A newly launched government portal now lets non-Saudis pursue real estate ownership across much of the Kingdom, marking one of the clearest signs yet that Saudi authorities intend to widen overseas participation in the local property market.
The Real Estate General Authority confirmed that intake has begun on the Saudi Properties portal, the official channel tied to the Foreign Real Estate Ownership Law that took effect in January 2026. Through the site, applicants based in the country or abroad can review eligibility conditions, browse approved property opportunities, file applications and monitor their status without handling the process in person.
How an applicant proceeds depends on their circumstances. Foreign residents already living in Saudi Arabia can submit a request directly using their residency number, with eligibility and processing handled through an automated digital workflow. Those applying from outside the country face an added step: they must secure a digital identity card from a Saudi diplomatic mission abroad before lodging an application online. Foreign firms and entities that have no footprint in the Kingdom are required to register with the Ministry of Investment via the Invest Saudi platform and obtain a national unified number before completing ownership procedures electronically.
The two Holy Cities sit under tighter conditions. In Makkah and Madinah, ownership stays restricted to Saudi companies and to Muslim individuals, whether they reside inside or outside the Kingdom.
REGA framed the portal as a move toward greater transparency, arguing that tying property opportunities to official data sources and defined regulatory routes will lift market credibility and encourage stronger urban development. Outside those two cities, the framework permits non-Saudi individuals, companies and entities to hold property in multiple regions, provided they fall within the approved geographic scope and regulatory rules.
