Saudi real estate regulation updates
A newest-first list of Saudi real estate laws and decisions that affect landlords, tenants and real estate offices, with each instrument’s number, date and official source. Updated whenever something changes.
In force
The new Execution Law takes effect
The new Execution Law applies 180 days after its publication on 1 May 2026 (Article 65), replacing the 1433H Execution Law. It matters to landlords and tenants because a lease documented on Ejar is enforced at the Execution Court for unpaid rent and eviction.
Royal Decree M/237 dated 3/11/1447H and Council of Ministers Decision No. 746 dated 26/10/1447H · Authority: Ministry of Justice (Enforcement Courts) · Source: هيئة الخبراء بمجلس الوزراء | BOE
Related terms: Execution Court، Eviction Procedure
In force
Property transactions in Hail and nine Eastern Province cities move exclusively to the Real Estate Registry
From 22 September 2026, property transactions in the Hail region and in Dammam, Khobar, Qatif, Jubail, Dhahran and four other Eastern Province cities and governorates, including ownership transfers, subdivision, sorting, merging, mortgages and first registration of paper deeds, go only through the Real Estate Registry. This affects owners, buyers and brokers there.
Joint announcement by REGA and the Ministry of Justice dated 15 September 2026 under the Real Estate Registration Law · Authority: Real Estate General Authority (REGA) and Ministry of Justice · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Real Estate Registry، Real Property Registration، Ownership Transfer
Issued
No transfer of white-land ownership is documented until its fees are paid
The Council of Ministers decided that no real estate transaction transferring ownership of land subject to the White Land and Vacant Property Fees Law is documented until payment of the fees due on it is verified, and that transactions not transferring ownership are documented in a way that preserves the state’s right to collect the fees without affecting the land’s development, with the ministerial committee setting the controls. The text covers land only and does not mention vacant buildings.
Council of Ministers Resolution 263 dated 12/3/1448H (25 August 2026), published in Umm Al-Qura on 4 September 2026 · Authority: Council of Ministers and Ministry of Municipalities and Housing · Source: جريدة أم القرى | Umm Al-Qura
Related terms: Vacant Land
Announced
Cabinet approves moving real estate documentation services from the Ministry of Justice to REGA
The Council of Ministers approved transferring the digital and operational services tied to real estate documentation from the Ministry of Justice to REGA, to be implemented under a transition plan that keeps services running. It affects owners, buyers and brokers who document property transactions.
Council of Ministers approval, announced by REGA on 28 July 2026 · Authority: Council of Ministers; implemented by REGA in coordination with the Ministry of Justice · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Real Estate General Authority (REGA)، Real Estate Registry
Issued
Geographic zones and Implementing Regulation approved for the Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law
The Council of Ministers approved the geographic zones and the Implementing Regulation of the updated Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law, which set where ownership is allowed, the types of property rights, percentages, usufruct periods and procedures through the Saudi Properties portal linked to the Real Estate Registry. It matters to non-Saudi investors and residents, developers and brokers.
Council of Ministers approval, announced by REGA on 23 June 2026, under the law issued by Royal Decree M/14 dated 19/1/1447H · Authority: Council of Ministers and Real Estate General Authority (REGA) · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Foreign Ownership، Real Estate General Authority (REGA)
Announced
Property transactions in Riyadh restricted to the Real Estate Registry
After real property registration was completed within Riyadh’s urban boundary, REGA and the Ministry of Justice announced that property transactions in the city, including ownership transfers, subdivision, merging, unit sorting, deed updates and mortgages, go only through the Real Estate Registry. REGA urged Riyadh owners to register their properties on the registry platform.
Joint announcement by REGA and the Ministry of Justice under the Real Estate Registration Law · Authority: Real Estate General Authority (REGA) and Ministry of Justice · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Real Estate Registry، Real Property Registration، Title Deed
Issued
Implementing Regulation for vacant property fees published
A building within the urban boundary counts as vacant if unused for six months, continuous or not, during the reference year; in cities and zones the minister announces, it faces an annual fee based on fair rent of up to 5% of the building’s value, payable within six months of the invoice. This affects owners of unused buildings.
Implementing Regulation for Vacant Property Fees, published in Umm Al-Qura on 28/11/1447H under the White Land and Vacant Property Fees Law · Authority: Ministry of Municipalities and Housing · Source: جريدة أم القرى | Umm Al-Qura
Issued
REGA Real Estate Marketing and Advertising Regulation
Every property ad now needs a separate ad licence requested by a licensed broker or real estate firm, with eight mandatory details such as the property description, location, licence number and expiry date (a QR code may replace them), and online property platforms have 15 obligations, including blocking unlicensed ads. It replaces the 1442H advertising rules and platform licensing criteria.
REGA Board of Directors decision under the Real Estate Brokerage Law issued by Royal Decree M/130 dated 30/11/1443H · Authority: Real Estate General Authority (REGA) · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Real Estate Marketing، Fal License، Real Estate Broker، Real Estate Platforms
Issued
New Enforcement (Execution) Law issued
It replaces the 1433H Execution Law and takes effect 180 days after its 1 May 2026 publication, on 28 October 2026. Key rules include a five-working-day deadline, travel bans only at the creditor’s request capped at six years, daily fines, a ten-year limit from the due date and mandatory registration of bills of exchange and promissory notes, affecting landlords, tenants and any creditor or debtor.
Royal Decree M/237 dated 3/11/1447H and Council of Ministers Decision No. 746 dated 26/10/1447H · Authority: Ministry of Justice (Enforcement Courts) · Source: هيئة الخبراء بمجلس الوزراء | BOE
Related terms: Execution Court، Unified Lease Contract، Eviction Procedure، Statute of Limitations، Credit Bureau (Simah)
In force
Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law takes effect
The law lets non-Saudi individuals and companies own property and acquire real rights within designated geographic zones, limits individual ownership in Makkah and Madinah to Muslims, allows a legal resident to own one home outside those zones except in the two holy cities, and sets a fee of up to 5% of the transaction value, which the implementing regulation published on 3 July 2026 later set at 2% in Riyadh city, Makkah city, Madinah city and Jeddah Governorate and 0% elsewhere. Applications go through the Saudi Properties portal.
Royal Decree M/14 dated 19/1/1447H, in force from 3/8/1447H · Authority: Real Estate General Authority (REGA) · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Foreign Ownership، Real Estate General Authority (REGA)
Issued
365-day non-renewal notice for owner occupancy in model residential leases
REGA extended the landlord’s non-renewal notice in model residential lease contracts to at least 365 days before the lease ends when the landlord wants the unit back for personal use or for a first-degree relative, instead of the general 60-day period. It affects landlords planning to reclaim residential units.
REGA decision dated 2/7/1447H under paragraph (2) of Clause Eighth of the regulatory provisions issued by Royal Decree M/73 · Authority: Real Estate General Authority (REGA) · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Renewal Notice، Contract Renewal، Notice Period
Issued
Violations schedule for the landlord-tenant regulatory provisions
REGA issued the graded schedule of violations and penalties, covering rent increases in breach of the rules, raising a vacant unit’s rent above its last lease, failing to register a lease on Ejar or to request its registration, and a Riyadh landlord refusing renewal outside the permitted cases. Fines can reach 12 months’ rent.
Schedule issued by REGA under Clause Ninth of the regulatory provisions issued by Royal Decree M/73 · Authority: Real Estate General Authority (REGA) · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Rent Increase، Ejar Platform، Real Estate General Authority (REGA)
Issued
Cabinet amends the Real Estate Registration Law
The amendments set the period for acquiring absolute evidentiary force at “no more than one year” from publication of the lists, as fixed in each area’s announcement, and stop publishing owners’ personal data in those lists; they take effect after publication in the Official Gazette. They matter to owners in areas undergoing registration.
Council of Ministers approval at its session of 4/6/1447H (25 November 2025) · Authority: Council of Ministers and Real Estate General Authority (REGA) · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Real Property Registration، Real Estate Registry
In force
Landlord-tenant regulatory provisions and the Riyadh rent freeze
Total rent under existing and new residential and commercial leases within Riyadh’s urban boundary is frozen for five years from 25 September 2025, and Riyadh landlords may refuse renewal only in set cases. Across the Kingdom, leases renew automatically unless either party gives at least 60 days’ notice, landlords must apply to register any unregistered lease on Ejar, and fines reach 12 months’ rent.
Royal Decree M/73 dated 2/4/1447H and Council of Ministers Decision No. 226 dated 24/3/1447H · Authority: Real Estate General Authority (REGA) · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Rent Increase، Contract Renewal، Renewal Notice، Ejar Platform
Issued
White land fee Implementing Regulation published
The regulation sorts white land in cities subject to the fee into five tiers by development priority, with annual fees of 10%, 7.5%, 5% and 2.5% of value and a fifth tier with no fee, and applies only where the land, or an owner’s combined land in the city, is at least 5,000 square metres. It affects owners of undeveloped land.
Implementing Regulation for White Land Fees, published in Umm Al-Qura on 28/2/1447H · Authority: Ministry of Municipalities and Housing · Source: جريدة أم القرى | Umm Al-Qura
Related terms: Vacant Land
Issued
White Land Fees Law amended to add vacant property fees
The law was renamed the White Land and Vacant Property Fees Law, the annual white land fee was raised to up to 10% of land value with a 5,000 square metre minimum area, and an annual vacant property fee was added based on fair rent of up to 5% of the property’s value, which the Council of Ministers may raise to 10%. It affects owners of unused land and buildings.
Royal Decree M/244 dated 7/11/1446H · Authority: Ministry of Municipalities and Housing · Source: هيئة الخبراء بمجلس الوزراء | BOE
Related terms: Vacant Land
In force
Real Estate Transaction Tax Law takes effect
The law replaced the regulation in force since 1442H while keeping the Real Estate Transaction Tax at 5%, and the decree gave one Hijri year from its entry into force to document undocumented property transactions made before 14/2/1442H. It concerns sellers, buyers, brokers and property-holding companies.
Royal Decree M/84 dated 19/3/1446H and the Implementing Regulation approved by ZATCA Board resolution dated 24/9/1446H · Authority: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) · Source: هيئة الزكاة والضريبة والجمارك | ZATCA
Related terms: Real Estate Transaction Tax (RETT)، ZATCA
Announced
Crown Prince directives to rebalance Riyadh’s real estate market
The directives lifted the freeze on sales, subdivision and building permits for 81.48 square kilometres of land in north Riyadh and called for 10,000 to 40,000 developed residential plots a year for five years at no more than SAR 1,500 per square metre for eligible citizens. They also ordered white land fee amendments within 60 days and landlord-tenant rules within 90 days.
Directive of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister dated 29/9/1446H (29 March 2025) · Authority: Crown Prince and Prime Minister; Royal Commission for Riyadh City · Source: جريدة أم القرى | Umm Al-Qura
Related terms: Vacant Land، Land Plot، Affordable Housing
In force
Rent for new residential leases payable only through Ejar digital channels
From 15 January 2024, no proof of rent payment outside Ejar’s digital channels (mada, and SADAD with biller number 153) is recognised for new residential leases; payments settle automatically into the landlord’s bank account registered in the lease, and commercial leases are excluded. It affects tenants, landlords and property management offices.
REGA announcement dated 2 January 2024, applying Council of Ministers Decision No. 131 · Authority: Real Estate General Authority (REGA), Ejar network · Source: الهيئة العامة للعقار | REGA
Related terms: Electronic Payment، Rent Payment، Ejar Platform، Rental Receipt
For information only, not legal advice; the official text of each law is the reference.