MULKIYA · GUIDES
Saudi Arabia's Designated Zones: What They Are and How to Check
Designated zones are the areas where non-Saudis may own property in Saudi Arabia. More than 100 exist, and the official register confirms them parcel by parcel.
What a designated zone is
A designated zone is a geographic scope in which non-Saudis may acquire property rights. The zones were endorsed by Council of Ministers Decision 43 of 23 June 2026, alongside the Implementing Regulations of Royal Decree M/14. Inside a zone, a foreign individual may buy a home, land or a commercial property and register ownership. Outside the zones, a non-resident foreigner may not acquire. More than 100 zones exist kingdom-wide. There is no single fixed official total, so treat any precise count with caution.
Where the zones are
Riyadh's zones are mega-projects rather than established districts: the King Abdullah Financial District, Diriyah Gate, New Murabba, Qiddiya and their peers. Jeddah pairs the named Jeddah Central waterfront with dozens of numbered development zones. Makkah and Madinah each carry zones restricted to Muslim buyers, including Jabal Omar and Rua Al Madinah. AlUla, NEOM and the Red Sea coast also sit inside designated scopes. The established districts of the big cities are generally outside the zones.
Zone names are indicative, the register is the truth
Most zone names in circulation come from press coverage, not from the legal document. Jeddah's zones are numbered, and no official public list ties the numbers to familiar district names. A developer's brochure is not proof of status. The authoritative source is the official designated-zones register, a live map that confirms status parcel by parcel. Boundaries can cut through a single district. Check the exact plot before you sign anything or transfer a deposit.
Rules can differ from zone to zone
The zones document can set per-zone caps on the share of foreign ownership and on usufruct durations. Two neighbouring projects can carry different limits. The right you acquire can also differ: full ownership in one scope, a long usufruct in another. The holy-city zones add a buyer-class rule on top, open to Muslim individuals only. This is why a district-level answer is never enough. The answer attaches to the parcel, and to you.
Costs and the cooling market
Zone status does not change the national cost stack, with one exception. The 5% transaction tax applies at purchase wherever the property sits. On exit, a 2% disposal fee applies only in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah; elsewhere it is 0%. Price context matters as well. The official residential price index has fallen year on year into 2026. The market is cooling, so take the time to verify both the parcel and the price.
The honest next step
Do not start with listings. Start with eligibility. Mulkiya's check asks five questions about who you are and the property you want, then a deterministic rules engine answers against Royal Decree M/14, Decision 43 and the official register. It is not an AI guess, and it is not a sales call. Mulkiya is not the broker or the seller, and it takes no commission or success fee. If the answer is yes, licensed Saudi partners execute the regulated steps.
How many designated zones are there in Saudi Arabia?
More than 100 kingdom-wide. There is no single fixed official total; the counts in circulation are press aggregates. The authoritative check is the official register, which confirms whether a specific parcel falls inside a zone.
Can foreigners buy anywhere in Riyadh?
No. Foreign ownership in Riyadh is limited to the designated zones, and the city's zones are mega-projects such as the King Abdullah Financial District and Diriyah Gate, not established residential districts. A resident with an iqama may apply for approval to own one home outside the zones.
Do the designated zones include Makkah and Madinah?
Yes. Both holy cities have designated zones, but ownership inside them is limited to Muslim individuals, from inside or outside the Kingdom, and to Saudi companies. Foreign companies are excluded. Premium Residency holders may take usufruct of up to 99 years.
Is a developer's claim that a project sits in a zone enough?
No. Zone names in circulation are press-derived, and marketing material is not proof. Confirm the exact parcel on the official designated-zones register before paying anything.