Questions and Answers about Freehold Property Ownership for Non-Saudis

Article Five of the Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership System in Saudi Arabia briefly states that non-Saudis are prohibited from acquiring or benefiting from freehold ownership rights or easement rights in real estate within the boundaries of the cities of Mecca and Medina, except in cases of inheritance or if the property is endowed to a Saudi entity according to the provisions of Sharia, with supervision specified for the endowment.

Buying a house in Saudi Arabia does not grant Saudi citizenship, nor does it lead to it directly. Citizenship is granted only according to specific conditions and regulations set by the state.

The time varies depending on the documents and procedures, but usually approval and freehold registration are completed within a few weeks to about 1–3 months if the documents are complete and comply with the requirements of the Saudi Real Estate Authority.

The basic fees for non-Saudis when purchasing a property are a 5% property transfer tax in addition to registration, appraisal, and professional service fees, with total costs usually ranging between 7–10% of the property value.