Real Estate Balance Program in Riyadh City
In line with the directives of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), to take the necessary measures to achieve greater balance in Riyadh’s real estate sector and enhance homeownership for residents amid the capital’s rapid urban and population growth, the RCRC launched the Real Estate Balance Program as part of its wider efforts to enhance the quality of life in Riyadh.
These directives are built around three main pillars for achieving balance in Riyadh’s real estate sector:
Market Regulation
Monitoring Prices
Program Vision
The Real Estate Balance Program was launched as an integrated urban initiative implemented by the RCRC in collaboration with relevant entities, including the Real Estate General Authority (REGA), in response to real estate market indicators identified through analysis and assessment by the RCRC and the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
The program’s vision is centered on transforming land from a mere investment vehicle into a cornerstone of urban development that meets citizens’ housing needs while promoting balanced urban development . The program complements developmental housing plans, while distinguishing itself by focusing on correcting the pricing structure of the real estate market. It employs a set of smart tools that stimulate supply by introducing new land while regulating demand through price ceilings, supported by regulatory tools and controls.
Program Objectives
The program aims to address the challenges arising from Riyadh’s rapid population and economic growth through an integrated system that bridges the gap between supply and demand and enables citizens to own land and homes in urban environments equipped with high-quality infrastructure. This supports the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 through the following tracks:
-
1
Increasing Real Estate Supply
Addressing the shortage of serviced, buildable land by providing thousands of prepared residential plots annually, thus creating a sustainable balance between supply and demand.
-
2
Enhancing Citizen’s Homeownership
Providing eligible citizens with opportunities to own homes at fair prices through transparent procedures.
-
3
Ensuring Price and Rental Balance
Mitigating sharp fluctuations and increases in real estate and rental prices, ultimately enhancing market stability and supporting residential stability for families.
-
4
Regulating the Market and Enhancing Land Distribution and Use Efficiency
Establishing a governance framework that protects the parties involved in real estate transactions and encourages landowners to develop their land, helping to improve the efficiency of land use within the city’s urban boundary.
Real Estate Balance Tracks
-
1
Lifting Suspensions on Vast Land Areas in Riyadh
-
2
Providing Serviced and Planned Residential Land for Citizens
-
3
Amending the White Land Tax Law
-
4
Regulating the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants
-
5
Monitoring and Tracking Real Estate Prices
Decisions on Lifting Land Suspensions
The program was strengthened by decisions to lift suspensions on the sale and purchase of land and the issuance of building permits covering a total area of 81.48 square kilometers north of Riyadh. This was in addition to extensive areas in the west within Wadi Hanifah and its tributaries, subject to urban controls that ensure the sustainability of the urban environment.
Regulatory Controls
To ensure the long-term achievement of the Real Estate Balance Program’s objectives, the program went beyond allocating and offering residential plots. It also established provisions to regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants and provide the real estate market with a sufficient stabilization period to accommodate the new supply.
Annual increases in rental values for residential and commercial properties within the capital’s urban boundary are suspended for five consecutive years. This includes adopting the principle of automatic contract renewal and imposing fines on violators.
Residential Land Provision Track
Providing residential land for citizens is the program’s core track. Under this track, the RCRC will offer between 10,000 and 40,000 residential plots annually for five years starting in 2025, at prices not exceeding SAR 1,500 per square meter.
10,000 to 40,000
Residential plots annually
5 years
As of 2025
1,500 SAR
Maximum price per square meter
Sub-Tracks for the Residential Land Provision Track
-
Technical Track
Developing the e-platform to automate all registration, objection, and off-plan sale processes.
-
Land Track
Identifying available residential land within the city’s urban fabric in coordination with the State Properties General Authority (SPGA) and relevant entities.
-
Projects and Execution Track
Preparing the technical requirements and scope of work for developing the infrastructure of the master plans, in coordination with relevant entities, including service providers.
-
Coordination and Integration Track
Ensuring technical integration with the platform to automate verification and all related operations, in addition to having representatives from multiple entities on the e-draw supervision committee.
-
Media and Communication Track
Conducting media campaigns across all platforms, establishing communication centers, and responding to beneficiaries’ inquiries and questions.
-
Planning Track
Adopting best practices in urban planning to ensure the delivery of high-quality master plans.
-
Legal and Governance Track
Clarifying the requirements and establishing verification standards, preparing contract templates and regulatory procedures, setting controls for the objections committee, and supervising the draw.
-
Monitoring Track
Following up on all operations and submitting regular reports to the relevant entities overseeing implementation.
First-Year Lands
The residential plots allocated in the first year are distributed across prime locations and neighborhoods within the city’s urban boundary, with each plot measuring 300 square meters.
6,380,600 m²
Total area of residential land allocated in the first year
10,024
Residential plots
First-Year Land Locations
The first-year lands were selected to ensure distribution across different locations throughout Riyadh, within established neighborhoods across the city:
- Al-Qairawan
- Al-Malqa
- Al-Nakheel
- Al-Narjis
- Al-Rimal
- Al-Janadriyah
- Al-Rimayah
- Namar
First-Year Land Master Plans
Al-Qairawan
Al-Rimayah
Al-Janadriyah — First Master Plan
Al-Janadriyah — Second Master Plan
Al-Narjis
Namar
Planning Standards for Allocated Sites
The allocation and planning of these sites were guided by the objective of enhancing quality of life and the following standards:
-
A comprehensive development vision aimed at enhancing quality of life
-
Diversity in housing types
-
Human-centered design
-
Green environments and climate adaptation
-
Pedestrian pathways and high accessibility
-
Integrated services within the neighborhood
Infrastructure Projects
To ensure the readiness of these lands, the RCRC launched projects to implement the required infrastructure. Several contracts were signed to prepare detailed master plans and implement the core networks:
-
Road networks
-
Water networks
-
Wastewater networks
-
Electricity networks
-
Telecommunications networks
-
Landscaping and park design
Real Estate Balance Platform (Tawazoun)
The RCRC launched the Real Estate Balance Platform (Tawazoun) as the program’s digital and operational interface and the exclusive official channel through which citizens can register and apply for residential land.
Eligibility Requirements
The platform targets citizens who are married or aged 25 and above, provided they have resided in Riyadh for at least three years and have no prior real estate ownership.
Beneficiary Obligations
Beneficiaries are prohibited from selling, leasing, mortgaging – except for construction financing purposes- or otherwise disposing of the land for a period of ten years. If a beneficiary is unable to build within the specified period, the land is recovered and its financial value refunded. This ensures that support is directed exclusively to those seeking residential stability.
Beneficiary Journey on the Platform
The platform provides an integrated digital journey that enables eligible citizens to apply to purchase land through streamlined procedures.
Real Estate Balance Support Center
In addition to digital channels, a dedicated center was established at the RCRC headquarters to facilitate the beneficiary journey and provide support and guidance throughout the program’s various stages.
-
Receiving Beneficiaries
Welcoming beneficiaries and guiding them according to their needs.
-
Support and Guidance
Clarifying procedures and requirements and responding to beneficiaries’ inquiries.
-
Applications’ Follow-up
Assisting beneficiaries in tracking their application status and completing the required procedures.
-
Enhancing the Beneficiary Experience
Providing a clear and accessible experience and enhancing beneficiary satisfaction.
Program Timeline
Phase One
-
March 29, 2025
Issuance of the royal directives to provide residential land for citizens, followed by decisions to lift land suspensions.
-
September 11, 2025
Launch of the Real Estate Balance Platform to receive citizens’ applications to purchase residential land in Riyadh, and approval of the regulatory provisions.
-
October 9, 2025
The RCRC enabled applicants to modify or cancel their applications through the Real Estate Balance Platform, enhancing ease of use.
-
October 24, 2025
Announcement of the end of the application period and the date for announcing eligibility results through the Real Estate Balance Platform (Tawazoun).
-
November 9, 2025
Announcement of eligibility results and the transition of eligible applicants to the electronic draw stage for purchasing residential land.
-
December 9, 2025
Announcement of the end of the objection period on eligibility results, in preparation for the electronic draw on December 17 to select eligible beneficiaries.
-
December 17, 2025
Conducting the electronic draw to select beneficiaries to purchase residential land.
Phase Two
-
August 10, 2026
Announcement of the launch of Phase Two.
-
August 16 – September 15, 2026
Opening the application period for beneficiaries.
-
Opening the objection period for beneficiaries regarding eligibility results.
-
Announcement of eligibility results.
-
Approval of the master plans for the land allocated in Phase Two.
-
Conducting the electronic draw.
Real Estate Balance Program and the Capital’s Future
The Real Estate Balance Program enhances the capital’s capacity to accommodate population growth by providing planned residential land and contributes to promoting balanced urban development across the city’s neighborhoods.
Accommodating population growth
Achieving real estate and urban balance
Enhancing Riyadh’s competitiveness
Achieving Vision 2030 objectives
Partner Entities
The program is implemented in integration with a network of partner government agencies:
