Contracts & LeasingContract Fees
Synonyms: Ejar Fees، Contract Registration Fees، Documentation Fees
Last updated: 2026-10-05
Short Definition
Costs of authenticating contracts in Ejar, 125 SAR annually for residential and 200 SAR for the first commercial year then 400 SAR for each additional year, paid by lessor or real estate office.
🧮 Calculate it: Ejar Lease Fees CalculatorOverview
Contract fees under Saudi law are amounts required to document the rental contract in the Ejar platform and register it officially. Represented in a unified service fee imposed by the General Authority for Real Estate for issuing the electronic contract, with optional additional costs or by contract type.
Basic fees: SAR 125 per contract year for a residential lease, and SAR 200 for a commercial lease in its first year rising to SAR 400 for each additional year; the final amount is whatever the Ejar invoice shows. The fees are borne by the lessor and paid by the lessor or by the licensed brokerage office on the lessor’s behalf; the Ejar platform does not allow charging them to the lessee or splitting them with him.
Potential additional fees: renewal fees (same as a new contract fee) and the change-of-tenant service fee (SAR 250 residential, SAR 400 commercial). A mutual termination on Ejar has no fee, and Ejar does not allow the lease value to be changed after documentation, even if both parties agree. For commercial contracts, VAT is added on the rent itself (15%) borne by the lessee. No state registration fees (unlike UAE where it's 5%).
⚖️ Legal Basis
Ejar platform service fees are determined by a decision from the General Authority for Real Estate (REGA) and published on its official website. VAT on fees is applied per the VAT Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/113) of 1438 AH.
💡 Practical Example
A villa owner leases it for SAR 50,000 annually to a residential tenant. When documenting in Ejar: a fee of SAR 125 for the contract year, per the Ejar invoice. The lessor bears the fee, which is paid from the Ejar wallet before the contract is sent to both parties; the platform does not allow charging it to the tenant. After a year, at renewal: another SAR 125 for the new year. Had it been a commercial contract, the documentation fee would be SAR 200 for the first year and SAR 400 for each additional year, and if the lessor is VAT-registered, VAT on the rent itself (50,000 × 15% = SAR 7,500) would be added, borne by the commercial tenant.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✗Assuming the fees can be charged to or split with the lessee — the Ejar platform does not allow it; the lessor bears them, paid by the lessor or by the brokerage office on the lessor’s behalf.
- ✗Considering contract fees as part of rent — they are separate service fees not calculated on original rent.
- ✗Not calculating VAT when estimating contract budget — adds 15% to fees and to rent (for commercial).
- ✗Assuming the rent can be changed during a documented lease — Ejar does not allow the lease value to change after documentation; an agreed change applies at renewal.
- ✗Neglecting fee receipts — may be needed later for ZATCA purposes (for commercial contracts).
🌍 International Differences
In the UAE, contract registration fee is 5% of annual rent value (very high compared to Saudi Arabia). In Turkey, fees are limited if the contract is registered with municipality. In Egypt, registration is optional and fees are nominal. The Saudi advantage: low unified fee (SAR 125 per contract year for a residential lease) regardless of contract value, encouraging documentation of even small contracts.
FAQs
How much is the contract fee in Ejar?▾
SAR 125 per contract year for a residential lease; SAR 200 for a commercial lease in its first year and SAR 400 for each additional year. The fee does not depend on the rent amount.
Who pays the fees: lessor or lessee?▾
The lessor bears them; they are paid by the lessor or by the licensed brokerage office on the lessor’s behalf, and the Ejar platform does not allow charging them to the lessee or splitting them with him.
Are there fees for contract renewal?▾
Yes, renewal is charged the same per-year fee (SAR 125 per year for residential, SAR 400 per additional year for commercial). Auto-renewal applies the same fee.
Do I pay fees for contract amendment?▾
Ejar does not allow the lease value to be changed after documentation, even if both parties agree (as it told Sabq in November 2024), so rent, duration and clauses are changed at renewal, which carries the renewal fee. Specific mid-term changes have separate services, such as a change of tenant for SAR 250 (residential) or SAR 400 (commercial); a mutual termination has no fee.
For commercial contract, what are total fees?▾
1) Commercial documentation fee SAR 200 for the first year and SAR 400 for each additional year. 2) 15% VAT on the rent if the lessor is VAT-registered (paid by the tenant). 3) Fees for separate services if requested, such as a change of tenant (SAR 400 for commercial). No state registration fees.
