Jan 4, 2026
Until recently, an expatriate who wanted to own a home in Riyadh worked through a permission system that was slow, discretionary and decided case by case. That system is gone. As of January 2026, Saudi Arabia operates a new Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis, and in June 2026 the Council of Ministers approved the implementing regulations along with the map of areas where non-Saudis may buy.
For expats, this changes the practical question. It is no longer "will I be allowed to buy?" but "is the property I want inside an eligible zone, and what will it cost me to register it?" This guide covers who can buy, where, what it costs, whether ownership leads to residency, and the districts worth shortlisting in Riyadh.
Yes. Non-Saudis — both residents of the Kingdom and buyers based abroad — may acquire property rights under the framework now in force. The law replaced the previous regime entirely, moving from discretionary approvals to a defined, published set of rules. You can read more on how these reforms opened up the Saudi real estate market to foreign investment.
Ownership follows a designated-zone model. The Council of Ministers, working with the Real Estate General Authority, has approved the specific geographic areas where non-Saudis may buy, and REGA has published the map. Outside those zones, foreign ownership is generally not permitted.
There is one important exception for residents: a non-Saudi individual living in Saudi Arabia may own a single residential property outside the designated zones for personal use. For most expats already living in Riyadh, this is the route that matters.
Makkah and Madinah remain subject to tighter restrictions.
The practical differences from the old system:
• Approvals are no longer case by case. Eligibility is determined by the zone map, published in advance.
• Registration, payment and title issuance run through one central REGA platform rather than separate authorities.
• Non-resident foreigners can now buy inside designated zones — previously ownership was tied almost entirely to holding an Iqama.
• Mortgage financing is available to foreign buyers under the new framework.
• Foreign-owned companies incorporated in Saudi Arabia may own property for defined operational purposes.
The most consequential change for the individual buyer is the first one. Under the old system, you found a property and then discovered whether you would be permitted to own it. Now eligibility is knowable before you make an offer.
Riyadh is one of the priority cities under the designated-zone model, but this is the point most buyers get wrong: eligibility does not extend across the whole city. General residential ownership is not open everywhere in Riyadh — it applies within the specific areas defined in the geographic zones document.
That makes zone verification the first step of any purchase, not a formality at the end of it. Before you negotiate, confirm two things: whether the property sits inside a designated zone, and if it does not, whether you qualify for the single-residence resident exception.
We check this for every client before a viewing is arranged, because a property outside an eligible zone is not a slower purchase — it is not a purchase at all.
What you will need in practice:
• A valid Iqama, if you are buying under the resident exception for one home outside the designated zones.
• Confirmation that the property falls inside an eligible zone, or that the exception applies to your situation.
• Full identification and residency documentation for the buyer.
• Complete and clean title documentation for the property, verified before any deposit.
• Registration of the transaction through the REGA platform.
Requirements continue to be refined as the implementing regulations bed in. Confirm the current position through REGA or a licensed broker before committing funds — do not rely on guidance published before June 2026, including older articles that still describe the previous approval system.
Budget beyond the purchase price. Typical cost lines:
• Real Estate Transaction Tax, charged on the transaction value.
• Registration and platform fees under the new framework.
• Brokerage commission.
• Property valuation, particularly if you are financing.
• Mortgage arrangement costs, where applicable.
• Service charges and maintenance for apartments in managed buildings.
Fee schedules under the new regulations are still settling. Ask for a written cost breakdown covering every line above before you sign — the gap between headline price and total outlay is where most first-time expat buyers are caught out.
No. Buying property does not confer residency automatically, and any agent who suggests otherwise is overselling.
What ownership can do is support an application for Premium Residency under the property-owner category. That route requires a residential property valued at no less than SAR 4 million, completed rather than under construction, fully owned and not mortgaged, in residential use only, and valued by an accredited appraiser. Properties within Makkah and Madinah are excluded for non-Muslims.
Where the conditions are met, Premium Residency offers residence for you and your family, freedom from sponsorship, the ability to work in the private sector and conduct commercial activity under the applicable rules, and exemption from certain expatriate fees.
So the honest framing is this: property ownership is a legal pathway toward long-term residency at a specific investment level, not a substitute for it. Below SAR 4 million, treat the purchase as a housing and investment decision on its own merits — and it is worth understanding which type of real estate investment actually fits your objective before you choose a unit.
Once eligibility is settled, the choice comes down to what you are optimising for. The criteria that matter most:
• Proximity to your workplace and the main road network.
• International schools and healthcare within a reasonable commute.
• The quality and track record of the developer.
• Service charges and building management, which vary widely between towers.
• Price relative to realistic rental yield, if you may let the property later.
North Riyadh — Al Sahafah, Al Narjis, Al Malqa, Hittin and Al Yasmin — draws most expat demand for its infrastructure, schools and access to KAFD. Al Olaya suits buyers who want a central location and short commutes over space. Southern and eastern districts offer more square metres per riyal, at the cost of longer daily travel.
Families relocating from abroad often start their search in Riyadh's gated communities, where security, schooling and amenities sit inside one perimeter.
Masaken View offers ready villas with generous layouts suited to larger families, close to schools and daily services. Prices start from SAR 2,400,000. The limited unit count supports resale value in a district with rising demand.
Venti Square offers ready villas in one of Riyadh's most established central districts, from SAR 1,000,000 — one of the lower entry points available in a location this central.
Manafez Al Jazirah offers two and three bedroom apartments with efficient layouts, from SAR 750,000. It is the most accessible entry point for expats who want ownership without stretching their capital.
V Tower offers off-plan apartments with contemporary specification in north Riyadh, from SAR 1,314,600, with value appreciation expected through to handover.
You can compare these and the rest of the portfolio across Mada's Riyadh projects.
Five checks that prevent most problems:
• Zone eligibility, confirmed in writing before any deposit.
• For off-plan purchases, that the project is licensed under the off-plan sales system and its escrow account is formally supervised.
• The developer's delivery record on previous projects.
• Delay and compensation clauses in the contract, read before signing rather than after.
• Resale liquidity — how quickly comparable units in that building or district have actually sold.
We work as a licensed real estate brokerage, not a developer. That distinction matters more for expat buyers than for anyone else: a developer will show you their own inventory and tell you it fits, because it is all they have. Mada Properties searches the whole market against your eligibility, your budget and your timeline.
For expat clients specifically, we verify zone eligibility before you view anything, manage the documentation and REGA registration, and give you a written comparison of the options that genuinely qualify for your situation. Our understanding of the framework is current, not carried over from the old approval system.
Buying property in Riyadh as an expat is more straightforward in 2026 than at any point previously — but "straightforward" means the rules are published, not that they are unrestricted. Ownership follows the zone map, residents may hold one home outside it, and every transaction registers through REGA.
The work now happens before the offer rather than after it. Confirm eligibility, budget for the full cost, and be realistic about the residency question. Talk to our team about the options that actually qualify for your situation.
Yes. Under the law in force since January 2026, non-Saudis may acquire property within designated zones approved by the Council of Ministers. Residents of the Kingdom may additionally own one residential property outside those zones for personal use.
No. Eligibility follows the geographic zones published by REGA. Confirm that a specific property sits inside an eligible zone, or that the single-residence resident exception applies, before making an offer.
No, not automatically. It may support an application for Premium Residency under the property-owner category, which requires a completed, unmortgaged residential property valued at SAR 4 million or more.
Inside the designated zones, ownership is governed by the conditions attached to each zone. Outside them, a resident individual is limited to one residential property for personal use.
Mortgage financing is available to foreign buyers under the current framework. Terms vary by lender, and financing affects Premium Residency eligibility, since that route requires the property to be unmortgaged.
It is not mandatory, but working with a licensed brokerage reduces risk considerably — particularly on zone eligibility and title verification, where an error is expensive rather than inconvenient.
Stay informed with expert-written articles and the latest trends in the real estate market.
October 28, 2026
Al Rahmaniyah district Riyadh sits in the north of the capital at Exit 10, within the Al Muath municipality area, and ranks 13th out of 177 residential districts in Riyadh by median price per square metre, according to Ministry of Justice transactions published through the Raghdan platform.
That rank says one thing clearly and hides another: the district is expensive, but it has few transactions, so any figure you read rests on a small number of deals. This guide shows the numbers together with their limits.
It covers the district's location and boundaries, the exit, price per metre against neighbouring districts, apartments and villas, schools, hospitals and hotels, a rating of the district, and Mada Properties projects you can use as a yardstick.
The district is ringed by four main roads and upscale neighbours:
Al Takhassusi Street is among its best-known internal streets.
Al Rahmaniyah is at Exit 10 in Riyadh, with fast access to the city's main routes because the district sits between major roads on all four sides.
The median residential price is SAR 10,293 per square metre, calculated on residential deals in the last 24 months (latest deal 25 September 2025), from Ministry of Justice data shown by Raghdan (updated 7 August 2026).
Against neighbours on the same platform: Al Sahafa SAR 12,691, Hittin 10,536, Al Olaya 10,364, Al Rahmaniyah 10,293, Al Malqa 9,000 and An Narjis 8,478.
The limits matter. The district recorded 14 residential deals in 24 months and 321 deals since 2020, which ranks its trading activity 126th of 177. Treat the figure as an indicator of level, not the price of a specific property.
The median size of recent residential deals is about 450 m², so deals lean towards larger plots and villas rather than small units.
Apartments, floors and townhouses are available for sale and rent. Compare any unit's price per metre with the district median (SAR 10,293) and with neighbouring districts.
Villas tend to sit on large plots, which is what the median size reflects.
Commercial property is 8% of deals and includes offices and shops for long-term investment.
There is no official district rating, so we read it from four angles:
It suits people who will live there for years or invest long term and accept lower liquidity for a settled location. It does not suit someone who needs a quick sale or a low entry price.
Mada Properties does not currently list a project inside Al Rahmaniyah, but these five available projects work as a yardstick for any offer you see in the district.
Thuraya Tower is in Al Olaya, with one- to three-bedroom apartments from Wathba for Investment. It is the closest price comparison, since the median in Al Olaya is SAR 10,364 per metre. Prices start from SAR 1.9 million, with handover expected in Q3 2028.
Rayah Tower in Al Sahafa is developed by Jiwar Al Arabia and has 48 apartments and penthouses on a 900 m² plot, with two lifts and a maid's room. Its page shows the licence number (485) and the Wafi permit. Prices start from SAR 1,785,000, with handover expected in Q4 2028. Al Sahafa is pricier than Al Rahmaniyah, at SAR 12,691 per metre.
Summit Tower is in Al Sahafa, developed by Summit for Real Estate Development and Investment, with one- and two-bedroom apartments from SAR 995,000 and handover expected in Q2 2028, the lowest price on this list.
For a ready villa, Amaas 21 Villa offers villas for sale by Amaas Real Estate Development in central Riyadh, according to its page, from SAR 1,950,000.
For commercial property, Al Adwan Tower offers 122 flexible office units in Al Nakheel near the King Abdullah Financial District, from SAR 1.9 million, with handover expected in Q4 2027.
See all available projects on Mada Properties' projects page.
Mada Properties is a professional real estate broker, not a developer, so we start from your goal, not from a project we own. In a district with few deals like Al Rahmaniyah, a broker who reads the market, not just the averages, adds real value. Contact us to compare what you see in the district with what is available today.
Al Rahmaniyah district Riyadh combines a strong location at Exit 10 with a high price and limited liquidity. That suits buyers who plan to stay, not those who plan to sell quickly. Before any decision, compare the price per metre you are offered with the district's common range (SAR 8,266 to 12,063) and ask for recent comparable deals.
October 26, 2026
Mada Properties has won five awards at the Saudi Arabia Property Awards 2026-2027, the Saudi categories of the Arabian Property Awards presented in association with CNBC Arabia, each carrying a five-star rating.
The five awards cover the real estate agency, property consultancy, real estate marketing and the agency website. They extend a record that began in the 2023-2024 season with a single category and has grown in every season since.
This article explains what the awards are, how they are judged, what each of the five awards recognises, and how to verify any real estate company's awards before you rely on them.
The Saudi Arabia Property Awards are the Saudi categories of the Arabian Property Awards, which are part of the International Property Awards run by International Property Media in the UK. The awards recognise excellence in real estate, development, architecture, interior design and marketing, in both the residential and commercial sectors, with a focus on service, sustainability, originality and creativity.
The organiser announced a category named "Saudi Arabia Property Awards" and described it as the first global real estate award named after the Kingdom. Entrants apply at national level, a panel of experts judges the entries, and winners are invited to the awards ceremony and may use the award logo in their marketing. That is why Mada's trophies carry the words "Saudi Arabia" after each category name. Top winners in each region then go forward to the international awards.
All five trophies carry the Arabian Property Awards mark, the words "in association with CNBC Arabia", a five-star rating and the 2026-2027 season.
This category is for real estate agencies running between two and four offices. Mada publishes four office addresses in Riyadh: As Sahafah, Al Aridh, Al Rimal and Olaya Street.
A category that combines brokerage and advice. It matches what Mada does when it compares the options on the market and recommends districts and projects according to the client's goal, which is the role of a property consultancy.
This award covers the marketing of a real estate agency. Mada states in its articles that its marketing rests on reading the market, analysing data and reaching the right client.
The marketing category for agencies and advisory firms.
This one concerns the agency's website. Mada's site brings together projects, districts and articles, and a mobile app carries the same content.
See the record of earlier awards on Mada's Awards & Recognition page.
The organiser states that the awards are judged by an independent panel of more than 100 industry experts, chaired by members of the UK House of Lords. Judging focuses on:
The path to an award has five steps:
The 2026 Arabia Property Awards celebration takes place on 5 November 2026 in the House of Lords, London, as a private event for a select number of award-winning companies, according to the event website.
According to Mada's Awards & Recognition page and blog:
The pattern is clear: from one category to five in four seasons. But every season is judged separately, so an earlier award does not replace a look at the current one. For a wider reading of what these awards mean for an investor, see our article on Mada's award success story.
There is no official list that names the best real estate agency in Saudi Arabia, and awards are one signal among several. Whether you want a top real estate consultancy or a brokerage, ask:
A real estate agency handles brokerage and client service from advice to closing, while real estate marketing focuses on reaching clients and showing a project's value. That is why the awards separate the agency category from the marketing category, and Mada won both this season.
Choose an agency that works as a broker, not a developer: it compares projects for you instead of promoting its own.
Mada won two marketing categories this season. From the client's point of view, good marketing shows up in three ways:
We explain our approach in our guide to the best real estate agency in Saudi Arabia.
Many companies display award logos. Checking one takes minutes:
An award assesses a company's performance, while licensing is a legal requirement to operate. A five-star award and a brokerage licence are different things: the first goes to those who excel, the second is something nobody can operate without.
Check the broker's Fal licence, and the licence of the listing, with the Real Estate General Authority before any payment, then look at the awards.
Mada Properties is a professional real estate broker, not a developer, so we start from your goal, not from a project we own. We read the market, compare the options on Mada's projects page and stay with you to closing. The five awards recognise that approach, but they do not replace checking for yourself. Contact us and we will recommend what suits your budget and goal.
The Saudi Arabia Property Awards give clients an independent signal they can verify, provided you read it as it is: a category, a season and a level. Mada Properties holds five five-star awards in 2026-2027, but a good property decision starts with the licence, passes through comparison and is settled with numbers.
October 21, 2026
Cityscape 2026 Riyadh runs from 16 to 19 November at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center (Malham), bringing developers, investors, banks and real estate decision-makers together for four days of project launches and deal-making.
The 2025 edition alone announced real estate deals worth SAR 237 billion in four days. That is why Cityscape is no longer only for developers: individual buyers and small investors now attend to see opening prices and payment plans before they reach the open market.
This guide covers what visitors look for most: the Cityscape 2026 date and venue, the exhibitor list, projects and offers, tickets and registration, how to get there, and how to prepare.
Cityscape 2026 Riyadh is the 2026 edition of Cityscape Global, which its organisers describe as the world's most attended real estate exhibition. It is organised by Tahaluf in partnership with the Real Estate General Authority (REGA), and this year's slogan is "The Capital of Real Estate".
The show in numbers:
It arrives months after Saudi Arabia's non-Saudi property ownership law took effect on 22 January 2026, which widened interest from abroad.
The Cityscape 2026 date is Monday 16 to Thursday 19 November 2026. Doors open to visitors from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm every day.
The venue is the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center (Malham) in north Riyadh, about 30 km from King Khalid International Airport according to the organisers. Visitors often call it "Cityscape Malham".
The official exhibitor list is published on the Cityscape Global website and updates until the show opens. Confirmed so far:
Do not rely on the list alone: new launches may be announced during the show, so follow the show's and developers' channels across the four days.
The official ticket page describes mortgage solutions, ownership options and payment plans offered directly by developers and banks. In practice, Cityscape projects and offers come in three forms:
At the 2025 opening, Minister Majed Al-Hogail said real estate loans to individuals and companies reached about SAR 961 billion by Q2 2025 and citizen home ownership passed 65% at end-2024.
A show offer is not always the cheapest price in the market. Ask before you book:
Cityscape Riyadh 2026 offers three ticket categories: General, Business, and VIP. Each pass provides different benefits to suit visitors' needs, from exploring the exhibition to enjoying exclusive networking opportunities and premium hospitality services.
The General Pass is available free for a limited time, reduced from SAR 100. The offer ends on 15 November 2026. Benefits include:
The Business Pass costs SAR 2,438, including 15% VAT, reduced from SAR 3,000. It includes all General Pass benefits, plus:
The VIP Pass costs SAR 9,377, including 15% VAT, reduced from SAR 11,253. It offers a premium event experience with exclusive benefits, including:
The right ticket depends on your goals and budget. The General Pass is ideal for visitors exploring real estate opportunities, while the Business Pass suits professionals seeking networking opportunities and business services. The VIP Pass is designed for visitors who prefer exclusive access and premium hospitality.
Note: Ticket prices, promotional offers, and availability may change. Check the official Cityscape Riyadh 2026 ticketing page before registering.
To register: open the official ticket page or register by WhatsApp, choose a pass, enter your details exactly as on your ID (the pass is linked to your badge), pay by credit card if the pass is paid, then wait for the confirmation and badge emails. Each participant gets one pass only, fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, and accommodation and meals are not included.
The 2025 edition announced SAR 237 billion in deals over four days, including SAR 161.2 billion in the first two days. It also reported a 166,000 m² site (double 2023), 42 countries represented including 15 new ones, USD 6.1 trillion of real estate and infrastructure assets under management, 350+ investment meetings and 164,000+ attendees from 120+ countries.
Mada Properties is a professional real estate broker, not a developer, so we show you options as they stand in the whole market, not as a single developer presents them. Around a show, when offers and quick bookings pile up, a neutral broker compares launches with similar projects outside the show, checks the project's legal status and stays with you to closing. Contact us to compare what you see at the show with what is available today.
Cityscape 2026 Riyadh is the biggest chance this year to see the Saudi property market in one place: what will be launched, at what price and on what payment plan. It rewards visitors who arrive with a plan. Set your goal and budget before 16 November, register early, ask for every offer in writing and compare before you book.