Foreign ownership in Madinah
On 22 January 2026 the new Saudi law on foreign real estate ownership took effect. For the holy cities of Madinah and Makkah, ownership by non-Saudis is now possible — but only under tightly defined conditions.
Muslims only
In Madinah and Makkah, only foreign Muslims may own property. Non-Muslims are excluded from these zones.
Designated zones
Saudi authorities publish approved ownership zones in stages. Outside those zones, ownership is restricted or pending.
≈ 5% transaction tax
Foreign property transactions carry up to a 5% tax on the property value, on top of the purchase price.
What changed in 2026
For decades, only Saudi citizens and GCC residents could freely own residential property in the Kingdom. The 2026 framework opens the door for foreign nationals — including European Muslims — to own homes in Saudi Arabia, with Madinah and Makkah carved out as a special religious category.
Why Madinah and Makkah are different
Both cities are governed under stricter rules than the rest of the Kingdom. The 2026 law confirms what was always practice: the holy cities remain reserved for Muslims. A foreign buyer here must be a practising Muslim, and ownership is geographically zoned. The Haram area immediately around Masjid Nabawi remains reserved for Saudi citizens.
What the colours on the map mean
- Open — one of the 10 officially designated zones for Al Madinah, drawn with its exact REGA boundary. Green areas are official zone perimeters (such as Knowledge Economic City or Rua Al Madinah), not whole neighbourhoods.
- Pending — a neighbourhood without explicit evidence of its own status. Neighbourhoods are never coloured green as a whole: eligibility follows the exact zone boundaries, so a neighbourhood can overlap a green zone while the rest of it stays pending.
- Saudi citizens only — the immediate Haram zone surrounding Masjid Nabawi. Not available to foreign buyers.
What this portal does
Madinah Real Estate maps every neighbourhood in the city against its current ownership status, distance to Masjid Nabawi (driving and walking), and live property listings aggregated from public Saudi portals such as Bayut. You can filter, compare, and study the city before talking to any agent.
Every number is traceable. See the full sources & methodology →
Important disclaimer
All zone information on this portal is indicative and based on publicly available sources at the time of publication. Saudi authorities publish official ownership zones in stages, and rules may evolve. Verify the legal status of any property with official Saudi sources and a licensed local lawyer before making any offer or transferring funds.
Information current as of 2026 · Not legal advice