Overview
The Real Estate License is the investment license issued by the Ministry of Investment (MISA) that permits a non-Saudi investor to enter the Kingdom's real estate development sector: buying land or buildings, constructing on them, and investing in them through sale or lease. It is not a license for casual property purchases; Saudi regulations require that the total cost of the project — land plus construction combined — be no less than SAR 30 million, that the land be developed for its intended purpose within five years, and that the project be located outside the boundaries of the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. With this license, a qualifying foreign company may hold 100% ownership of the project entity and freely repatriate profits and capital from the Kingdom.
This license positions you within a regulated chain of Saudi authorities. MISA grants the investment license; the Ministry of Commerce registers the company; the municipality (Baladi / Ministry of Municipalities and Housing) handles building permits; and the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) governs off-plan sales through the WAFI program, which you must register under before selling or leasing units before completion. Saudi policy also actively penalizes idle land through white-land fees, so the license suits genuine developers ready to build — master-planned communities, residential and commercial towers, mixed-use districts, and income-generating assets. It is one of the clearest gateways for international capital into Vision 2030 housing and giga-project supply.
Activities covered
Acquiring land or buildings and constructing residential, commercial, or mixed-use projects for sale.
Developing master-planned residential communities and compounds and selling the units.
Building income-generating assets — towers, malls, and offices — and leasing them long term.
Selling or leasing units off-plan before completion through registration in the REGA WAFI program.
Managing and operating completed real estate assets owned by the development entity.
Co-developing within Vision 2030 giga-projects and government-supported housing programs.
Who is it for?
International real estate developers and construction groups wanting to build and sell or lease projects in Riyadh, Jeddah, the Eastern Province, or new Vision 2030 cities.
Investment funds and private-equity firms deploying capital into Saudi housing supply, mixed-use districts, or income-generating assets above the SAR 30 million threshold.
Foreign corporate groups seeking 100% ownership of a Saudi development entity with full profit and capital repatriation rights.
How we issue it for you
Eligibility review and project structuring
We assess your project against the SAR 30 million threshold and location rules, confirm the right activity codes, and structure the ownership before any filing.
Document preparation and attestation
We assemble and attest your corporate documents, financials, powers of attorney, and the accredited engineering cost report to MISA's bilingual standard so the file is accepted first time.
MISA license application
We submit and follow up the Real Estate License application with MISA on your behalf, responding to any clarifications until the license is issued.
Company formation and registration
We register the company with the Ministry of Commerce, obtain the commercial registration, and complete tax, ZATCA, GOSI, and Chamber of Commerce enrollment.
Operational and regulatory activation
We open the corporate bank account, set up the national address, and guide municipal building permits and REGA / WAFI registration for off-plan sales.
Requirements
A documented project with a total cost (land plus construction) of no less than SAR 30 million, located outside the boundaries of Makkah and Madinah.
A project cost report from an engineering office accredited by the Saudi Council of Engineers, together with the title deed of the property to be purchased or sold.
Audited financial statements and an attested commercial registration extract of the foreign parent company for use in Saudi Arabia.
A board resolution and authenticated power of attorney appointing the manager and authorizing the Saudi investment.
Cost & timeline
Government costs typically include a MISA license fee of approximately SAR 2,000 per year (issued for up to five years) plus the Ministry's investor-relations subscription, which is around SAR 10,000 for the first year and approximately SAR 60,000 per year thereafter, alongside Ministry of Commerce, Chamber, and municipal charges. These figures are indicative only and are paid to the authorities at cost; final amounts should be confirmed by your consultant. Where documents are in order, MISA license issuance is often completed within several business days, with full company setup typically taking a few weeks.
Frequently asked questions
The total project cost — land plus construction combined — must be no less than SAR 30 million, and the project must be located outside the boundaries of Makkah and Madinah. This license is designed for genuine development, not small property purchases.
Yes. A qualifying foreign investor can hold full 100% ownership of the Saudi development company under the MISA license, with the right to repatriate profits and capital, provided the project meets the value and location conditions.
Yes, but only after registering the project in the REGA off-plan program known as WAFI. We guide you through municipal building permits and WAFI registration so off-plan sales and leasing are fully compliant.
Yes. Saudi Arabia applies white-land fees on undeveloped urban plots, and the license requires the land to be developed for its intended purpose within five years — so it favors investors who intend to build. We factor the development timeline into your structuring from the outset.