Kanes AL Foras Real Estate KANS
Property ownership for non-resident foreigners

Own property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in full, permanent ownership in your own name

Since 23 June 2026 (8 Muharram 1448 AH), applications for property ownership and real estate investment by non-resident foreigners in Saudi Arabia have been officially accepted. They may now own one or more properties, register them officially in their own names in the Saudi Real Estate Registry, and sell, lease or bequeath them. Whether you have visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah, or you are an investor looking for real estate opportunities in the Kingdom, this information explains where, how and at what cost, drawing on official sources and on a licensed broker who will accompany you from the very first step.

A word you will read often: “zone”

Before we come to the zone, here is how the Kingdom is divided administratively. Please note: in most countries the city is the basic unit, but in Saudi Arabia the basic unit is the region:

1. The administrative regionThis is the largest and most fundamental unit. There are 13 regions, such as the Riyadh Region, the Makkah Region, the Madinah Region and the Eastern Region.
2. The governorate or cityEach region contains cities and governorates. The Makkah Region, for example, includes Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Rabigh and others.
3. The neighbourhoodEach city is made up of neighbourhoods, such as the Al-Rawdah neighbourhood in Jeddah or the Al-Aqiq neighbourhood in Riyadh.

A zone is a geographical area drawn on the map with official boundaries. It may be a neighbourhood, a group of neighbourhoods or a major project within a city, designated by the Council of Ministers, within which resident and non-resident foreigners are permitted to own property.

There are currently 917 zones across all regions of the Kingdom, and each zone has its own rules: who may own property there, and which uses are permitted (residential, commercial, industrial…). So the first question for any property is: is it within a zone permitted for your category? This is the first thing we verify for you.

Because zones are drawn at the level of cities and neighbourhoods, the rules may differ between two cities in the same region. In the Makkah Region, some zones are for Muslims only, while the remaining zones are open to all faiths, as in Jeddah and Taif: both lie in the Makkah Region, yet they are open to all faiths. The same applies to the Madinah Region. In all other zones across the Kingdom, ownership is open to all faiths.

Who is eligible to own property?

This information is intended first and foremost for non-resident foreigners who live outside the Kingdom: those who have visited for Umrah, Hajj or to visit the Prophet’s Mosque and whose hearts have remained attached to it; those who have visited once for work or tourism; and those who have not yet visited but are looking for an investment opportunity in a growing market.

Non-resident foreigners, from any country in the world

You do not need to be resident in the Kingdom, nor to have visited it before. All that is required is the intention to own or invest.

Within the designated zones you acquire full, permanent ownership, whether residential, commercial or investment property depending on the zone, with no upper limit on the number of properties. You may sell whenever you wish, invest, and pass your property on to your heirs.

Foreign Ownership Zones for Non-Residents in Saudi Arabia

917 officially designated geographical zones across all regions of the Kingdom. These are the leading cities, and each city has a detailed guide with its map and market figures.

Makkah Region

A vast region with many cities, divided into two parts with different rules:

Makkah zones (for Muslims only)

12 zones for resident and non-resident Muslim foreigners: Jabal Omar, Makkah Towers, Ajyad Tower, Masar, King Salman Gate, Thakher Makkah, Al-Manar, Dahiyat Somow, Tilal Village, and Makkah Areas (1), (2) and (3).

For Muslims onlyResident and non-resident

Makkah Region zones (all faiths)

Jeddah: 57 zones covering all uses, including Downtown Jeddah, Al-Arous and 55 development areas. In Taif, Rabigh, Al-Lith, Al-Qunfudhah, Khulais, Al-Jumum, King Abdullah Economic City and elsewhere, there are 58 zones for residential and mixed residential-commercial use.

All faithsResident and non-resident

Madinah Region

It, too, is divided into two parts:

Madinah zones (for Muslims only)

10 zones for resident and non-resident Muslim foreigners: Rua Al Madinah, Downtown Madinah, Dar Al Hijrah, Mishraf, Al-Ghurrah, Diyar Al-Maqar, Al-Mahwa, Knowledge Economic City, and Madinah Areas (1) and (2).

For Muslims onlyResident and non-resident

Madinah Region zones (all faiths)

AlUla: 17 zones covering all uses. In Yanbu, Yanbu Al-Nakhl, Al-Mahd, Al-Hanakiyah, Al-Ais and elsewhere, there are 111 zones for residential and mixed residential-commercial use.

All faithsResident and non-resident

Riyadh City

8 zones at the heart of the giga-projects: KAFD, Diriyah Gate, New Murabba, King Salman Park, Sports Boulevard, King Salman International Airport, Qiddiya and Sedra.

All faithsResidentialCommercialResident and non-resident

Eastern Region

Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Qatif and Al-Ahsa: extensive zones covering all uses.

All faithsAll usesResident and non-resident

Other regions

Asir, Tabuk, Jazan, Najran, Al-Baha, Hail, Al-Qassim, Al-Jouf and the Northern Borders: hundreds of zones, most of them with no restrictions on use.

All faithsResident and non-resident

In every city, ownership is permitted at all stages of development, including off-plan purchases from a licensed developer. Within the urban boundaries of Riyadh City and Jeddah Governorate, an additional zone is allocated to comprehensive development projects on plots of 80,000 square metres or more.

Steps for Non-Resident Foreigners to Own One or More Properties in Saudi Arabia

Six steps, and we are with you at every one of them.

  1. Digital IDIssued to non-resident foreigners through the Saudi embassy or consulate in your country, it is the key to accessing Saudi Arabia’s government e-platforms.How to obtain it:• Visit the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, create an account, fill in your details and upload the required documents, then book an appointment at the embassy or consulate.
    • On the day of your appointment, visit the embassy or consulate, submit your documents and register your fingerprints.
    • Once it has been confirmed that all requirements are met, you will receive a notification that your Digital ID has been issued.
  2. Saudi SIM cardA Saudi mobile number used to activate the Digital ID issued to you by the embassy or consulate, and linked to two government platforms. The first is Absher, the Ministry of Interior’s e-services platform. The second is Nafath, the National Single Sign-On, the secure gateway to government platforms. Verification messages for logging in to the official platforms are sent to this number.
  3. Bank accountAn account in your name with a bank in the Kingdom makes payments and settling fees easier and faster. The choice is yours: you may transfer your funds to your account first and pay from it, or transfer directly to the developer. We will advise you on the method that suits you best.
  4. Choosing the propertyWhether your aim is a home or an investment, we will recommend the most suitable property in the city and zone you prefer, of the type that suits you: a villa, an apartment, a shop, a building or a hotel, in line with your budget. Before any step, we verify that the property lies within a zone permitted for your category and that its title deed is sound in the Real Estate Registry.Tell us what you are looking for, and we will send you the available options:CallEnquiry form
  5. Application and documentsThe ownership application is submitted online through the Saudi Properties portal, the official government platform.Required documents:• Digital ID number.
    • Passport.
    • Saudi mobile number.
    • Bank account in the Kingdom.
    • Details of the property you have chosen.    Paid online:• Real Estate Transaction Tax.
    • The service fees shown to you on the portal before payment.    Details under Tax and fees.
  6. Title deed in your nameThe contract is notarised, the title deed is issued and the property is registered in your name in the Real Estate Registry. From that moment the property is yours: you may invest in it, sell it or keep it.

Do not worry about the steps: we help you with all of them from start to finish, until the title deed is issued in your name. We recommend that the process be handled through a real estate broker licensed by the Real Estate General Authority (FAL), who will verify every property for you and protect your rights.

Joint ownership with another person, whether a foreigner or a Saudi, is permitted in specified shares, and the property may be mortgaged for financing in accordance with the regulations.

Tax and Fees for Buying Property in Saudi Arabia

Government fees are set by law, and they differ between the time of purchase and the time of sale.

When you buy the property

ItemRateNote
Property priceAs agreedPaid from your bank account in the Kingdom to the seller or developer.
Real Estate Transaction Tax (Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority)5% of the property valueLegally borne by the seller, unless you agree in the contract to bear it yourself.
Non-Saudi ownership fee (Real Estate General Authority)None at purchaseThe fee is charged on sale only, as shown in the following table.

When you sell the property later

ItemRateWhere
Real Estate Transaction Tax5% of the sale valueThroughout the Kingdom, payable by every seller, Saudi or non-Saudi
Non-Saudi property disposal fee (Real Estate General Authority)2% of the sale valueRiyadh City, Jeddah Governorate, Makkah, Madinah
The same fee0%Rest of the Kingdom
Example: you buy an apartment in Riyadh for SAR 1,000,000 and the seller bears the transaction tax: you pay no government fees on purchase. Some years later you sell it for SAR 1,500,000: you pay the 5% transaction tax (SAR 75,000) and the 2% fee (SAR 30,000). Had the apartment been in Dammam, you would not have paid the 2% fee.

The 2% fee is zero in certain cases, including: division of an estate, enforcement of a final court judgment, expropriation in the public interest, transfer of the property to a company or fund in the Kingdom that you wholly own, and the sale of units you have developed on land you purchased, provided the development is completed within the licence period. Undeveloped land within the cities covered is subject to the White Land Tax, as it is for any owner.

About us

Kanes AL Foras Real Estate… a bridge between international investors and the Kingdom’s opportunities

Kanes AL Foras Real Estate is a Saudi company founded in 2024 as part of Gate Istanbul Real Estate Group’s expansion into the Saudi market. It is licensed by the Real Estate General Authority under FAL licence no. 1200034852 for real estate brokerage and marketing, and its commercial registration (Unified National Number) is 7043113815. Its purpose is to serve as a bridge between international investors and the Kingdom’s opportunities under Vision 2030. Kans is owned by Gate Istanbul Real Estate in Türkiye.

International experience since 2012

The Group has been active in international real estate markets since 2012, in Türkiye and the UAE, and has accompanied many investors of various nationalities from their very first question through to the transfer of ownership. Today it places this experience at the service of investors wishing to own and invest in the Kingdom.

A presence on the Saudi scene

Kans attended the Real Estate Future Forum in Riyadh by invitation, its founder has taken part in economic delegations between Türkiye and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the company is building partnerships with developers and real estate offices within the Kingdom.

Eng. Fuad Badawi, Founder & CEO of Kanes AL Foras Real Estate

A word from the Founder & CEO

“What the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing today is not merely growth in a property market, but a transformation that is redrawing its place on the map of global investment. Vision 2030 has made the Kingdom a destination to which investors everywhere aspire, and opening the door to ownership by non-Saudis has turned that aspiration into a real opportunity.
I began this journey in 2012 with Gate Istanbul Real Estate, followed by Dubai Evleri Real Estate in the UAE, and I have spent more than a decade building economic bridges between Türkiye, the Gulf states and the wider world, taking part in international business delegations and forums in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Egypt. I have seen how trust and accurate information make all the difference to an investor’s decision.
It was out of this experience that Kanes AL Foras Real Estate was born. We founded it in 2024, as soon as talk began of opening ownership to non-Saudis, in preparation for this moment. With applications from non-resident foreigners being accepted from June 2026, a door has opened that many around the world had long awaited: the chance for an investor to own property in the Kingdom in full, permanent ownership in their own name, to live in, invest in or pass on to their heirs. And for those who have visited the Two Holy Mosques and whose hearts have become attached to them, owning property in Makkah and Madinah has become an attainable dream.
We founded Kans to be the investor’s companion on this new journey: we explain the regulations to them from their official sources, choose with them the right property within a permitted zone, and accompany them at every step until the title deed is issued in their name. Kans is an extension of those bridges towards the Kingdom, placing in every investor’s hands a clear and secure opportunity in a market that is writing a new chapter in its history.”

Fuad BadawiFounder & CEO, Kanes AL Foras Real Estatefouadbadawi.com

Speak with me directly:

Callfuad@kans.sa

Our vision: to be the party investors trust before they acquire any property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Our mission: accurate information from its official source, a property within a permitted zone with a sound title deed, and clear guidance until the title deed is issued in the investor’s name, contributing to the Kingdom’s journey towards a real estate market that attracts the world.

Our services

Real estate brokerage

We recommend the property best suited to your goal and budget, whether a home or an investment, verify its zone and title deed, and accompany you through every step until the title deed is issued in your name.

Marketing developers’ projects

We market the projects of licensed developers to investors inside and outside the Kingdom, bringing each project to those who are looking for it.

Marketing properties for their owners

If you own a property and wish to sell it, we will market it for you and bring it to the right buyers.

Rental brokerage

We help property owners, wherever they may be, to let their properties, bringing them to the right tenants and following up on the contract procedures with them.

Why Kanes AL Foras Real Estate?

A licensed broker inside the Kingdom

Dealing with a licensed real estate broker protects your rights and ensures that every step complies with the regulations. Kans is licensed by the Real Estate General Authority (FAL) under no. 1200034852, and you can verify this number through the official enquiry service.

We understand the investor coming from abroad

The owners of Kans have worked in international real estate markets since 2012, in Türkiye and the UAE, with investors of many nationalities, and they know your questions before you ask them.

Please send us your enquiry using the form

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Frequently Asked Questions about Foreign Ownership in Saudi Arabia

What does “full ownership” mean?
It means the property is registered in your name in the Real Estate Registry with no fixed term. You may sell it, invest in it and pass it on to your heirs, and it remains yours for as long as you own it.
I am a resident of the Kingdom. What am I entitled to?
Everything a non-resident foreigner is entitled to, plus the right to own a property to live in outside the zones in any city except Makkah and Madinah, and to access the platform directly with your residence permit (Iqama) number. For more details, please contact us:CallWhatsApp
I am a citizen of a GCC country. Does this law apply to me?
GCC citizens are treated in the same way as Saudis with regard to ownership throughout the Kingdom, under regulations specific to them, with special rules in Makkah and Madinah. For more information, please contact us:CallWhatsApp
Can companies and funds own property?
Yes: Saudi companies with a foreign partner, foreign companies registered with the Ministry of Investment, and listed companies and funds in accordance with the rules of the Capital Market Authority. For details, please contact us:CallWhatsApp
Is ownership truly permanent, or is it for a fixed term?
It is permanent. Full ownership is registered in your name with no term. The 99-year period applies only to the usufruct right, which is a different product for those who do not wish to buy.
How many zones have been designated for foreign ownership in Saudi Arabia?
So far, 917 zones have been designated for resident and non-resident foreigners, spread across the Kingdom’s cities. The list is updated on the Saudi Properties portal, and we verify the zone of any property for you before purchase.
Is it possible to own property outside the zones?
Investment ownership by non-Saudis is confined to the designated zones. The exception is residents of the Kingdom, who may own one property to live in outside the zones, except in Makkah and Madinah.
Can a foreigner buy land in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, within designated zones whose rules permit the intended land use, whether residential, commercial or raw land for development. We verify the permitted use within the land’s zone for you before purchase.
Can foreigners buy an apartment in Makkah or Madinah?
Yes, for resident and non-resident Muslim foreigners, within the Makkah and Madinah zones designated for Muslims. Jeddah, Taif, AlUla, Yanbu and other cities in the two regions are open to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
How do non-resident foreigners obtain a Digital ID?
You apply for it at the Saudi embassy or consulate in your country, and then activate it with a Saudi mobile number. It is the first step in your ownership journey, and we guide you through it from the outset.
Can non-resident foreigners open a bank account in Saudi Arabia?
A bank account in the Kingdom is one of the requirements for ownership by non-resident foreigners, and it is opened in your name once your Digital ID has been issued and activated. Procedures vary from bank to bank, so we will guide you to the route best suited to your situation.
Is a passport sufficient?
Non-resident foreigners need a Digital ID issued by the Saudi mission in their country, a single step at the start of the journey through which we will guide you. Residents use their residence permit (Iqama) number.
Can I let and manage the property from abroad?
Yes. You may let the property, and you may appoint someone to manage it for you under a certified power of attorney. The only exception is a home owned by a resident outside the zones in Riyadh or Jeddah, which is for personal residence and may not be let.
Does buying property in Saudi Arabia grant residency?
Ownership and residency are two separate tracks. Anyone wishing to obtain permanent residency may apply to the Premium Residency programme, which includes a product specifically for property owners; this is a separate application.
What happens to my property if I leave the Kingdom for good, or if the zone changes later?
Nothing. An owner’s final departure does not affect their ownership, and any subsequent amendment to the zones does not affect ownership acquired before it.
Can I buy off-plan?
Yes, at every stage of development within the approved zones, from a licensed developer. The off-plan unit is registered in the Real Estate Registry at the developer’s request.
Are the Real Estate Transaction Tax and the 2% fee paid only once?
Yes, each is paid only once, on sale, and is not repeated for as long as you own the property:
• Real Estate Transaction Tax of 5%: paid once on each sale, and legally borne by the seller.
• The 2% fee: paid once by the non-Saudi owner on selling the property, and only in Riyadh City, Jeddah Governorate, Makkah and Madinah.
So if you later sell in one of these cities, the total you pay on sale is 7% (5% + 2%), and in the rest of the Kingdom only 5%. There is no additional fee on purchase for being a foreigner.
Who pays the 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax: the seller or the buyer?
The law places it on the seller. In practice, however, many transactions are agreed with the buyer paying it, and ultimately it is the contract that determines who pays. That is why, before signing, we make clear to you who will pay it in your transaction, so that there are no surprises.
Is there an annual property tax in Saudi Arabia?
No. There is no annual tax on property ownership in the Kingdom, whether on apartments, villas or buildings. The only exception is the White Land Tax: an annual fee on undeveloped land within the cities covered by the programme, which applies to every owner, Saudi or non-Saudi.
Are there taxes on rental income in Saudi Arabia?
• Residential rent: exempt from VAT.
• Rent on commercial property, such as shops and offices: subject to 15% VAT if the landlord is VAT-registered.
Income tax on rental income for non-Saudi owners varies according to the circumstances and the form of ownership (individual or company), and we will explain it to you in light of your situation before purchase.
How much does Kans charge for its services?
That depends on how you acquire your property:
• If you choose a property in a project by a developer we market: the developer pays our commission, and you pay us nothing.
• If you ask us to search for a specific property to meet your requirements: we charge you a brokerage commission set out in a written brokerage contract. The Real Estate Brokerage Law sets it at 2.5% of the transaction value, and a higher or lower rate may be agreed in writing depending on the service required.
In either case, you will have everything clearly in writing before any step is taken.

Official sources

This information is a general explanation that is reviewed on an ongoing basis; the decision on any specific property is made through the Saudi Properties portal when the application is submitted.

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