off-plan sales projects recorded exceptional growth, exceeding 350% in the number of units available during the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to a report by the General Real Estate Authority. This increase reflects a clear acceleration in development activity and growing confidence among developers in future demand, supported by regulatory frameworks that promote this type of project as a key driver for increasing the supply of residential and investment properties in the market.

Riyadh: The Hub of Real Estate Development
The city of Riyadh topped the list of cities with the highest off-plan sales activity, accounting for more than 21,000 units, reaffirming its role as the epicenter of real estate development in the Kingdom. Conversely, the market saw a significant decline in traditional residential sales transactions by 43.6%, reflecting a shift in focus from trading existing units to new projects that inject fresh supply into the market.

A Structural Shift in the Real Estate Market
The real estate market has witnessed a radical shift in supply and demand dynamics, as personal financing for ready-to-move-in units declined and secondary market transactions slowed due to rising costs and price saturation, prompting buyers and developers to turn to off-plan sales as a more flexible and cost-effective alternative. This shift reflects the market’s transition from relying on the trading of existing assets to focusing on the development of new assets that meet current and future market needs.

Recent data reflects a healthy shift in the nature of real estate transactions, with an increase in the number of medium- and small-scale transactions while the total value has stabilized or declined, indicating that the market is moving away from a real estate speculation bubble toward a more stable and realistic market, where liquidity is more widely distributed and investment opportunities are more widespread.