Saudi Arabia Rolls Out Enhanced Support for First-Time Homebuyers

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 16 July 2025 - Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing has launched a new wave of support schemes aimed at making homeownership more accessible, especially for first-time buyers and younger applicants. This initiative is a significant step toward the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of achieving a 70% homeownership rate.

Lower Age Threshold and Wider Eligibility

The program lowers the minimum age for housing support from 25 to 20 years old, opening doors for younger citizens. Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al‑Hogail stated:

“This step will contribute to enabling more families to benefit from diverse housing and financing options, in line with the goals of the Housing Program and Saudi Vision 2030 to raise the homeownership rate to 70 percent.”

Additionally, previous restrictions on divorced women receiving support have been lifted, and the mandatory asset-holding period has been reduced from ten to five years, providing greater flexibility for homeowners.

Streamlined Application and Digital Integration

Launched on 12 March 2025, the program targets low-income families and first-time buyers. Eligibility requires Saudi citizenship, a minimum five-year residency, and no record of homeownership since 2020. A user-friendly online portal enables applicants to register, upload required documentation, and receive SMS notifications on application status.

Financing Partnerships and Market Impact

To complement the housing support, partnerships with developers and banks are offering subsidized loans and flexible payment plans aimed at easing affordability. Supply-side reforms, including the sale of non-subsidized units to non-beneficiaries are intended to enhance market balance and improve price stability.

The support surge builds on Saudi Arabia’s Sakani initiative that has helped hundreds of thousands of families since 2017. The Minister emphasized that these new measures are part of a broader strategy to modernize the housing sector and uplift living standards.