Can expats buy property in Saudi Arabia in 2026, and where?

Yes: since 22 January 2026 the non-Saudi real estate ownership law lets residents, non-residents and non-Saudi companies own property, within geographic zones published by the Real Estate General Authority (REGA).

What REGA has announced

• The law came into force on Thursday 22 January 2026 (3 Sha'ban 1447).
• It covers non-Saudis legally residing in the Kingdom, non-residents, and non-Saudi companies and entities.
• Ownership in Riyadh and Jeddah, and in Makkah and Madinah, follows a geographic zones document published on REGA's Saudi Properties portal.
• In Makkah and Madinah, ownership is limited to Saudi companies and Muslim individuals from inside and outside the Kingdom.

How to start

1. Check the zones on the Saudi Properties portal before you shortlist anything.
2. Apply through the Saudi Properties portal, which REGA names as the platform for non-Saudi ownership.
3. Ask REGA about any fees or taxes for your purchase, as the ownership pages don't list them. The Saudi Properties contact number is 920017183.
4. Deal through a licensed broker and check the licence with REGA's broker inquiry service.

Official sources

• REGA: Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership in Saudi Arabia
• REGA: Announcement that the non-Saudi real estate ownership law is in force (22 January 2026)
• Saudi Properties portal (REGA): ownership zones
• REGA: Real estate broker inquiry (FAL)

On Saudi Expats: compare areas in Riyadh and Jeddah before you decide.

Checked September 2026. The zones and procedures are new and may be updated, so confirm on the portal before committing money.

Have you started buying under the new law? Share your experience below: how did the application go?