Oct 31, 2026
If you are looking for a home in the south of the capital, Ukaz neighborhood in Riyadh is worth adding to your shortlist. Its properties range from apartments and floors to villas and land, and its location gives access to a number of roads and the daily services residents need.
But does the neighborhood actually suit your needs? What does a square meter cost here? And where does it sit in relation to the main roads and schools? In this guide, we review the key information that will help you form a clearer picture of the neighborhood, whether you are planning to buy a home for your family or looking for a property to invest in.
Ukaz is located in the south of Riyadh and falls within the jurisdiction of the Al-Shifa Municipality. It borders several residential neighborhoods, including Al-Marwa, Al-Shifa, Uhud, and Al-Hazm, which makes it part of the built-up area in the south of the capital. To compare it with a neighboring area, see our guide to Badr neighborhood in south Riyadh.
Dirab Road is one of the important roads serving the area, alongside other roads that connect the neighborhood to its surroundings. Pinpointing a property's location within the neighborhood will tell you how easy it is to reach these roads and nearby services.
When searching for a property, do not settle for the neighborhood name in the listing. Ask for the exact location and check the surrounding streets, because the distance to the main road or to everyday amenities can vary from one part of the neighborhood to another.
If you are searching for the location of Ukaz neighborhood relative to Riyadh, it is worth clarifying that Ukaz lies inside the city of Riyadh, not in a separate city outside it. So how you judge its location depends on where you go every day, whether that is your workplace, a school, a university, or a shopping center.
Before deciding to buy, try the trip from the property to the places you visit regularly, and check the travel time during peak hours. A property may be right in terms of price and size yet less suitable for you if reaching your daily destinations takes a long time.
There is no single distance you can rely on to answer "How far is Ukaz from Riyadh?", because the neighborhood is inside the capital, and the distance varies with your starting point and destination.
If you mean the distance to central or northern Riyadh, it is best to set your destination in a maps app and measure the travel time at different times of day. If you work in the south or west of the capital, your commute may differ from that of someone heading to central or northern Riyadh every day.
Published neighborhood guides link Ukaz to Exit 23 on the Southern Ring Road. Even so, it is best to verify the right route based on the property's own location, since reaching different parts of the neighborhood may require different roads and entrances.
Do not rely on the exit number alone when assessing a location. What matters more is the road you will use every day, and how easily you can enter and leave the neighborhood during rush hour.
The services around a property affect both living comfort and value, especially for families who need easy access to schools, health centers, shops, and recreation.
Ukaz and its surroundings offer a variety of facilities, including schools, mosques, grocery stores, and restaurants, along with healthcare facilities and places to get out and about. One well-known landmark in the area is Ukaz Park, which can be a good option for spending time outdoors.
Schools are an important consideration when choosing a family home, especially if you have children at different educational stages. The neighborhood has educational options for boys and girls, as well as kindergartens, and more options are available in neighboring districts.
Schools mentioned in published neighborhood guides include Omra bint Al-Rabie Elementary School, Khalifa bin Bishr Elementary School, Saeed bin Amer Intermediate School, and Cordoba Private High School.
The area has healthcare facilities, including Imam Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Hospital, along with medical complexes and clinics that serve residents. Grocery stores, markets, restaurants, and cafés are also available inside the neighborhood and in the surrounding areas.
To judge how well the location suits you, list the services you use regularly, such as pharmacies, markets, and healthcare centers, then compare the distance to them from the properties you are considering.
Ukaz Park is one of the best-known places in the area, alongside the parks, squares, and playgrounds in and around the neighborhood. These facilities offer options for spending time outside the home, though they differ in size, equipment, and how easy they are to reach.
If you are looking for a family home, it helps to visit the property at more than one time of day and to note the level of traffic and noise, as well as how close it is to the open spaces and facilities that matter to you.
Apartments in Ukaz vary in size, design, building age, and finishing level. An apartment can be a good choice for someone looking for a home at a lower cost than some larger property types, but the final price depends on the unit's specifications, location, and condition.
When comparing apartments for sale, do not make price your only criterion. Check the net area of the unit, the number of rooms, the layout, the quality of the finishing, whether an elevator and parking are available, and the level of privacy within the building.
It is also important to verify the property's legal status and whether the unit is ready to move into or part of a project still under construction. If it is off-plan, check the project's license, the guarantees, and the handover terms before paying any amount. And if you will be buying with financing, review the real estate financing terms in Saudi Arabia in 2026 to know your borrowing capacity before you reserve.
The choice depends on your budget, your family's needs, and how you plan to use the property.
There is no option that is best for everyone. What matters is comparing the property's total cost against your current needs and future plans.
The price per meter in Ukaz varies by property type, its location within the neighborhood, its size, the age of the building, and the level of finishing. It is also important to distinguish between the asking prices of properties listed for sale and the prices of deals actually completed: the price an advertiser asks is not necessarily the price at which a deal closes.
According to some published data, the median price per square meter of residential property in the neighborhood was about SAR 2,833 as of June 2026. This is a general indicator for the neighborhood, not a valuation of any specific property, and it does not mean that the per-meter price of apartments, villas, and land is the same. Current prices can differ depending on the type of property and its specifications.
So, to know whether the price offered to you is reasonable, compare your property against at least three listings similar to it in type, size, and location, and review available transaction data where possible. For a broader read on market trends across Riyadh, see our analysis of real estate prices in Riyadh in 2025.
You can calculate the price per meter by dividing the total price by the area you use for comparison:
\text{Price per meter} = \frac{\text{Total property price}}{\text{Area}}
For example, if an apartment costs SAR 600,000 and has an area of 120 square meters, the calculated price per meter is SAR 5,000. This is an illustrative example only, not an actual price for apartments in the neighborhood.
Also watch for the difference between gross area and net area. Do not compare two apartments on area alone if they differ in finishing, building age, or shared facilities.
House hunters often ask, "What do you all think of Ukaz?" The answer depends on each person's needs. The neighborhood may suit someone looking for a property in south Riyadh, while someone who works in the north of the capital needs to study commute times more closely.
To reach a practical assessment of Ukaz, focus on five aspects:
It is not enough to rely on residents' reviews alone, whether positive or negative. Try to visit the neighborhood yourself, talk to some residents if you can, and view the property at different times so that you form your opinion from direct experience. To compare with another neighborhood in the south, read our guide to Al-Yamama neighborhood in Riyadh.
Ukaz may be among the options worth studying for anyone looking for property in south Riyadh, but its suitability for investment cannot be settled by its location or price movements alone.
If you are thinking of buying an apartment or villa to rent out, start by studying purchase prices and rents for similar properties. Then calculate the expected return after deducting expenses, maintenance, and the periods when the property may stand without a tenant. Do not treat price rises in past years as a guarantee that prices will keep rising in the future.
If you are buying land, review its permitted uses and the building requirements that apply to it, and check the available services and its location relative to roads and facilities. In every case, make sure your decision rests on recent data and comparable properties, not on general market expectations. To compare types of real estate investment by return and risk, read our piece on the best types of real estate investment in Saudi Arabia.
Real estate investment in Riyadh offers a diverse range of options, from residential apartments in modern towers to commercial offices in key districts. The right project depends on your budget, the location, and the handover date, as well as your purpose in buying, whether for living, renting out, or long-term investment. Below is a selection of real estate projects in Riyadh that you can study and compare according to your needs and financial means.
Al-Thuraya Tower is located in Al-Olaya district in Riyadh and includes 147 residential units under construction, ranging from one-bedroom to three-bedroom apartments. Unit prices start at SAR 1,910,000, and the project is expected to be handed over in the third quarter of 2028.
The project benefits from its location in Al-Olaya, close to business areas, shopping, and services, which makes it an option worth considering for those who want to own in a central part of the capital. Before deciding to buy, it is advisable to compare apartment sizes and prices and the payment plan, and to verify the unit's details and the approved handover date.
Malfa Tower offers residential apartments under construction in Al-Sahafa district in north Riyadh, with prices starting from SAR 1,285,000. The project includes 66 units, with options ranging from one to three bedrooms, and an expected handover in the fourth quarter of 2028.
Those who want to own in north Riyadh can include the project in their comparison, taking into account the unit's location, size, and specifications, and verifying the finishing details, facilities, and contract terms. If you are buying to rent out, it is important to study rents for similar properties in the area before estimating the potential return.
Centra Tower is located in Al-Murabba district in Riyadh and includes 322 units, comprising residential apartments and penthouse units, with options ranging from one to three bedrooms. The advertised price starts at SAR 700,000, and the project is expected to be handed over in the third quarter of 2028.
The variety of units lets buyers compare options by budget and required size, but it is important to confirm which units are currently available, along with their prices and specifications, and to review the payment plan and the additional costs of ownership before making a decision.
Al-Adwan Tower differs from the residential projects above, as it comprises commercial offices in Al-Nakheel district in Riyadh, with prices starting from SAR 1,940,000. The project includes 122 units and is expected to be handed over in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The project may suit someone looking for an office for commercial use or considering an investment in office real estate, but evaluating it requires looking at the office's size and location and how well it fits the intended business, alongside comparing rental prices and demand for office space in the area. The investment's viability remains tied to the details of the unit and market conditions, so it is best not to rely on the starting price alone when making a decision.
Choosing the right property takes more than finding a listing at an acceptable price. It requires comparing locations, sizes, and specifications, and understanding the differences between the available options before you decide.
Mada Properties helps you explore a variety of real estate projects and options, and compare the basic information available on properties according to your needs and budget. If you are looking for a home in Ukaz or weighing it against other neighborhoods in Riyadh, it is important to set your priorities first, then evaluate each option based on its actual location, price, and specifications.
You can browse Mada Properties' projects to explore the published options, or contact the Mada Properties team to ask about what is available. It is advisable to verify each project's location and details before treating it as an option within Ukaz specifically.
Before buying a property in Ukaz neighborhood in Riyadh, do not settle for the price or the general impression of the neighborhood. Verify the exact location, compare similar properties, and review the nearby services, the build quality, and the additional costs. This way, you can determine whether the neighborhood and the property you have chosen suit your needs and budget, whether your goal is to live there or to invest. If you want an impartial comparison between your options, contact the Mada Properties team.
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