Housing Regulations Intelligence
Saudi Arabia’s housing regulatory landscape has been comprehensively overhauled under Vision 2030, with the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) consolidating its role as the sector’s central regulator. REGA oversees brokerage licensing through the FAL system, manages the Ejar digital rental platform, and administers the Wafi off-plan sales programme, which now encompasses 434 licensed projects and 350 qualified developers.
The regulatory framework underwent landmark changes in 2025 and 2026. A five-year rent freeze for Riyadh, enacted by royal decree in September 2025, locks residential and commercial rents at 2025 levels until September 2030. The White Land Tax was reformed under Royal Decree M/244 in April 2025, introducing progressive rates up to 10 percent to discourage land hoarding across more than 5,500 vacant plots covering 411 million square metres. The new foreign ownership law (Royal Decree M/14), effective January 2026, replaced the restrictive 2000-era framework with a geographical zoning model opening the market to non-residents and institutional investors.
Our regulations coverage includes foreign ownership law analysis, Riyadh rent freeze mechanics, White Land Tax reform, FAL licensing requirements, and Ejar platform mandates. See also Wafi Program entity profile, Mortgage Reform, and our policy comparison analyses.
Ejar Rental Platform: Digitising Saudi Arabia's Rental Sector
Analysis of REGA's Ejar platform — mandatory contract registration, tenant and landlord protections, integration with the Riyadh rent freeze, and its role in rental market transparency.
FAL Brokerage Licensing: REGA's Professional Standards for Saudi Real Estate
Guide to REGA's FAL licensing system — requirements, authorized activities, fees, qualification programmes, and the regulatory framework professionalising Saudi real estate brokerage.
Foreign Ownership Law 2026: Royal Decree M/14 and the New Real Estate Investment Framework
Comprehensive analysis of Saudi Arabia's new foreign ownership law — zone-based approach, eligible buyers, Makkah/Madinah restrictions, transaction fees, digital fractional ownership, and REGA registration.
Riyadh Rent Freeze: Five-Year Price Control and Its Impact on Housing Markets
Analysis of the September 2025 royal decree freezing Riyadh residential and commercial rents for five years — mechanism, Ejar enforcement, landlord provisions, and market implications.
White Land Tax Reform: Progressive Rates Up to 10% Under Royal Decree M/244
Analysis of Saudi Arabia's revised White Land Tax — progressive rates replacing 2.5% flat rate, 5,500 vacant plots covering 411M sqm, extension to vacant buildings, and market impact assessment.