Saudi Arabia allows non-resident foreigners to use digital ID to buy property

Dubai: Saudi Arabia will allow non-Saudi, non-resident foreigners to purchase property in the Kingdom using a digital identification system, following a Cabinet decision approved last week.

The measure authorises the General Real Estate Authority, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the National Information Centre and other relevant agencies, to develop mechanisms for activating the digital ID ahead of the rollout of the Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law.

The Cabinet also endorsed a governance framework for non-Saudi property ownership and usufruct rights, as recommended by the Strategic Committee of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. This includes the formation of a specialised committee within the authority’s board to oversee the sector.

As part of the changes, the General Real Estate Authority’s board has been restructured, with its chief executive now serving as chairman, alongside members from several ministries and three representatives from the private sector.

The new ownership law, approved in July, will take effect in January 2026.

In August, the authority issued draft executive regulations requiring non-resident foreigners to obtain and activate a digital ID through the government’s Absher platform, open a Saudi bank account, and secure a local contact number before acquiring or using property in the Kingdom.

The move aims to streamline transactions, strengthen regulatory oversight, and attract more foreign investment into Saudi Arabia’s real estate market.