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Ownership and residency checker

Where you can own, and what it brings.

A few questions on who is buying and where. The answer reads the 2026 law and its regulations: whether you can own, by which route, the fees, and the Premium Residency a home can bring.

Rules checked 29 October 2026 against the Law, its Implementing Regulations and REGA’s zone rules.

Question 1 of 6

Who is buying?

The 2026 law gives residents, Premium Residency holders and companies different rights.

Who can own what

The law, buyer by buyer.

The Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis (in force 22 January 2026) and its Implementing Regulations (23 June 2026), as REGA publishes them.

  • A non-Saudi individual living outside the Kingdom

    Inside the zones
    May own and acquire other rights in rem.
    Outside the zones
    Not open.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Muslims only, inside the zones.

    A Saudi digital identity, a bank account in the Kingdom in their own name, and a Saudi phone number in their name linked to the digital identity.

    Law, Article 2(1)Law, Article 2(4)Regulations, Article 2

  • A non-Saudi individual legally resident in the Kingdom

    Inside the zones
    May own and acquire other rights in rem.
    Outside the zones
    One property, as their own residence, except in Makkah and Madinah.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Muslims only, inside the zones.

    The spouse and non-Saudi children count with the owner: none of them may own a separate home under this route unless the marriage ends or the child turns 25.

    Law, Article 2(1)Law, Article 2(3)Law, Article 2(4)Regulations, Article 7

  • A Premium Residency holder

    Inside the zones
    As a resident.
    Outside the zones
    Property for residential, commercial or industrial use, except in Makkah, Madinah and border areas.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Muslims inside the zones; elsewhere in the two cities a usufruct of up to 99 years, not ownership.
    Law, Article 5Premium Residency Law, Royal Decree of 15 May 2019 (Saudipedia)

  • A GCC national

    Inside the zones
    As any non-Saudi individual, at least.
    Outside the zones
    Under the GCC rules on property ownership by GCC nationals, which the Law preserves; terms confirmed case by case.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Muslims inside the zones; outside them, awaiting amendments to the GCC rules.
    Law, Article 5A&O Shearman, 14 July 2026 (to confirm)

  • A company incorporated outside the Kingdom

    Inside the zones
    May own and acquire other rights in rem.
    Outside the zones
    Not open under this Law.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Not open.

    Register with the Ministry of Investment, disclosing direct and indirect owners; a legal representative holding a Saudi-issued identity; a bank account in the Kingdom in its name.

    Tell the Ministry within 15 days of a transfer of 5% or more of the company, or a change in control.

    Law, Article 2(1)Law, Article 2(4)Law, Article 8(1)Regulations, Article 3Enterprise AM, 30 June 2026

  • A Saudi company, not listed, with non-Saudi shareholders

    Inside the zones
    May own, including in Makkah and Madinah, without Ministry of Investment approval.
    Outside the zones
    For its activities or to house its staff, with Ministry of Investment approval first; not in Makkah or Madinah.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Inside the zones only.
    Law, Article 3Regulations, Article 8

  • A listed Saudi company, licensed investment fund or special purpose entity

    Inside the zones
    Across the Kingdom under Capital Market Authority rules.
    Outside the zones
    Across the Kingdom under Capital Market Authority rules.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Included, under Capital Market Authority rules.
    Law, Article 4

  • A non-Saudi non-profit entity

    Inside the zones
    May own and acquire other rights in rem.
    Outside the zones
    Not open.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Not open.

    Register with the National Center for Non-Profit Sector, disclosing who controls it.

    Law, Article 2(1)Law, Article 2(4)Regulations, Article 4

  • A diplomatic mission or international organisation

    Inside the zones
    Its headquarters and, for missions, the residences of its head and members, on reciprocity and with Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval.
    Outside the zones
    As for the zones.
    Makkah and Madinah
    Not addressed.
    Law, Article 7

What it costs

Two charges, and when each falls.

Real Estate Transaction Tax
5%On each sale, paid to ZATCAThe seller is liable; the buyer can be held jointly liable.EY, Real Estate Transaction Tax Law, 6 November 2024PwC, new RETT Implementing Regulations, April 2025Law, Article 9
REGA fee on a non-Saudi’s sale
2%When a non-Saudi sells in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah or Madinah; 0% elsewhereThe Law’s ceiling is 5%.Regulations, Article 9Regulations, Article 10(1)Law, Article 9

Disposals at 0% wherever the property is

How a purchase runs

From identity to title.

  1. 1

    Apply through REGA’s Saudi Properties portal, which is linked to the Real Estate Registry.

    Regulations, Article 6(1), 6(2)
  2. 2

    Make every payment electronically, under the Saudi Central Bank’s payments rules.

    Regulations, Article 6(3)
  3. 3

    Ownership takes effect on registration in the Real Estate Registry.

    Law, Article 8(2)
  4. 4

    Owning gives no rights beyond those of an owner: it does not by itself bring residency.

    Law, Article 6

Premium Residency

The real estate owner route.

The Premium Residency Center’s own site could not be reached from outside the Kingdom; these terms are as reported at launch and since. Points marked to confirm differ between sources.

Every Saudi home we list

Homes we offer, and their route.

Questions

Owning in Saudi Arabia, answered.

Where can non-Saudis own property in Saudi Arabia?

Inside a designated zone, a non-Saudi may own property or acquire other rights in rem. A non-Saudi legally resident in the Kingdom may also own one property outside the zones, as their own residence, except in Makkah and Madinah. Each zone sets its own property uses, rights, ownership share and usufruct term (99 years at most so far), so the zone is checked on REGA’s map.

Can non-Muslims buy in Makkah or Madinah?

In Makkah and Madinah, ownership by non-Saudi individuals is limited to Muslims. In Makkah and Madinah, non-Saudi individuals can own only inside the designated zones.

Does owning a home bring residency?

Owning property gives no rights beyond those of an owner: it does not by itself bring residency. Premium Residency for real estate owners: residential property worth SAR 4 million or more, owned or held under a usufruct. The home must be built and ready to live in; land, developed or not, does not count. It must be free of any mortgage, now and after the residency is granted, and not bought with property finance.

What does a non-Saudi pay when selling?

REGA’s fee: 2% of the value when a non-Saudi later sells or otherwise disposes of the property in the city of Riyadh, Jeddah Governorate, Makkah or Madinah. REGA’s fee is 0% here, outside the city of Riyadh, Jeddah Governorate, Makkah and Madinah. Real Estate Transaction Tax: 5% of the value of each sale, separate from REGA’s fee. The seller is liable for it; the buyer can be held jointly liable.

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