The single most important question in Saudi Arabia’s new foreign real estate ownership system isn’t whether a buyer is eligible — it’s whether the specific property is. The Real Estate Ownership System for Non-Saudi Nationals is built as a zoning framework, which means eligibility depends entirely on location, and the map of eligible locations has been rolling out in stages rather than arriving complete on day one.
Here’s what the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) has confirmed so far about where the system applies, and why checking the current zone status directly — rather than relying on any published list, including this one — is not optional.
The Four Cities Named at Launch
When the system entered into force on 22 January 2026, REGA confirmed it regulates ownership specifically in four cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah. These were the named starting scope — not necessarily the full and final geographic coverage of the law.
For Makkah and Madinah, REGA was explicit about a narrower rule than a blanket restriction. In REGA’s own words:
“Ownership in the two holy cities is restricted to Saudi companies and Muslim individuals, whether residing inside or outside the Kingdom.”
That means a non-Saudi, non-Muslim buyer is excluded from ownership in Makkah and Madinah specifically, while Riyadh and Jeddah operate under the system’s more general eligibility rules described in our overview of the ownership law.
The Geographical Zones Document
Beyond the four launch cities, REGA indicated at the time of the system’s launch that a fuller “Geographical Zones Document” — clarifying which additional areas across the Kingdom are open to non-Saudi ownership, and under what conditions — was expected during Q1 2026.
Independent legal trackers covering the rollout report that the Council of Ministers approved the Implementing Regulations and formally endorsed the designated geographic areas for non-Saudi ownership on 23 June 2026 — later than the original Q1 timeline, which is a useful reminder that government rollout schedules for a system this new can and do shift.
A location that is not yet designated eligible today may become eligible as the zone map expands — and the reverse is also possible if a zone’s status is revised. Treat any zone list, including a summary like this one, as a snapshot rather than a permanent map, and reconfirm status close to the actual transaction date.
How to Check Current Zone Status
The authoritative source is the official Saudi Properties portal (saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa), the same platform used to submit ownership applications. Because eligibility is assessed property-by-property against the current zone designation, the practical sequence for a prospective buyer is:
- Identify the specific property’s location and current zone status directly on the Saudi Properties portal
- Confirm eligibility category — resident individual (Iqama), non-resident individual (embassy digital identity), or company (Ministry of Investment registration first)
- Only then proceed to purchase negotiations, since a change in zone designation between due diligence and closing is a real risk on a system this early in its rollout
Real estate agents, developers, and legal advisors operating in this space should treat “is this zone currently eligible” as a standing question to re-verify on every transaction, not a fact to memorize once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah, according to REGA’s official announcement on the system’s 22 January 2026 launch date.
No. REGA’s own statement restricts ownership in the two holy cities to Saudi companies and Muslim individuals, whether they reside inside or outside the Kingdom — a narrower rule than the general framework applied in Riyadh and Jeddah.
No. REGA indicated a fuller Geographical Zones Document was expected in Q1 2026, and legal trackers report the Council of Ministers approved nationwide Implementing Regulations and zone designations on 23 June 2026 — later than the original timeline. The zone map should be treated as evolving, not fixed.
Directly on the official Saudi Properties portal (saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa), the same platform used for ownership applications. This is the authoritative, current source — not any third-party summary.
Only as a starting reference, not a final answer. Because the zone map has already shifted once from its original timeline, reconfirm the specific property’s status close to the actual transaction date rather than relying on information gathered earlier in the process.
- At launch (22 January 2026), REGA named Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah as the cities where the ownership system applies.
- Makkah and Madinah carry a narrower rule: ownership is restricted to Saudi companies and Muslim individuals, not a blanket ban on all non-Saudi buyers.
- A fuller nationwide Geographical Zones Document, originally expected Q1 2026, was reported approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 June 2026 — the rollout has already shifted once.
- The zone map should be treated as a snapshot, not a permanent reference — always reconfirm a specific property’s status on the Saudi Properties portal before transacting.
- Zone eligibility is a REGA/ownership question, separate from RETT tax treatment, which is assessed independently by ZATCA.
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Sources
- REGA — Non-Saudi Property Ownership System Enters into Force — official announcement naming the four launch cities and the holy cities restriction
- Saudi Properties Portal — official, current source for zone eligibility
- White & Case — Saudi Arabia Approves Landmark Real Estate Ownership Law — reporting on the 23 June 2026 Council of Ministers approval of nationwide zones
This article is based on REGA’s official launch announcement for the Real Estate Ownership System for Non-Saudi Nationals and independent legal trackers reporting on the subsequent Implementing Regulations timeline. Geographic zone eligibility changes over time and should always be confirmed directly on the Saudi Properties portal before relying on it for a transaction. This article does not constitute legal or investment advice. dariba.co is an independent platform with no consulting relationships.