Home · Knowledge Economic City (KEC), Madinah
Knowledge Economic City (KEC) is one of the ten designated zones in Madinah where eligible Muslims worldwide can own property under Saudi Arabia’s 2026 ownership law. Set about 7 km east of the Prophet’s Mosque and anchored by its own Haramain High-Speed Railway station, KEC is a master-planned smart city built around innovation, culture and community — delivered through five distinct master developments, each with its own scheme type and role in the city.
Knowledge Economic City stands out for its position in the heart of Madinah: about five kilometres from the Prophet’s Mosque along King Abdul Aziz Road, eight kilometres from Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, and seamlessly connected to Makkah and Jeddah by its own Haramain High-Speed Railway station.
Within the masterplan, the residential communities of Dar Al Jewar and Al Alyaa enjoy views towards Mount Uhud, while Madinah Gate, Multaqa Almadinah and the Madinah Hub entertainment destination provide the commercial and leisure offer. KEC also houses the Madinah Chamber of Commerce, Al-Mouwasat Hospital and the Dar Al Madinah Museum — the everyday infrastructure of a working city, not just a development site.
Illustrative schematic map — not to scale. Locations are approximate; verify boundaries and project details against the official Saudi Properties portal and the KEC masterplan.
Two of the five are where homes are sold — Dar Al Jewar (pure residential) and Al Alyaa (residential-led mixed use) — with a third, the Islamic World District, adding over a thousand homes within a cultural mixed-use quarter. The other schemes are retail and hospitality destinations that serve the zone. We market residential property only, but understanding what is being built nearby is essential local knowledge for any buyer.
Residential-led mixed use
1,490 homes in a fully gated community within the Haram boundary — plus a nursery, an international school, a 144-key Hyatt Centric hotel and 480 Hyatt House serviced apartments.
Explore Al Alyaa →
Residential
KEC’s purely residential scheme: a premium gated neighbourhood of villas and townhouses with a community mosque, sports courts, segregated wellness facilities and views of Mount Uhud.
Explore Dar Al Jewar →
Mixed use · culture & hospitality
A transit-oriented cultural quarter: 1,091 homes, 5,141 hotel keys, 21K sqm of retail and 11K sqm of museums and cultural space in Phase 1.
Explore Islamic World District →
Retail & lifestyle
The zone’s lifestyle destination: 267 retail units across 72K sqm GLA, a 390-key Hilton hotel and 66 Hilton-branded residences, five minutes from the rail station.
Explore Multaqa Almadinah →
Retail & transit
Saudi Arabia’s first transit-oriented retail destination, directly on the Haramain High-Speed Railway station — 161 retail and dining units, family entertainment and a 325-key DoubleTree by Hilton.
Explore Madinah Gate →
| Master development | Scheme type | Homes for sale? | Headline numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dar Al Jewar | Residential | Yes — villas & townhouses | 266,483 m² project; 70,000 m² gardens |
| Al Alyaa | Residential-led mixed use | Yes — 1,490 units | School & nursery; Hyatt Centric 144 keys; 480 serviced apartments |
| Islamic World District | Mixed use — culture, hospitality, residential, retail | Yes — 1,091 units (Phase 1) | 5,141 hotel keys; 21K sqm retail; 11K sqm museums |
| Multaqa Almadinah | Retail & lifestyle | Limited — 66 Hilton-branded residences | 267 shops; 72K sqm GLA; Hilton 390 keys |
| Madinah Gate | Retail & transit | No | 124 shops + 37 F&B; 23K sqm GLA; DoubleTree 325 keys |
Knowledge Economic City is listed on the official Saudi Properties portal as an approved zone for non-Saudi ownership in Madinah. Eligibility, applications and every purchase run through the official channels — see how the six-stage buying process works and check your eligibility before you commit.
KEC pairs proximity to the Prophet’s Mosque with the practical advantages of a new master-planned smart city: direct high-speed rail connections to Makkah and Jeddah, schools, healthcare, retail and hospitality being built alongside the homes, and residential communities designed from the ground up. For overseas buyers it offers something rare in the Holy Cities — a choice of brand-new, purpose-built neighbourhoods inside an approved ownership zone, with the everyday amenities of Madinah Gate and Multaqa Almadinah and the cultural life of the Islamic World District on the doorstep.
Scheme details are summarised from the master developer’s official pages at madinahkec.com and will be updated as projects release availability. Verified property listings for sale to international buyers will appear on the master development pages above.