Deloitte: Saudi real estate market undergoing transitional phase

Saud Alquaifil, Deloitte’s Director for the Real Estate Advisory team in Saudi Arabia, said that the real estate market is going through a transitional phase to adapt to the new regulatory developments

Saudi Arabia’s real estate market is currently undergoing a transitional phase as it is absorbing new regulatory and legislative changes, with clear performance indicators expected to emerge after the end of Q1 2026, said Deloitte’s Director for the Real Estate Advisory team in Saudi Arabia, Saud Alquaifil.

In an interview with Argaam on the sidelines of the Real Estate Future Forum, Alquaifil explained that the current period is witnessing the implementation of new regulations and controls, particularly in Riyadh, including the expansion of the scope of White Land fees, higher fee rates and the introduction of new areas subject to the changes.

He noted that these changes have affected supply and demand levels, as the market is going through a transitional phase to adapt to the new regulatory developments, pointing out that new legislations, such as non-Saudi ownership, White Land fees, and balance platforms, signal that the real estate market has reached an advanced level of maturity.

He added that market regulation and price controls are essential to preparing the investment environment for foreign capital, emphasizing that the Saudi market is currently in a qualification phase to attract foreign investment.