Buying Off-Plan Property in Saudi Arabia

Who can buy, and where

Non-Saudis living abroad may buy only inside geographic zones approved by the Council of Ministers. In Riyadh and Jeddah these zones cover specific areas, not whole cities, so the first question for any property is whether it sits inside an approved zone. Depending on the zone, you may be able to acquire full ownership or another real right, such as usufruct.

We help you check this before you commit to anything, so you know exactly what kind of right you would hold.

How off-plan works

Off-plan means you buy a property that is still being built, directly from the developer. In Saudi Arabia, a developer selling off-plan needs a licence from the Real Estate General Authority. Buyers' payments must go into a dedicated escrow account for each project, which keeps your money tied to the project it is meant for.

Our current selection includes 12 projects, with prices starting from SAR 1,050,000. The project cards on this page show the details of each one.

What you need before you buy from Nigeria

A non-resident must complete a few steps in the Kingdom before buying. You need a Saudi digital identity, a bank account in the Kingdom and a Saudi phone number registered in your name. Non-Saudis then apply through the official Saudi Properties portal run by the Real Estate General Authority.

We can walk you through the order of these steps so nothing holds up your purchase.

Paying from Nigeria

Prices and payments in Saudi Arabia are in Saudi riyals, so you will be moving naira value into a different currency. Because you need a Saudi bank account, your payments are made through the banking system and, for off-plan, into the project's escrow account. Ask your Nigerian bank early about international transfer procedures and the paperwork it requires, and keep every receipt.

Extra costs to plan for

Property sales are subject to the real estate transaction tax. Transactions by non-Saudis can also carry a separate fee collected by the Real Estate General Authority. Add these to the purchase price when you set your budget, and ask us to confirm which charges apply to your chosen property.

Staying safe

Ownership takes effect only after registration in the Real Estate Registry, so do not treat a reservation or a payment alone as completed ownership. Confirm that the developer holds a licence and that your payments go into the project's escrow account, never to a personal account. We cannot promise outcomes such as income, price movement or any immigration status, and we would be wary of anyone who does. Take your time, ask for documents in writing and speak to us whenever something is unclear.

Updated October 2026 · Data: Palmera