A Fundamental Transformation in the Real Estate Environment

With the dawn of 2026, the real estate ecosystem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is entering a new phase marked by continued development and prosperity. This shift comes amid ongoing updates to the regulatory and legislative frameworks governing the sector, which have driven a fundamental transformation in the real estate environment and brought it closer to a state of full maturity.

As the new year begins, the Kingdom looks ahead to the implementation of the updated framework allowing non-Saudis to own real estate. This step aims to enhance investment and create promising opportunities, fully aligning with broader efforts to strengthen infrastructure-supporting legislation. These developments coincide with the completion of regulations related to the updated white land fees, as well as the launch of the new invoicing framework in the city of Riyadh.

Among the most notable recent regulatory and legislative developments within the Kingdom’s real estate ecosystem are the directives and decisions issued by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to further organize and regulate the sector. Most prominent among these are measures governing the relationship between landlords and tenants in Riyadh, the lifting of restrictions on large tracts of land north and west of the capital to enable the provision of residential plots at supported prices, the acceleration of amendments to white land fees, and the introduction of instant licenses for off-plan sales. Collectively, these measures have contributed to greater balance and stability in the real estate market.

All of these decisions and directives related to the real estate ecosystem are subject to close oversight and follow-up by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, in line with Vision 2030, which activates multiple supporting sectors and reinforces their integration with the real estate landscape.

This progress has been further reinforced by regulatory and legislative integration led by the General Real Estate Authority, in coordination with relevant government entities. Through the development of a unified digital infrastructure and aligned legislative frameworks, these efforts have enhanced market transparency and stimulated both local and foreign investment. In parallel, real estate platforms have played a significant role in strengthening sector governance and improving services for brokers and investors.

Against this backdrop of momentum and transformation, the fifth edition of the Real Estate Future Forum will take place this January, focusing on the sector’s most pressing and strategic topics. The Forum convenes at a pivotal moment, as the Kingdom’s real estate market enters a phase characterized by heightened maturity, increased attention, and the near-complete implementation of its regulatory and legislative framework. The Forum is expected to feature key policy directions and announcements from relevant government entities, alongside broad international participation representing more than 140 countries and over 300 speakers from both local and global markets.

In addition, the Forum is expected to provide participating local and international entities with opportunities to strengthen partnerships and alliances by offering a dedicated platform for the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding across the real estate and advisory sectors. This will support the expansion of cooperation and the formation of strategic partnerships among participants at this globally significant event.

The Forum’s agenda will include discussions across several core pillars, most notably transformation in the real estate industry, innovative real estate financing solutions, investment strategies, the adoption of PropTech and artificial intelligence applications and their impact on the real estate ecosystem locally and globally, as well as urban development and sustainability. These discussions will be complemented by a review of the major advancements achieved by the Kingdom’s real estate sector and its success in delivering landmark projects that have attracted high-value local and foreign investment.

*Abdullah Al Harbi

CEO - The Real Estate Future
Forum

President - FIABCI Saudi