Update to Residency through Property in Saudi Arabia – July 2026 Update

Sales momentum in Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen, and we are also preparing to bring forward a number of exceptional opportunities in Abu Dhabi in the coming weeks.

Over the past 24 months, one of the key drivers behind investor demand in Saudi Arabia has been the ability to obtain residency through the purchase of freehold real estate valued at over 4.0m SAR.

Over the last week, there has been a significant update to the Premium Residency Portal, which fundamentally improves accessibility and further reshapes the landscape for international investors.

Previously, only fully paid properties valued at 4m+ SAR qualified. Under the new framework, off-plan properties of 4m+ SAR now also qualify, provided that either 1m SAR or 10% of the property value (whichever is higher) has been paid.

It allows investors to secure residency far earlier in an investment’s lifecycle, with significantly less capital deployed upfront. In turn, this enhances both flexibility and capital efficiency, while accelerating access to one of the most compelling residency programmes globally.

Crucially, this change opens the door to securing residency at the earliest stages of a project, often at the most advantageous pricing points, rather than waiting for full completion.

– The Property must be residential
– Developer REGA Approved
– No Mortgage Financing
– Ownership transfer within 5 years of signing
– 90 Days to replace the property if you sell the asset.

Below, I will highlight the 5 fully freehold, REGA-authorised projects where residency will now be in place pretty much straight away from purchase.

Padel Living – Jeddah

For investors looking to establish an early foothold in Saudi Arabia, Padel Living Jeddah remains one of the most compelling opportunities available.

Following the exceptional success of the launch, where every previous floor has now sold out, we have just released the top floor (Floor 7). This final release offers some of the best residences in the entire development, including stunning wraparound-balcony apartments, premium two-bedroom residences, and spacious three-bedroom homes.

Padel Living forms part of one of Jeddah’s most exciting emerging residential communities, combining contemporary design with an exceptional lifestyle centred around wellness, sport and community living. The development has generated significant demand from both domestic and international investors due to its pricing, quality and long-term growth potential.

Current availability includes:

• Premium wrap-around balcony residences with panoramic views
• Spacious two-bedroom apartments with exceptional layouts – From 1m SAR
• Three-bedroom family residences on the exclusive top floor – From 1.3m SAR

20% per year payment plan – Post-Handover for 1year.

Pricing continues to represent outstanding value compared with both Jeddah and the wider GCC residential markets, particularly given the quality of the development, payment structure, and long-term investment fundamentals.

For investors seeking exposure to Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding residential market without the higher entry prices of many flagship developments, Padel Living offers a rare combination of affordability, lifestyle and capital growth potential.

AMAYA – JEDDAH‘S DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

For family offices, developers, institutions, and larger investors seeking greater capital deployment, Amaya offers a very different proposition.

Rather than purchasing completed residential units, investors can acquire commercial and residential plots within one of the most significant mixed-use master plans in Saudi Arabia. Dar Global purchased the Amaya masterplan in the largest single-plot transaction in Saudi Arabia’s history. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, the feasibility and profit/cash flow reports will have been robust and means-tested, providing investors with the opportunity to generate significant levels of capital.

These plots can be developed into:

• Grade-A office space
• Hotels
• Serviced accommodation
• Luxury retail
• Residential developments

The attraction is simple.

DAR Global is delivering the infrastructure and wider masterplan, while investors can secure development opportunities within a strategic location positioned to benefit from long-term growth in Jeddah.

For the first time, international investors can directly participate in the creation of high-quality commercial and residential assets in Saudi Arabia and structure ownership to maximise long-term returns.

For institutions and private offices, this represents a genuinely rare opportunity. In addition, DAR use Compass (Development and Design company) and in-house teams to help make the development process as easy as possible. All documentation required to submit plans to the municipality is provided at handover.

RIYADH – NEPTUNE BY MOUAWAD

Now onto Riyadh: For investors seeking Premium Residency and exposure to Riyadh’s residential growth story, Neptune remains one of our strongest recommendations.

Only four villas remain available.

These five-bedroom villas, designed by Mouawad, sit within Roshn’s flagship community and offer a level of quality significantly above most competing products at the same price point.

Starting from just over SAR 4 million, they qualify buyers for Premium Residency while providing exposure to one of the fastest-growing residential markets in the region.

For individual investors and families looking to establish a long-term presence in Saudi Arabia, we continue to believe Neptune represents exceptional value.

DIRIYAH & WADI SAFAR – THE LEGACY PLAY

For larger investors, family offices, and institutions, there is one location that continues to stand above all others.

Diriyah.

If Riyadh is the economic heart of Saudi Arabia, Diriyah is rapidly becoming its most prestigious residential address.

The scale of investment being committed to the area is extraordinary, and the vision is clear: create one of the most desirable luxury destinations anywhere in the world. Rayana is designed as a very low-density ultra-prime enclave rather than a large-volume villa community. There are just 490 Villas with a private, residents-only golf course that will sweep through the mountainous Wadi, a lifestyle and members club, and a 5* hotel.

Within Wadi Safar, investors can secure luxury villas, custom-built estates, and development plots that we believe will become among the most valuable residential assets in the GCC. 

The opportunity here is not simply lifestyle. It is financial.

Family offices can acquire land today and create generational assets within what is becoming Saudi Arabia’s premier ultra-luxury enclave.

Institutions can deploy meaningful capital into a location where supply will remain inherently constrained and where demand will increasingly come from both domestic and international buyers.

For those seeking a true legacy investment, we believe few opportunities globally compare to what is currently available in Diriyah. Rayana is the ONLY gated, Freehold residential community in Saudi Arabia.

There are some entry Villas in this development priced at 16m SAR that are fundamentally undervalued. No villa in this community, when ready, is going to be anywhere near 16m starting. We have also been focusing on the West side of the development, which has the most significant cliff edge. Here, you are looking at around 25-30m SAR for a super-mansion with a cliff drop as the backdrop. Truly amazing, and again, significantly undervalued by someone who has been to the site and undervalued when compared to the interior villas.

FINAL THOUGHTS

With the residency updates and the off-plan residency now in play, you can secure an asset, make the down-payment and pretty much apply for residency straight away.

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