Red Sea Project — Can Foreigners Buy Property? (2026)

Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project is partially open — first resorts on Shura Island are trading. Foreign freehold ownership available. Here's what investors need to know.

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

› Verify the property is within a REGA-designated zone before proceeding

› 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

Overview

The Red Sea Project — now operating as Red Sea Global (RSG) — is a luxury eco-tourism destination developed across islands on Saudi Arabia’s northwest Red Sea coast. Backed by PIF, it is one of the first Saudi mega-projects to actually open and begin generating tourism revenue.

What Is Open Right Now (April 2026)

Venue	Status
Red Sea International Airport (RSI)	Open since 2023
First 3 resorts on Shura Island	Open (2025)
Additional resorts on Shura Island	Opening through 2026
AMAALA Phase 1 (Triple Bay)	Opening Q3 2026

The first phase targets 27 resorts total. The original 2030 plan of 81 resorts has been revised — Red Sea Global says construction continues, but the timeline and scale have been reassessed.

Foreign Ownership

Status: Open. The Red Sea Project operates in a special zone with some of the clearest foreign ownership rules of any Saudi mega-project.

Title: Freehold for foreign buyers
Nationality: Open to all nationalities, Muslim and non-Muslim
Residency link: Qualifying property purchases may support Saudi Premium Residency application (SAR 4M+ threshold)
January 2026 law: Further reinforced the legal clarity for foreign freehold in designated zones

Property Types Available

Beachfront and island villas — ultra-luxury, starting above SAR 3M
Resort apartments — often linked to branded hotel operators
Branded residences — tied to international groups (Four Seasons, Rosewood etc. at AMAALA)

No mid-market or affordable housing exists here. This is a pure luxury play.

Investment Considerations

Strengths:

Actually operational — this is not vaporware. Guests are arriving.
Foreign freehold in a genuine special zone — legally the cleanest of any Saudi project
Premium international brands committed — credible operators managing properties
Saudi Tourism target: 150M annual visitors by 2030 — luxury coastal resort is the clearest beneficiary

Risks:

Remote location — the tourism case depends on Saudi Arabia achieving its inbound tourism targets
Scale-back from 81 to 27 initial resorts signals the full vision will take longer than planned
Luxury only — no established resale market exists yet; liquidity is limited
Entry prices are high and rental yields depend on occupancy at a destination that is still building its reputation

How to Enquire

Contact Red Sea Global at redseaglobal.com. There is no public property portal — sales are handled through the developer’s investment team.

Related: AMAALA → · NEOM → · Non-resident buying guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners buy property in the Red Sea Project? +

Yes. The Red Sea Project operates under a Red Sea Global special zone framework that explicitly permits foreign freehold ownership. Luxury villas, resort apartments, and branded residences have been sold to foreign buyers. The project is partially operational — first resorts on Shura Island are open.

Is the Red Sea Project actually open? +

Partially. The first three resorts on Shura Island (the project's main hub) opened in 2025. AMAALA, the ultra-luxury sister destination under Red Sea Global, is targeting Q3 2026. The original 2030 target of 81 resorts has been scaled back to an initial phase of 27 — though Red Sea Global denies a full downsize.

Where is the Red Sea Project? +

The project spans a 28,000km² zone on Saudi Arabia's northwest Red Sea coast, centred on a 90-island archipelago approximately 500km north of Jeddah. The main hub island is Shura Island. The nearest major access point is via a dedicated Red Sea airport (IATA: RSI) open since 2023.

How do I buy property in the Red Sea Project? +

Sales go through Red Sea Global's investment team directly — there is no public listing portal. Contact them at redseaglobal.com. Entry prices for luxury villas start above SAR 3 million. Foreign buyers acquire freehold title under the special zone framework.

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