Buying property in Riyadh with a dedicated expert

Riyadh's property purchase market is geographically segmented, with prices varying significantly between districts. The following profiles reflect purchase price data from Cavendish Maxwell (H1 2025), Sands of Wealth (2025), and Mada Properties (2025).

• Al Malqa (North Riyadh) — Ultra-premium: Riyadh's most expensive residential district. Purchase prices reach up to SAR 13,500 SAR/sqm for villas and SAR 6,600–SAR 10,500 SAR/sqm for apartments. Attracts affluent Saudi families and senior expatriate executives. Modern infrastructure, proximity to major commercial centres.
• Hittin (North Riyadh) — Premium: Established luxury district with villa prices of SAR 9,500–SAR 13,500 SAR/sqm. Popular with high-net-worth buyers seeking large family villas. Average villa purchase prices range from SAR 3.5 million SAR to SAR 5.6 million SAR (Mada Properties / Habitare, 2025).
• Al Nakheel (North Riyadh) — Premium: Average prices of SAR 7,200–SAR 10,300 SAR/sqm. Recorded 6% price growth in 2024 (Sands of Wealth, 2025). Proximity to Al Nakheel Mall drives demand from families and professionals.
• Al Narjis & Al Qirawan (North Riyadh) — Mid-premium: Popular with families and investors. Three-bedroom apartment purchase prices range from SAR 985,000 SAR to SAR 1.3 million SAR (Mada Properties, H1 2025). Strong demand from both end-users and buy-to-let investors.
• Al Olaya & Al Sulaymaniyah (Central Riyadh) — Business district / mid-to-high: Apartment prices of SAR 6,000–SAR 8,500 SAR/sqm. The commercial heart of Riyadh; attracts professionals and expatriates. Luxury units near King Fahd Road can reach SAR 10,000–SAR 15,000 SAR/sqm.
• Al Yasmin & Al Sahafa (North Riyadh) — Mid-tier: Maturing residential districts with a mix of villas, apartments, and townhouses. Prices in the mid-premium tier, above emerging districts but below Al Malqa and Hittin. Strong rental demand from expatriate families.
• Al Taawun (North Riyadh) — Emerging/metro-connected: Recorded a remarkable 32% price increase to SAR 9,470 SAR/sqm, driven by proximity to the Riyadh Metro (Sands of Wealth, 2025). Attracting investors and young professionals.
• Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) — Exclusive: Prices of SAR 9,000–SAR 16,000 SAR/sqm. Restricted access; primarily for diplomats and senior international executives. Limited supply sustains premium pricing.
• Al Shifa & Al Aziziyah (South/East Riyadh) — Affordable: Entry-level purchase market. Lower price points attract first-time buyers and value-oriented investors. Less developed infrastructure compared to northern districts.

1. Define budget and property criteria — Establish your acquisition budget including all transaction costs (7–10% on top of the purchase price), preferred districts, and property type. Obtain mortgage pre-approval if financing is required.
2. Property search and viewings — Identify properties through licensed brokers registered on the Aqari platform (REGA), developer sales offices, or portals such as Bayut KSA and Aqar. Conduct physical viewings and compare comparable sales in the target district.
3. Legal and technical due diligence — Verify the title deed via REGA's Title Deed Verification service and the Aqari platform. Obtain a Najiz Statement from the Ministry of Justice to confirm ownership, absence of liens, and no judicial orders. Commission a structural survey if purchasing an older property.
4. Offer and preliminary agreement — Submit a written offer. Once accepted, sign a preliminary purchase agreement (Aqd Ibtidai) setting out the purchase price, payment schedule, and completion timeline. Pay a deposit of 5–10% of the purchase price, typically held in escrow by a licensed real estate broker (Sands of Wealth, 2025).
5. RETT payment — Register the transaction and pay the 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax via the ZATCA online portal. A payment receipt is mandatory before the deed transfer can proceed.
6. Final sale deed at the Notary Public or via Najiz — Both parties (or their authorised representatives) sign the final sale and purchase deed (Aqd Bay') before a Notary Public (Kitabat Al-Adl) or through the Ministry of Justice's Najiz digital platform. Legal title transfers upon execution and payment of the full consideration.
7. Property registration — Register the new ownership in the national Real Estate Registry (REGA). The electronic title deed (Sak) is issued in the buyer's name. Registration must be completed to give the transfer full legal effect.
8. Handover — Receive the keys and conduct a final inspection. For off-plan purchases, handover occurs upon completion of construction in accordance with the developer's schedule.

The complete process typically takes 2 to 4 months from initial search to final deed registration for a standard residential purchase (Sands of Wealth, 2025).

Financing options for non-Saudi buyers purchasing property in Riyadh have expanded in recent years, though they remain more restricted than those available to Saudi nationals.

Mortgage access for expatriate residents

Expatriates holding a valid Iqama (residency permit) can access mortgage financing from Saudi banks and licensed finance companies. Key conditions typically include:

• A valid Iqama linked to stable employment with a recognised employer in Saudi Arabia.
• A minimum monthly income threshold, which varies by lender (typically SAR 3,000 SAR to SAR 15,000 SAR depending on the loan amount).
• A down payment of 20% to 30% of the purchase price for expatriate borrowers (compared to 5–10% for qualifying Saudi nationals under government programmes).
• Loan-to-value (LTV) ratios of 70% to 80% for expatriates, depending on the bank and residency status.

Interest rates

Following three SAMA repo rate cuts in 2025, the benchmark repo rate stood at 4.25% as of December 2025. Mortgage rates for foreign residents at Saudi banks range from approximately 4.10% to 5.00% at the lower end, rising to 5%–8% for borrowers with less established banking profiles (Bayut KSA, 2025; Sands of Wealth, 2025). Because the Saudi riyal is pegged to the US dollar, Saudi rates closely track US Federal Reserve movements.

Non-resident buyers (without Iqama)

Non-resident foreign buyers without a Saudi residency permit face significant restrictions on traditional bank mortgage access. The most common financing route is developer payment plans for off-plan properties, which allow buyers to pay in instalments over the construction period. This route is used by the majority of non-resident international buyers (Rakez, 2025).

Premium Residency

Holders of Saudi Premium Residency (permanent option: SAR 800,000 SAR; annual option: SAR 100,000 SAR) benefit from enhanced property ownership rights and may access more favourable financing terms from certain lenders.

Government programmes

The Sakani programme and Real Estate Development Fund (REDF) subsidised financing are reserved exclusively for Saudi nationals and are not available to foreign buyers.

When purchasing property in Riyadh, buyers typically engage several professionals whose fees form part of the total acquisition cost.

Real estate agent (broker)

• The standard commission is 2.5% of the transaction value, as set by Saudi Real Estate Brokerage Law (Arab News / Saudipedia).
• VAT at 15% applies to the commission amount.
• The commission is most commonly paid by the buyer, though this is negotiable and should be agreed in writing.
• Agents must be licensed and registered on the Aqari platform (REGA). A licensed broker's service typically covers property search, viewings, price negotiation, preliminary agreement drafting, and coordination with the notary.

Legal advisor / real estate lawyer

• For a straightforward residential purchase, legal advisory and contract review fees in Riyadh typically range from SAR 5,000 SAR to SAR 20,000 SAR.
• For complex transactions (foreign buyers, off-plan, commercial elements), fees can rise to SAR 20,000 SAR–SAR 50,000 SAR (Sands of Wealth, early 2026).
• Services include title deed verification, Najiz Statement review, due diligence on encumbrances, contract drafting, and representation at the Notary Public.

Notary fees

• Notarisation at the Notary Public (Kitabat Al-Adl) or via the Najiz digital platform costs approximately SAR 500 SAR to SAR 2,000 SAR for standard residential transactions, plus 1%–2% of the property value for comprehensive legal services where applicable (Sands of Wealth, 2025).

Property valuation

• Required by lenders for financed purchases. Valuation fees vary by property value and the appointed surveyor, and are typically paid by the buyer.

Summary of buyer-side costs

• RETT: 5% of purchase price
• Agent commission: 2.5% + 15% VAT on commission
• Registration fee: ~0.5% of purchase price
• Legal/notary fees: SAR 5,000 SAR–SAR 20,000 SAR (standard)
• Total transaction costs: approximately 7%–10% of the purchase price