Law of Saudi Arabia

Module 6

Living, working, investing and owning property: visas and the iqama, Premium Residency, employment and Saudisation, foreign ownership of real estate and how to buy safely, the costs of owning, and family life

This is the most practical module of the course. It follows the journey of a foreign national who wants to visit, move, work, invest or buy property in Saudi Arabia. Four ideas organise everything. First, entry is not residence: a visa lets you come in, and an iqama (residence permit) lets you stay, and each is tied to a purpose. Second, work and residence are linked: most expatriates are employed by a registered employer and are governed by the labour rules and Saudisation policies, while the Premium Residency offers a route that is not tied to one employer, without removing all rules. Third, property ownership by foreigners is possible only within the 2026 framework: it is not an unrestricted right to buy anywhere, it differs by category of buyer and by place, and Makkah and Madinah are treated separately. Fourth, every transaction is made through official platforms and registries, so the safe way is to verify, document and pay through the system. The rules, fees, quotas and zones change often, so this module teaches the structure and points to the official source for the current figures.

General education on the law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, using invented people and businesses. It states laws and procedures in simplified form and is not legal advice. The law and its practice change, and every case turns on its facts, the current regulations and the authority concerned. It does not offer legal representation or a legal opinion on any case. Consult a lawyer licensed in the Kingdom for any real matter.

This course was written on 6 November 2026. To the best of our knowledge, it describes the law of Saudi Arabia as it stood on that date. Laws change, and we may have missed or misunderstood something. If you notice a change, or have other information, please do not hesitate to contact us: we will review it and update the course. We do not claim to be the final source of the law.