Real estate deals reach SAR 22.6B in May

The number of real estate transactions executed in May 2026 fell 33%, with both residential and non-residential sectors recording declines of 34% and 30%, respectively.

*Data is monthly updated

Land transactions accounted for the largest share of residential transaction value in May 2026, reaching SAR 7.47 billion, or around 53% of total residential transaction value, followed by apartments at SAR 2.7 billion and villas at SAR 2.1 billion.

Residential transaction values declined across all property types in May 2026 compared to the previous year, with villas recording the steepest drop at 76%.

Data also showed a broad pullback in the number of residential transactions across all property types in May 2026.

Liquidity was concentrated in major regions, with Riyadh accounting for 49% of total transaction value, followed by Makkah at 22% and the Eastern Province at 15%, with the three regions together representing 86% of total real estate transaction value. 

Riyadh led real estate market activity by transaction volume, accounting for 28% of total executed transactions in the Kingdom, followed by Makkah at 21% and the Eastern Province at 16%.

Rental transaction value declined to around SAR 6.12 billion in May 2026, compared to SAR 6.17 billion in May 2025, marking a 1% YoY decrease.

The downturn was attributed to a 71% YoY drop in residential rental transaction value to SAR 987.5 million, compared to SAR 3.4 billion in May 2025. Meanwhile, non-residential rental transactions increased 85% YoY to SAR 5.13 billion, accounting for around 84% of the total.

The number of rental transactions increased to 367,000 in May 2026, compared to 323,700 in the corresponding month of 2025, marking a 13% YoY growth.

The increase was driven by growth in both residential and non-residential rental transactions, which rose 8% and 30% YoY, respectively.

The number of rental contracts in the Kingdom increased 11% YoY in May 2026 to 300,400 contracts, supported by growth in both residential and non-residential contracts.

Residential rental contracts rose 12% YoY to 239,000 contracts, while non-residential rental contracts increased 8% YoY to 61,400 contracts.

Riyadh topped regions by rental transaction value at SAR 2.51 billion, followed by Makkah at SAR 1.46 billion.

Riyadh also ranked first in the number of rental transactions, recording 118,600 deals, representing 32% of total transactions across the Kingdom.

Makkah came second with 91,300 transactions (25%), followed by the Eastern Province with 59,500 transactions (16%).