Before 2026, Premium Residency was the main gateway to meaningful property rights for foreigners. The new ownership law changes its role.
Quick answer
No, you do not need Premium Residency to buy in the designated zones. The 2026 law gives Muslim individuals living abroad a direct ownership route in Makkah and Madinah via the Saudi Properties portal. Premium Residency remains valuable for people who want to live, work or spend extended time in the Kingdom.
What Premium Residency is
A paid residency status (several tiers) granting the right to live in Saudi Arabia without a sponsor, along with business and property privileges.
When it still makes sense
- You plan to spend substantial time in the Kingdom each year.
- You want residency rights alongside ownership, not just an asset.
- Your intended property sits outside the designated zones, where the direct route may not be available.
Our advice
Decide on the property first, then ask whether residency adds value for your life plans, not the other way round. Both routes deserve to be weighed carefully before any money moves.
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.