Saudi Arabia’s foreign property ownership regulations go live as the Saudi Properties portal opens to buyers

Saudi Arabia has taken its biggest step yet toward opening the property market to international buyers: the executive regulations for the Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis Law have now been published, and the official Saudi Properties portal has begun accepting foreign ownership applications. For Muslims worldwide hoping to own a home in Makkah or Madinah, the practical route to ownership is now live — with the Holy Cities’ special status firmly preserved.

What has just changed

Three developments have moved the framework from principle to practice over recent weeks:

• The executive regulations are published. They set out standardized procedures for acquiring property and real-estate rights, strengthen disclosure requirements, formalize electronic transactions, and introduce penalties of up to SAR 10 million for violations — giving buyers a clear, enforceable rulebook.
• The designated zones are confirmed. In June 2026 the Council of Ministers endorsed the geographic areas open to non-Saudi ownership, including the approved zones of Makkah and Madinah.
• The Saudi Properties portal is accepting applications. Run by the Real Estate General Authority (REGA), it is now the single official channel where buyers review the designated zones, apply for ownership, complete the required steps and have title registered.

What it means for buyers in Makkah and Madinah

The headline for our clients is continuity, not surprise: ownership in the Two Holy Cities stays reserved for Muslims, and only within the designated zones approved by the Council of Ministers. The reform doesn’t change who can own in Makkah and Madinah — it builds the machinery that lets eligible Muslim buyers actually complete a purchase through a transparent, rules-based system rather than the old case-by-case approvals.

In practical terms that means a defined application on the official portal, a clear registration and title process, and legal certainty: unregistered ownership is not recognized by the Saudi courts, so completing the official steps is essential. Our six-stage buying guide walks through exactly how that journey works, and the eligibility checker gives you an indicative answer in a minute.

A note on the new digital ownership rules

The regulations also formally recognize newer ownership structures, including digital and fractional ownership of real-estate assets. These innovations are aimed largely at the wider investment market outside the Holy Cities; individual residential ownership inside the designated zones of Makkah and Madinah continues to follow the Muslim-only, zone-based rules. As always, the specific structure that applies to any given purchase should be confirmed before you commit.

Where this leaves you

The direction of travel is clear: Saudi Arabia is making it genuinely possible, for the first time, for Muslims around the world to own a home near the Haramain — and the official plumbing to do it is now switched on. New-build availability is already reaching the market in the approved zones, from Knowledge Economic City and Rua Al Madinah in Madinah to the Masar destination in Makkah. You can browse current homes on our Properties for Sale in Madinah and Properties for Sale in Makkah pages.

Haramain Properties is a UK-based advisory and marketing business, not a law firm; this article is general information, not legal advice. The framework is new and the executive detail continues to be refined — the official Saudi Properties portal is the authoritative reference at every step, and we update our guides as requirements change. Book a consultation to discuss how these changes affect your plans.