Madinah’s designated zones give Muslim buyers worldwide a first-ever freehold path near the Prophet’s Mosque.
Quick answer
Foreigners can buy in Madinah only if they are Muslim, and only within the 10 designated zones listed on the official portal: Rua Al Madinah, Downtown Madinah, Dar Al Hijrah, Knowledge Economic City, Mishraf, Al-Ghurrah, Al-Mahwa, Diyar Al-Muqarr and Madinah Zones 1 and 2. Applications run through the official Saudi Properties portal.
The flagship zones
Rua Al Madinah, the PIF giga-project regenerating the district east of the Prophet’s Mosque with large-scale hospitality and residential capacity. Knowledge Economic City, a major listed-company development about a 17-minute drive east of the Prophet’s Mosque — home to Al Alyaa, where you can browse apartments for sale in Madinah with live availability — see the latest KEC Madinah masterplan update for progress across all five districts. Downtown Madinah and Dar Al Hijrah, development zones south-west of the Prophet’s Mosque.
The buying process
The route mirrors Makkah: portal registration and application, designated-zone selection, full-cost planning (5% RETT plus up to 5% non-Saudi fee), then reservation, contract and title registration.
New to the process? Read our step-by-step guide to buying property in Saudi Arabia, and make sure you get digitally ready (Saudi Digital ID, Absher and Nafath) before you apply.
Why Madinah
Steady year-round ziyarah visitation, major regeneration investment and comparatively accessible entry points make Madinah a compelling first purchase for many overseas buyers.
Sources
- Saudi Properties portal: official zone registry
- REGA: Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership platform
- REGA: System enters into force (announcement)
- White & Case: Landmark real estate ownership law for non-Saudis
- King & Spalding: New foreign ownership law: key implications
- Arab News: Cabinet approves ownership zones
- AGBI: Saudi Arabia opens property market to foreigners
- Enterprise KSA: Mapping the foreign ownership zones
Facts last reviewed: July 2026. Rules can change, always confirm the current position on the official Saudi Properties portal and take independent legal advice before acting.
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.