New for 2026 · Muslims worldwide can now own in the Holy Cities

Own property in the Holy Cities with confidence

Saudi Arabia's ownership law opens designated zones of Makkah and Madinah to Muslim buyers worldwide. Everything you need to understand it is here: eligibility, the official Saudi Properties portal, the approved zones, the developments and the full costs.

In force: Ownership law live since January 2026
22 zones: Officially listed across both Holy Cities
Muslims worldwide: Residency in the Kingdom not required

Latest properties for sale

Live project · Madinah

Al Alyaa at Knowledge Economic City

Two, three and four bedroom homes inside the Haram boundary — from SAR 1,851,150 to SAR 4,263,310, with sky homes and private roof terraces on the top floors.

Explore Al Alyaa

Properties for sale in Madinah Properties for sale in Makkah

Get started

Three steps before you commit to a unit

Get your digital ID

Foreign buyers transact through Saudi digital identity — Saudi SIM, Border Number, Absher, Nafath — and the REGA Saudi Properties portal. We guide you through verification, document attestation and portal registration so your buyer profile is ready before availability is released.

Start your digital ID

Check your eligibility

Ownership inside the designated Makkah and Madinah zones is open to Muslims worldwide, subject to buyer profile, zone and deed type. Take the one-minute check, then we give a written eligibility opinion per zone and per unit before any deposit.

Check eligibility

Register interest

Availability in the approved zones is released progressively by developer and phase. Register your brief — city, zone, unit type and budget — and we notify you as verified releases open.

Market status: the designated zones were approved in 2026 and the Saudi Properties portal is open for foreign applications. Zone lists and release schedules are set by the authorities and developers and change over time — we verify current terms before any recommendation.

Two cities, one calling

Where would you like to own?

Both Holy Cities are open to Muslim buyers inside their designated zones, but the product, the tenure structures and the demand drivers differ sharply.

Masjid al-Haram

Buy in Makkah

Approved residences within reach of the Holy Mosque, built for pilgrims and long-term owners alike. Twelve Cabinet-approved zones, dominated by hospitality-led and branded residential product.

Masjid an-Nabawi

Buy in Madinah

Serene, well-connected developments near the Prophet's Mosque with strong pilgrim rental demand. Ten approved zones, from the central precinct to the eastern smart-city districts.

The process

How buying works, in six stages

From digital setup to ownership and management, this is the path a non-resident buyer follows under the 2026 rules.

Digital readiness

Saudi SIM, Border Number, Absher, Nafath and a compliant payment channel.

Search & eligibility

Confirm eligibility and identify approved designated-zone developments on the Saudi Properties portal.

Due diligence

Developer standing, Wafi licence, approvals, payment plan and title — with independent legal advice.

Reservation & application

Reserve the unit and submit the ownership application through the portal.

Purchase & registration

Sign, pay through approved channels, settle RETT and transfer fees, and register the title.

Ownership & management

Handover, utilities, letting and management, resale and succession planning.

Verified developments

Projects currently open to international buyers

Releases we track across the approved zones. Availability, phasing and pricing are confirmed with the developer at the time of enquiry.

Off-plan/Makkah

Masar Corner by Alramz

Apartments · Masar Central zone · approx. 2 km to Masjid al-Haram

Pricing on enquiry

Off-plan/Madinah

Majdiah

1–3 bed apartments and villas · Mishraf zone · 1 km to Haramain station

Pricing on enquiry

Off-plan/Madinah

Al Alyaa at Knowledge Economic City

2–4 bed apartments · within the Haram boundary · KEC zone

From approx. SAR 1.85m

Off-plan/Madinah

Dar Al Jewar at Knowledge Economic City

Master development within the KEC smart-city zone

Pricing on enquiry

National Housing Company

NHC destinations in Makkah and Madinah

NHC is the Kingdom's largest residential developer, delivering master-planned destinations inside and around both Holy Cities. Foreign purchase eligibility is community-specific — we confirm it in writing with NHC before any reservation.

NHC/Makkah

Makkah Gate

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road, inside the Holy Sanctuary boundary

An integrated residential destination combining proximity to al-Masjid al-Haram with modern, sustainable facilities. Booking is open through NHC.

Booking open

NHC/Makkah

Makkah Hills

East of the Haram, near King Faisal Road (Makkah–Taif link)

A varied mix of housing units with integrated amenities and extensive gardens, planned for a comfortable, sustainable community lifestyle.

NHC/Makkah Region · Taif

Wediana

Taif, Makkah al-Mukarramah region

A spacious residential destination pairing modern design with authentic local character, natural outlooks and a strong highland location.

865,000 m² · 2,000 units

NHC/Madinah

Al-Dar

Central Madinah, within the Prophet's Mosque sanctuary boundary

Modern homes 7 km from al-Masjid an-Nabawi, 2 km from Quba Mosque and 6 km from the Haramain High-Speed Rail station, with integrated gardens and facilities.

NHC/Madinah

Ghoroub

West Madinah, with direct access routes to the Prophet's Mosque

A fully serviced destination built around pedestrian pathways and gardens linking mosques, schools and daily amenities. Booking is open.

3,800,000 m² · 8,000 units

NHC/Madinah

Al-Mukiman

Central Madinah, inside the Prophet's Mosque sanctuary — 10 minutes from the Haram

A fully integrated community with mosques, schools, childcare and green space, delivered inside the sanctuary boundary and bookable via Sakani.

3,545,000 m² · 6,000 units

NHC projects

Individual NHC projects in Madinah and Makkah

Project-level releases inside the NHC destinations, as listed on the NHC projects page. Availability, unit mix and foreign purchase eligibility are confirmed per project before reservation.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Shams

Al Ghoroub, west Madinah

Shams Al Ghoroub sits close to the main roads and the Prophet's Mosque, offering a modern lifestyle with comprehensive community facilities.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Arak Al-Mukiman

Al Makaymen

Between Imam Muslim and Prince Naif roads, with proximity to Taibah University and the Saudi German Hospital, featuring modern, comfortable designs.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Rehab Al Dar

Al-Dar, near Hijra Road

Near Hijra Road and King Abdullah Road, this apartment project offers a modern design and convenient access to the city's key facilities.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Daniat Al-Ghroub

Al Ghoroub destination

A landscaped low-rise neighbourhood within the Al Ghoroub destination, laid out around gardens, parks and pedestrian routes.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Meknan Aldar

Al-Dar destination

Mid-rise apartment buildings in traditional Madinah tones, set within the serviced Al-Dar destination.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Darah Almadinah

Central Madinah

Contemporary townhouses and villas with private parking and landscaped frontages, minutes from the city's main routes.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Tilal Houses — Almukiman Community

Al Mukiman community

Detached and semi-detached houses with feature stone and timber facades inside the Al Mukiman community.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Saraya Albader

Madinah Almunawara

Bright, minimal two-storey homes with generous glazing and private entrances, delivered to NHC specification.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Alsamyah

Madinah Almunawara

A row of traditional-modern townhouses with covered parking, mashrabiya detailing and landscaped street frontage.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Daar Tayba

Madinah Almunawara

An apartment building in classic Madinah architecture, well placed for the ring roads and central precinct.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Al-Jewar

Madinah Almunawara

A mixed-use residential block with ground-floor retail arcades and apartments above, on a main city boulevard.

Madinah Almunawara, Madinah

Durrat Al-Madina 1

Madinah Almunawara

A large apartment complex close to the central precinct, with structured parking and internal courtyards.

Makkah, Makkah al-Mukarramah

Rihab Makkah Gate

Makkah Gate destination

Apartment buildings set around parks and play areas within the Makkah Gate destination, with full daily amenities.

Makkah, Makkah al-Mukarramah

Al-Nada

Makkah Gateway

A premium residential project inside Makkah Gateway, featuring modern designs and comprehensive amenities close to the Holy Mosque.

Makkah, Makkah al-Mukarramah

El Bayet

Makkah al-Mukarramah

Private villas with timber-and-stone facades, gated entrances and enclosed garaging.

Makkah, Makkah al-Mukarramah

Jeera

Makkah al-Mukarramah

Traditional-styled villas with arched openings and lit courtyards, arranged along quiet residential streets.

Makkah, Makkah al-Mukarramah

AREEM

Makkah al-Mukarramah

Contemporary townhouses with landscaped frontages and covered parking, close to the destination's retail spine.

Makkah, Makkah al-Mukarramah

Jawharat Makkah

Makkah al-Mukarramah

A large master-planned villa community with tree-lined streets, gardens and integrated services.

Approved zones

All 12 designated ownership zones in Makkah

Zone boundaries follow the official geographic scope published on the Saudi Properties portal. Eligibility, deed type and residency linkage are confirmed parcel by parcel.

1Rou'a Al Haram Al Makki (King Salman Gate): Immediately north of the Grand Mosque. Listed on the portal as Rou'a Al Haram Al Makki; publicly launched as the King Salman Gate giga-project.
2Thakher Makkah: Hospitality-led development about 2 km north-east of the Haram, long marketed to international Muslim buyers.
3Masar: A 3.65 km boulevard destination west of the Haram with three zones — Gate, Central (residential, including Masar Corner by Alramz) and Haram (hotels and retail).
4Jabal Omar: Master-planned towers, hotels and residences beside the Haram — now moving to sell units to foreign buyers.
5Ajyad Tower: Central tower zone in the Ajyad district, directly south of the Grand Mosque.
6Makkah Towers: Central tower zone beside the Haram, listed on the portal as Makkah Tower Building.
7Makkah Zone (1): District roughly 3 km south of the Haram, defined by the official geographic scope.
8Makkah Zone (2): District roughly 2 km south of the Haram, defined by the official geographic scope.
9Makkah Zone (3): District roughly 4 km south-west of the Haram, defined by the official geographic scope.
10Al Manar: District around 15 km west of the central area.
11Sumou Suburb: Suburban district (Dahiyat Sumou) around 18 km south-west of the central area.
12Tilal Village: Development around 7 km south-east of the central area.

Approved zones

All 10 designated ownership zones in Madinah

Ten Cabinet-approved districts around Masjid an-Nabawi, from the central precinct out to the eastern smart-city and southern suburban zones.

1Rua Al Madinah: PIF giga-project regenerating the district east of the Prophet's Mosque: 47,000+ hotel rooms, residential and cultural districts, 63% green space.
2Downtown Madinah: Central development zone about 3 km south-west of the Prophet's Mosque.
3Dar Al Hijrah: District about 3.5 km south-west of the central area.
4Knowledge Economic City: Smart-city zone about 7 km east of the central area, home to five master developments including Al Alyaa and Dar Al Jewar.
5Mishraf: Residential district east of the city beside KEC — home to the Majdiah neighbourhood of 1,106 apartments and 379 villas.
6Al-Ghurrah: District about 12 km north-east of the central area.
7Al-Mahwa: District about 9 km south-east of the central area.
8Diyar Al-Muqarr: District about 13 km south of the central area.
9Madinah Zone (1): District just north-west of the central area, defined by the official geographic scope.
10Madinah Zone (2): District about 4 km south of the central area, defined by the official geographic scope.

Madinah skyline at golden hour with residential towers and the Prophet's Mosque minarets

Geography

Madinah's four administrative zones

Understanding where each project sits within the city's ring-road structure and zoning rules is the first step in assessing ownership eligibility, access and long-term value.

Administrative map of Al-Madinah showing the four geographic zones and ring-road structure

Zone context matters for buyers. The central precinct and its immediate surrounds carry the strictest ownership and use restrictions. As you move outward through the ring roads — King Faisal (First Ring), King Abdullah (Second Ring) and King Khalid (Third Ring) — the development character shifts from historic core to planned residential and commercial districts. Knowledge Economic City sits on the northern side, NHC communities are spread across outer zones, and Rua Al Madinah adjoins the central precinct. Eligibility, deed type and residency-linkage must be checked parcel by parcel.

Madinah projects

Rua Al Madinah, Knowledge Economic City and the NHC communities

We are not a sales agent for any developer. The notes below are the questions we work through with buyers before an offer is made.

Master-planned district

Knowledge Economic City

A large mixed-use development on the northern side of Madinah built around knowledge-economy tenants, education and health facilities, with residential plots and apartment releases alongside commercial space.

Residential apartments and serviced plots released in phases by the master developer and sub-developers
Attractive to buyers who want scale, planned infrastructure and institutional tenant demand rather than scattered stock
Check which parcels are open to non-Saudi ownership and whether the unit is freehold or usufruct before offering
Completion timelines vary by parcel; escrow and staged payment terms must be read against the Wafi licence

Government-backed housing

National Housing Company (NHC) communities

NHC delivers large residential communities across the Kingdom, including Madinah, in partnership with private developers. Product is predominantly villas, townhouses and apartments at defined specification and price points.

Standardised build specification and published pricing, which reduces valuation surprises
Much of the programme is designed around Saudi citizen housing support; foreign purchase eligibility is community-specific and must be confirmed in writing
Handover and infrastructure delivery dates are tied to the wider community programme, not the individual unit
Where foreign purchase is permitted, verify deed type, service charge regime and resale restrictions before commitment

PIF giga-project

Rua Al Madinah

A major redevelopment of the area adjoining the central Madinah precinct, combining hospitality, residential and retail with substantially expanded visitor capacity. Delivery is staged over a long horizon.

Hospitality-led product with a strong pilgrimage-driven occupancy profile
Branded residence and hotel-apartment structures each carry different ownership, management and income-share terms
Long build horizon: model the holding cost and payment schedule, not just the headline yield projection
Where the asset is hospitality rather than residential, it will not usually satisfy the Real Estate Owner residency test

Knowledge Economic City residential villas and landscaped streets at dusk with the Madinah mountains behind — Knowledge Economic City — delivered villa and townhouse phases with landscaped street frontage on the northern side of Madinah.

Community park and low-rise residential district in Madinah at first light — Neighbourhood parks and low-rise residential stock typical of the outer Madinah zones where NHC communities are delivered.

Project scope, phasing and eligibility rules are set by the developers and the relevant authorities and change over time. We verify current terms directly before any recommendation. General information only — not legal or investment advice.

Makkah projects

Makkah: Masar, King Salman Gate and the central precinct

Makkah product is dominated by pilgrimage-driven hospitality and branded residences. Ownership eligibility inside the restricted zone and the type of deed on offer are the first two questions, not the yield.

Makkah · Pilgrimage corridor

Masar Destination

A large mixed-use corridor running toward the Haram, combining hospitality, residential and retail plots along a planned pedestrian and transit spine.

Plot, hotel and residential product released in phases by the master developer
Occupancy driven by pilgrimage volumes rather than local rental demand
Confirm foreign ownership permissibility parcel by parcel before any deposit

Makkah · Giga-project

Rua Al Haram / King Salman Gate

A major redevelopment adjoining the Makkah central precinct, delivering hospitality capacity, residences, cultural assets and upgraded access over a long horizon.

Branded residence and hotel-apartment structures carry different ownership and income-share terms
Long build horizon: model holding costs and the full payment schedule
Hospitality product does not normally satisfy the Real Estate Owner residency test

Makkah · Completed & staged

Jabal Omar & central Makkah stock

Completed and staged towers close to the Haram, mostly hotel apartments and branded residences with managed letting arrangements.

Completed stock allows real yield comparison rather than developer projections
Service charge and management fee materially change net return
Resale liquidity varies sharply between tower, floor band and management agreement

Diligence

What we check on a Madinah purchase

Foreign ownership permissibility: Madinah sits inside a restricted zone for non-Muslim ownership and carries additional rules around the central precinct. Eligibility is confirmed by parcel and by buyer profile before any deposit.
Deed and tenure type: Freehold, usufruct and long lease behave very differently on resale and for residency purposes. We confirm exactly what is being sold.
Wafi licence and escrow: For off-plan units we verify the Wafi licence, the escrow account and the release schedule tied to construction milestones.
Residency qualification: For a Real Estate Owner Premium Residency case the asset must be completed residential property, unencumbered and above the value threshold. Most off-plan and hospitality product fails that test.
Yield and service charge: Net yield after service charge, management fee and vacancy — modelled on comparable completed stock, not developer projections.
Exit: Resale restrictions, transfer fees and realistic liquidity for the specific unit type in the Madinah market.

Discuss a Madinah acquisition Our real estate process

Frequently asked

Answers to the questions we hear most

The rules for foreign ownership in the Holy Cities are new. These are the points buyers raise first.

Can foreign nationals buy property in Makkah?

Yes, if they are Muslim. Under Saudi Arabia's ownership law, in force since January 2026, property in Makkah and Madinah can be owned by Muslim individuals living inside or outside the Kingdom, but only within the designated zones approved by the Council of Ministers. Non-Muslims cannot own in the Holy Cities, even inside those zones.

Can Australian Muslims buy property in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Muslim buyers resident in Australia are eligible to apply for ownership in the designated zones of Makkah and Madinah, and Saudi residency is not required. Applications are made through REGA's official Saudi Properties portal, which is open to foreign applicants.

Which areas are open to foreign buyers?

Twelve zones in Makkah — Rou'a Al Haram Al Makki (King Salman Gate), Thakher Makkah, Masar, Jabal Omar, Ajyad Tower, Makkah Towers, Al Manar, Sumou Suburb, Tilal Village and Makkah Zones 1, 2 and 3 — and ten in Madinah: Rua Al Madinah, Downtown Madinah, Dar Al Hijrah, Knowledge Economic City, Mishraf, Al-Ghurrah, Al-Mahwa, Diyar Al-Muqarr and Madinah Zones 1 and 2. The portal remains the definitive, current source.

What does it cost to buy as a non-Saudi?

Beyond the purchase price, budget for the 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax plus the transfer fee on non-Saudi transactions, which the executive regulations set at 2% for Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. Legal fees come on top, and which party pays which fee is negotiable in the contract.

How do non-residents actually apply?

Through REGA's Saudi Properties portal — the official platform where eligible buyers verify eligibility, submit an application, track approval and access designated opportunities. The journey can be completed online from abroad, once your digital ID is in place.

Stay informed

Register your interest as the Holy Cities open up

Availability in the designated zones is released progressively. Tell us the city, zone, unit type and budget you are looking for and we will contact you as verified opportunities go live.