a median of €159,723 (about €977 per m²) and is the Red Sea commercial hub. Dammam (median €302,759) and Al Khobar (€233,625) serve the Eastern Province's energy and industrial economy; the area labelled Eastern in our data has a median of €162,107.

The holy cities, Makkah (2,598 listings, €181,179) and Madinah (609 listings, €226,474), show up in the listings, but foreign ownership there is specially restricted. In the south, Jazan has a median of €131,116 and offers the lowest prices among the cities we highlight.

Apartments are the biggest group with 14,927 listings, followed by villas at 8,852. Houses number 2,255, with land and commercial property much smaller. Homes are generally large, and 9,526 listings have five or more bedrooms, reflecting family-sized villas and compounds.

Check the title deed (sakk), building permits, and whether the building is subject to association fees. Off-plan projects should be registered with the regulator and funds held in escrow.

1. Confirm eligibility. Verify whether your nationality, residency status and the specific zone permit purchase.
2. Engage a Saudi lawyer. Local counsel validates title, permits and any restrictions.
3. Agree terms. Use a licensed broker and sign a sale agreement with a deposit.
4. Due diligence. Check the deed through the official real-estate registry, liens and municipal records.
5. Pay transaction tax. The Real Estate Transaction Tax is filed with the tax authority.
6. Transfer title. Ownership transfers through the notary system, with digital registry updates.

Our Saudi Arabia buying guide provides more detail.

Several transaction charges apply, and rules on taxing non-resident owners' income should be checked with an adviser.

Saudi banks and finance companies offer mortgages mainly to Saudi nationals and residents, with income documentation and, for foreigners, tighter terms. Cash purchases are common among overseas buyers, and developers may offer instalment plans. Loans are structured as Sharia-compliant products such as murabaha. See our Saudi Arabia financing guide and the mortgage calculator to estimate costs.

Saudi Arabia offers Premium Residency, a long-stay status with its own fees and criteria, and property ownership can feature in eligibility for some categories. Property purchase alone does not guarantee a visa. Check with a licensed adviser, because the rules are changing.

Pros

• Large, rapidly developing market with strong government investment
• Affordable pricing per m² compared with many Gulf peers
• Reform opening the market to non-Saudi buyers in designated zones
• Modern digital registry and e-notary services

Cons

• Regulations for foreigners are new and still developing
• Holy-city restrictions
• Fewer international mortgage options
• Limited resale data and price transparency

Read the Saudi Arabia market analysis for investor context, check cheap properties in Saudi Arabia, or contact our team.