Saudi Arabia Officially Publishes Complete Designated Zones List for Foreign Property Buyers (June 2026)

The Saudi Cabinet approved the full Geographic Zones Document on June 23, 2026. REGA has now published the complete official list of zones where foreigners can buy property — 57 zones in Jeddah, 9 in Riyadh, 12 in Makkah, 10 in Medina, 17 in Al-Ula, and all giga-project zones.

This is the update foreign buyers have been waiting for. On June 23, 2026, the Saudi Cabinet — chaired by King Salman — formally approved the implementing regulations for the Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis, including the complete Geographic Zones Document. REGA immediately published the full list at the official Saudi Properties portal.

This fills in the last major gap from the January 2026 law: buyers can now see precisely which zones are approved, city by city, project by project.

What Was Published on June 23, 2026

REGA’s saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones now shows a full interactive map with every designated zone in the Kingdom, organized into 8 categories:

Urban Boundaries (all 13 Saudi administrative regions)
Giga & Mega Projects (NEOM, AMAALA, Red Sea Project)
Cities & Special Economic Zones (KAEC, Jazan SEZ, Ras Al-Khair SEZ)
Riyadh City (9 zones)
Jeddah Governorate (57 zones)
Makkah City (12 zones — Muslim foreigners only)
Al Madinah Al Munawwarah (10 zones — Muslim foreigners only)
Al-Ula Governorate (17 zones)

The portal is live. Applications are being accepted now.

Key Numbers

Location	Zones	Open To
Jeddah Governorate	57	All foreigners
Al-Ula Governorate	17	All foreigners
Riyadh City	9	All foreigners
Makkah City	12	Muslim foreigners only
Al Madinah Al Munawwarah	10	Muslim foreigners only
NEOM / AMAALA / Red Sea	3	All foreigners
Special Economic Zones	4	All foreigners

Riyadh: 9 Named Project Zones

Riyadh’s designated zones are focused on the capital’s largest development projects — not general residential neighborhoods. If you’re looking to buy in Riyadh, your options are:

Diriyah Gate — UNESCO heritage area + luxury residences
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) — Riyadh’s financial tower cluster
King Salman International Airport — New airport mixed-use zone
King Salman Park — Urban park with integrated community
New Murabba — PIF’s futuristic downtown development
Qiddiya — Entertainment city; residential launching
SEDRA — Northern Riyadh PIF residential community
Sports Boulevard and Arts District — 135km urban corridor
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) — Zones around Riyadh Metro stations

This is more focused than many buyers expected. Riyadh’s established residential neighborhoods (Al Nakheel, Hittin, Al Malqa, etc.) are not currently on the list. Foreign buyers in Riyadh are directed toward the new mega-development projects.

Jeddah: 57 Zones — The Most in the Kingdom

Jeddah is by far the most open city for foreign buyers. The portal lists 57 designated zones covering the entire Jeddah Governorate:

ALAROUS — Large mixed-use development
Jeddah Central — PIF’s Red Sea waterfront project
Development Zones (1–55) — 55 numbered zones covering established districts and new developments throughout the governorate

The 55 numbered zones correspond to specific geographic areas across Jeddah. Use the interactive map at saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones to see which zone a specific property falls into.

Makkah: 12 Zones (Muslim Foreigners Only)

Non-Muslims cannot buy in Makkah. For Muslim foreigners, 12 zones are now officially approved:

Ajyad Tower, ALMANAR, Jabal Omar, Makkah Al-Mukarramah Zones (1–3), Makkah Tower Building, Masar, Rou’a Al Haram Al Makki, Sumou Suburb, Thakher Makkah, Tilal Village.

Most zones cluster around the Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) — hotel-residential and serviced apartment projects primarily targeting pilgrims and Muslim investors.

Medina: 10 Zones (Muslim Foreigners Only)

Medina’s zones opened in January 2026 and have now been fully mapped in the Geographic Zones Document. 10 official zones:

Al-Ghurrah, Zone (1), Zone (2), Al-Mahwa, Dar Al Hijrah, Diyar Al-Muqarr, Downtown Madinah, Knowledge Economic City (KEC), Mishraf, Rua Al Madinah.

KEC remains the most established and active zone for foreign buyers — bookings have been open since late 2025. The other zones are phasing in through 2026–2027.

Al-Ula: 17 Zones — A New Market Opens

Al-Ula was not widely covered in earlier foreign ownership discussions, but the Geographic Zones Document reveals it as one of the most zone-rich locations in the Kingdom with 17 designated zones.

Al-Ula is Saudi Arabia’s heritage tourism capital — home to Hegra (the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site), AlUla Old Town, and the Royal Commission for AlUla’s (RCU) major hospitality expansion. The 17 zones are numbered and correspond to development areas being built around the heritage sites and the growing town.

Al-Ula is open to all foreigners regardless of religion.

How to Use the Portal Now

Step 1 — Browse zones: saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones Use the interactive map to explore what’s designated in each city.

Step 2 — Get your Absher Digital ID: Guide → Required before you can use the transaction portal.

Step 3 — Verify a specific property: aqar.rega.gov.sa Enter the Property Deed Number from your developer to confirm the property is in a designated zone. Green = approved. Grey = Saudi nationals only.

Step 4 — Apply: Non-residents apply via their Saudi digital ID activated through the Nafath app. Iqama holders apply directly using their Iqama number.

What This Means for Buyers

Jeddah buyers have the most choice — 57 zones covering a huge geographic spread. This is clearly the most accessible market for a first-time foreign buyer.

Riyadh buyers need to be aware that established residential neighborhoods are not currently in designated zones. The 9 Riyadh zones are all off-plan mega-projects, most of which won’t deliver residences for several years.

Al-Ula is a surprise addition with real momentum — the RCU masterplan is active and international developers are involved.

Medina and Makkah Muslim buyers now have a much clearer picture than before. The full zone list confirms 22 total zones across both holy cities.

The Disclaimer

This website is for informational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes legal, financial, or investment advice. Property laws in Saudi Arabia are evolving and information may change. Always consult a licensed Saudi legal professional before making any investment decisions.