Non-resident foreigners can now own property in Saudi Arabia via digital IDs
As part of the new expat property ownership law
Saudi Arabia has just announced the use of digital IDs to allow non-Saudi, non-resident foreigners to own property in the Kingdom. This is everything we know about the digital ID property ownership for foreigners.
The Ministry of Interior, together with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the National Information Centre, and the General Real Estate Authority, plus any relevant bodies, will develop mechanisms for activating the digital ID.
According to Saudi Gazette, the Cabinet also endorsed a decision by the Strategic Committee of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs on governance for non-Saudi property ownership and usufruct rights, including forming a committee within the authority’s board to oversee these matters.
The digital ID property ownership for foreigners rule comes nearly a month after the Kingdom first announced that Saudi Arabia will now allow expats to buy property in the Kingdom. After which, the full details of the expat property ownership law were revealed, which will take effect in January 2026.
Details on the expat property ownership law
The law consists of 15 articles and will come into force 180 days after its publication. Per the last announcement, non-Saudis will be allowed to buy property—but only in designated areas from January 2026.
- A non-Saudi may own real estate or acquire other real rights in real estate. Rules like which geographic zones non-Saudis may own or acquire real rights in, the types of real rights non-Saudis may acquire, the maximum percentage of ownership permitted to non-Saudis within such zones, and the maximum duration for usufruct rights for non-Saudis are yet to be determined.
- A non-listed company incorporated under Saudi law with one or more foreign shareholders may own or acquire real rights in property within the zones
Read the full law here.
Visit: rega.gov.sa
Images: Getty
