Last updated: June 27, 2026

REGA Designated Zones for Foreign Property Ownership in Saudi Arabia (2026)

The complete official list of REGA designated zones where foreigners can buy property in Saudi Arabia — Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Medina, Al-Ula, mega projects, and special economic zones. Sourced from saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa.

Non-Resident · Key points for your situation

› Power of attorney required if you can't attend the notary in person

› Saudi bank mortgages not available to non-residents — plan for a cash purchase

› REGA approval typically required before title transfer — allow 2–4 extra weeks

› Budget 7–10% above the purchase price for total transaction costs

Iqama Holder · Key points for your situation

› Your Iqama is accepted across all government systems — Absher, REGA, Ministry of Justice

› Attend the notary in person — no power of attorney needed

› Mortgage may be available from select Saudi banks — typically up to 70% LTV

› Ensure your Iqama has at least 12 months validity before starting

How the Designated Zone System Works

Saudi Arabia does not permit blanket nationwide foreign property ownership. REGA designates specific geographic areas where foreign purchase is permitted. Outside these zones, property ownership is restricted to Saudi nationals.

The Saudi Properties portal is now the single authoritative source for all zone information.

In June 2026, REGA published the complete official list of designated zones at saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones. This is the most comprehensive zone disclosure the Saudi government has made to date.

The Official Portals

Zone lookup: saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones Browse the interactive map by category — giga projects, cities, Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Medina, Al-Ula. Each zone is displayed on a GIS map.

Transaction portal: aqar.rega.gov.sa To verify a specific property and complete a purchase:

Log in with your Absher Digital ID — get yours first →
Select “Request for Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership”
Enter the Property Deed Number — get this from the developer before committing anything
The map shows: Green = open for foreign freehold · Grey = Saudi nationals only

If a developer refuses to give you the Property Deed Number, walk away. There is no legitimate reason to withhold it.

The Complete Official Zone List (June 2026)

1. Urban Boundaries — All 13 Saudi Regions

The portal shows urban boundary zones covering all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. These establish the outer geographic limits of foreign ownership eligibility within each region:

Region
Riyadh Region
Makkah Al Mukarramah Region
Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Region
Al Qassim Region
Eastern Region
Asir Region
Tabuk Region
Hail Region
Northern Borders Region
Jazan Region
Najran Region
Al Bahah Region
Al Jawf Region

2. Giga & Mega Projects — Nationwide

These are the three major giga-project zones open to foreign buyers across Saudi Arabia:

Zone	Location
AMAALA	Tabuk Region (Red Sea coast)
NEOM	Tabuk Region (northwest)
Red Sea Project	Tabuk Region (Red Sea islands)

All three are open to foreigners regardless of religion.

AMAALA guide → · NEOM guide → · Red Sea Project guide →

3. Cities & Special Economic Zones

Zone	Location	Notes
Jazan Special Economic Zone	Jazan Region	Industrial/commercial SEZ on Red Sea
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)	Rabigh, north of Jeddah	Full city development on Red Sea
Ras Al-Khair Special Economic Zone	Eastern Region	Industrial and minerals SEZ
Special Economic Zone in King Abdullah Economic City	Rabigh	SEZ within KAEC boundary

4. Riyadh City — 9 Officially Designated Zones

Riyadh’s designated zones are all landmark mega-development projects within the capital. Open to all foreigners regardless of religion.

Zone	Description
Diriyah Gate	UNESCO World Heritage area; luxury hospitality and residences
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)	Riyadh’s premier business and residential towers
King Salman International Airport	New airport development zone; mixed-use
King Salman Park	Major urban park with residential component
New Murabba	PIF-backed downtown development; futuristic mixed-use
Qiddiya	Entertainment city southwest of Riyadh
SEDRA	Northern Riyadh residential community by PIF
The Sports Boulevard and the Arts District	Green urban spine through central Riyadh
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)	Residential zones around Riyadh Metro stations

Full Riyadh guide →

5. Jeddah Governorate — 57 Officially Designated Zones

Jeddah has the largest number of designated zones of any city in Saudi Arabia.

Named projects:

Zone	Description
ALAROUS	Major mixed-use development in Jeddah
Jeddah Central	PIF’s landmark waterfront regeneration project

Jeddah Development Zones (1–55):

Fifty-five numbered development zones span the full extent of the Jeddah Governorate — from the waterfront districts to inland residential and commercial areas. These cover a wide range of property types including apartments, villas, and mixed-use developments.

To identify which specific neighborhoods fall within each numbered zone, use the interactive map at saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones and select “Geographic zones of Jeddah Governorate.”

Full Jeddah guide →

6. Makkah City — 12 Designated Zones (Muslim Foreigners Only)

Important: All Makkah zones are restricted to Muslim foreigners. Non-Muslims cannot own property in Makkah under any circumstances.

Zone
Ajyad Tower
ALMANAR
Jabal Omar
Makkah Al-Mukarramah – Zone (1)
Makkah Al-Mukarramah – Zone (2)
Makkah Al-Mukarramah – Zone (3)
Makkah Tower Building
Masar
Rou’a Al Haram Al Makki
Sumou Suburb
Thakher Makkah
Tilal Village

Most Makkah zones are clustered around the Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram) and the Abraj Al-Bait complex. These are primarily hotel-residential and serviced apartment projects targeting pilgrims and Muslim investors.

Makkah restrictions guide →

7. Al Madinah Al Munawwarah — 10 Designated Zones (Muslim Foreigners Only)

Important: All Medina zones are restricted to Muslim foreigners. Non-Muslims cannot own property in Medina under any circumstances.

Medina’s zones opened formally on January 21, 2026, as part of the Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis. The official portal now lists 10 zones:

Zone	Notes
Al-Ghurrah	Residential district zone
Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah – Zone (1)	Numbered development zone
Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah – Zone (2)	Numbered development zone
Al-Mahwa	Residential district zone
Dar Al Hijrah	Named development project
Diyar Al-Muqarr	Residential development
Downtown Madinah	Central area mixed-use zone
Knowledge Economic City (KEC)	Most established zone; open now for bookings
Mishraf	Residential district zone
Rua Al Madinah	PIF-backed mega-development near Al-Masjid An-Nabawi

Medina property guide → · KEC full guide →

8. Al-Ula Governorate — 17 Designated Zones

Al-Ula is a major growth area for Saudi tourism and heritage investment. The portal lists 17 numbered zones across the Al-Ula Governorate — one of the highest zone counts of any location outside Jeddah.

Al-Ula Zone (1) through Zone (17)

Al-Ula is open to all foreigners regardless of religion. The zones cover the development areas around the UNESCO-listed Hegra (Mada’in Salih) site, the growing AlUla Old Town, and new hospitality and residential projects being built as part of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) masterplan.

Use the interactive map at saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones to view the precise boundaries of each Al-Ula zone.

How to Check a Developer’s Licence

Beyond zone status, verify the developer is licensed by REGA before signing anything:

Ask for the developer’s Unified Number (700 number)
Check it at rega.gov.sa/en under developer registry
If the developer doesn’t appear, or the project isn’t registered, stop immediately

Fraud Warning

Under the 2026 law, illegal property transactions carry fines of up to SAR 10 million (~$2.6 million). Common fraud patterns:

Developer claims a zone-eligible property but refuses to provide the Deed Number for portal verification
Payments requested to a private bank account rather than a WAFI escrow account
“Shadow ownership” arrangements where a Saudi national holds the deed on your behalf — void and illegal
Claims that a property is in a designated zone without being able to show it on the official portal map

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a REGA designated zone? +

A designated zone is a geographic area officially approved by the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) where non-Saudi nationals can legally purchase and own property. Buying outside a designated zone as a foreigner is not permitted and the transaction will be blocked on the official portal.

How many designated zones are there in Saudi Arabia? +

As of June 2026, the official Saudi Properties portal (saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones) lists zones across 5 city categories, 3 giga-project zones, 4 special economic zones, and 13 regional urban boundary zones. Jeddah alone has 57 designated zones. The list is updated periodically by REGA.

How do I verify if a property is in a designated zone? +

Use the official Saudi Properties portal at saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones to see the zone map for each area. To verify a specific property, use the transaction portal at aqar.rega.gov.sa — log in with your Absher Digital ID, enter the Property Deed Number, and the map will show Green (approved for foreign freehold) or Grey (Saudi nationals only).

What happens if I buy a property that's not in a designated zone? +

The Saudi Properties portal automatically blocks the transfer if the property is not in an approved zone. Any attempt to transfer ownership outside the portal is illegal and carries fines up to SAR 10 million (~$2.6 million) under the 2026 law.

Do designated zone boundaries change? +

Yes. REGA expands the zone list periodically. The January 2026 law significantly expanded designated zones. The full official list is now published at saudiproperties.rega.gov.sa/zones and is updated as new zones are approved.

Are designated zones different in Mecca and Medina? +

Yes. In Mecca and Medina, designated zones are only accessible to Muslim foreigners — non-Muslims are excluded from all zones in both holy cities regardless of the zone. In all other Saudi cities and zones, foreign ownership is open regardless of religion.

Can foreigners buy in Al-Ula? +

Yes. Al-Ula Governorate now has 17 officially designated zones listed on the Saudi Properties portal, making it one of the most zone-rich locations in the country. Al-Ula is open to all foreigners regardless of religion.

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