Saudi Arabia’s biggest developers are moving fast to bring homes to market now that foreign ownership has opened up — and the first concrete sales plans are landing in exactly the places international Muslim buyers are watching. From 400 units at Jabal Omar in Makkah to Fairmont-branded residences at Rua Al Madinah, here is what is coming to market and what it means for you.
Quick answer
Following the easing of foreign-ownership rules, Jabal Omar Development Company plans to sell 400 serviced hotel-residential units in Makkah this year as its first phase; Rua Al Madinah Holding intends to start selling Fairmont-branded residences ahead of its first-phase launch late in 2026; and investor appetite for the Masar destination has been strong enough to send its developer’s shares to their daily trading limit. Ownership in Makkah and Madinah remains reserved for Muslims — either as individuals or through Saudi-registered companies — and companies incorporated outside the Kingdom are excluded from the Holy Cities entirely.
Jabal Omar to sell 400 units in Makkah
Jabal Omar Development Company — the master developer of the landmark Jabal Omar district beside the Grand Mosque — has announced it will sell 400 serviced apartment and hotel-residential units in its Makkah project this year, as a first phase, with the proceeds earmarked to reduce debt. It follows an earlier auction in which the company sold 12 residential units for SAR 161.6 million, an early signal of the appetite for prime Makkah addresses. Jabal Omar is one of the Cabinet-approved zones open to non-Saudi ownership.
Masar: investor interest surges
The Masar destination — the 3.65 km boulevard development leading to al-Masjid al-Haram, developed by Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction — is one of the pre-approved Makkah zones. When the ownership rules were confirmed, Umm Al Qura’s shares hit their daily 10% trading limit, a clear read on investor confidence in the zone. Within Masar, Masar Corner by Alramz is already bringing fully furnished serviced residences to market — you can see current availability on our Masar zone page and in Properties for Sale in Makkah.
Rua Al Madinah: Fairmont-branded residences coming
In Madinah, Rua Al Madinah Holding — the Public Investment Fund company behind the giga-project immediately east of the Prophet’s Mosque — plans to begin selling Fairmont-branded residences ahead of its first-phase launch toward the end of 2026. The 1.5 square-kilometre mixed-use development will bring apartments, retail and around 47,000 hotel rooms to within walking distance of the Haram. Read more on our Rua Al Madinah zone page.
The approved zones at a glance
The Cabinet has approved a defined set of geographic zones for non-Saudi ownership. In Makkah these include Jabal Omar, Masar, King Salman Gate, Abraj Makkah / Makkah Towers, Ajyad Tower, Al-Manar, Tilal Village, Thakher (Dhakhir) Makkah, Sumou Suburb and the numbered Makkah zones. In Madinah they include Rua Al Madinah, Knowledge Economic City, Mishraf, Downtown Madinah, Dar Al Hijrah, Al-Ghurrah, Al-Mahwa, Diyar Al-Muqarr and the numbered Madinah zones. Some are already releasing homes; others are still at the planning stage. We profile each zone as verified availability appears — browse them all under Developments & zones.
The key restriction for the Holy Cities
One point is essential for buyers to understand: within the Makkah and Madinah zones, ownership is limited to Muslims — whether as individual buyers or through Saudi-registered companies that have foreign ownership. Companies incorporated outside the Kingdom are excluded from owning in the Holy Cities altogether. For most of our clients — individual Muslim buyers — the direct route through the official Saudi Properties portal process is exactly what these reforms were designed to enable. Not sure where you stand? Our eligibility checker gives an indicative answer in a minute.
What it means for you
The pattern is unmistakable: with the rules now in force and the official portal open, developers are competing to release homes to international buyers — and the first waves are landing in the very zones nearest the Haramain. Availability is limited and released in phases, so buyers who register early hear first. Browse current homes on our Properties for Sale in Madinah and Properties for Sale in Makkah pages, or register your interest to be notified as new releases open.
Haramain Properties is a UK-based advisory and marketing business, not a law firm; this article is general information, not legal advice. Project plans and timelines are the developers’ own and may change. The official Saudi Properties portal is the authoritative reference at every step. Book a consultation to discuss how these opportunities fit your plans.
Important
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Always obtain independent legal advice in both Saudi Arabia and your country of residence before entering into a transaction.