Saudi Arabia studies five-year rent freeze expansion across all regions

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – October 8, 2025: The Saudi Real Estate General Authority (REGA) has announced plans to study the expansion of rent-freeze regulations to cover all regions across the Kingdom for a period of five years, according to Al Arabiya.net.

The initiative follows the success of measures introduced earlier this year in Riyadh, where rent increases were halted for both residential and commercial properties in a move to address rising housing costs and market volatility.

Monitoring indicators to guide implementation

Tayseer Al-Mufarrej, spokesman for the Real Estate General Authority, stated that the organization “continues to monitor real estate indicators in Saudi cities,” noting that “the regulations will be implemented in accordance with market standards and the outcome of monitoring of each city.”

He added that the total rent value for vacant residential and commercial property leases within the urban areas of other Saudi cities will be stabilized accordingly, with measures based on ongoing assessments.

The authority is also conducting studies on regulating the relationship between landlords and tenants, guided by the data collected from its national monitoring systems.

Riyadh’s rent freeze sets the precedent

Earlier, the Saudi capital Riyadh implemented a comprehensive set of regulatory measures to control rent inflation. The decision, issued under the directives of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, introduced a five-year freeze on rent increases for both existing and new residential and commercial leases within the city’s urban area.

The initiative, designed to limit inflation and enhance real estate supply—was developed following a series of challenges in Riyadh’s rental market, including sharp increases in property prices over recent years.

Al-Mufarrej confirmed that the decision to stabilize rents for five years “was based on in-depth studies of the rental market in Riyadh.” He added that “these studies were consistent with the plan to balance supply and demand and increase real estate supply.”

Balancing tenant stability and investor confidence

“This period gives tenants the opportunity to stabilize their rents and protects them from sudden increases. At the same time, it provides investors with clarity that enables them to plan with confidence within a stable environment,” Al-Mufarrej said.

The rent-freeze measures are part of the government’s broader effort to balance housing affordability while promoting sustainable investment in the real estate sector.

Penalties for violations and tenant protection

Since the introduction of the new regulations, the authority has detected multiple violations related to the landlord-tenant relationship. These include requests to vacate properties, unauthorized rent increases, off-platform payments, and failure to document contracts through the official Ejar platform.

Al-Mufarrej emphasized that violators will face penalties of up to 12 months’ rent (approximately USD 30,000 / SAR 112,500) based on the total rental value. Furthermore, whistleblowers who report violations will receive a reward of up to 20% of the value of the detected breach.

Toward a more transparent and regulated rental market

By expanding the rent freeze beyond Riyadh, the Real Estate General Authority aims to stabilize rental prices, strengthen tenant protections, and build confidence in the Saudi real estate market. The planned studies will evaluate market readiness and tailor regulations to each city’s dynamics, ensuring sustainable growth in line with Saudi Vision 2030.