Activity in the the residential real estate market in the Kingdom began to decline in February 2026, after transactions recorded significant drops in both number and value, amid seasonal and regulatory factors that reshaped real estate trading activity during the month. Indicators from the General Real Estate Authority’s monthly bulletin revealed a notable decline in the residential market’s performance last month, as sales and purchases fell compared to the same period last year, both in terms of transaction volume and total value.

Significant decline in the number of real estate transactions
The total number of residential transactions to 10,574 transactions last February, compared to 21,210 transactions in February 2025, marking a 50% decline. The declines affected various types of units, with the number of apartment transactions reaching 4,590 compared to 7,492 the previous year, a decrease of 39.1%. Villa transactions also fell to 1,275, compared to 2,321, a decrease of 45%. Duplexes recorded 697 transactions compared to 896, a 22% decrease, while transactions for other categories reached 454 compared to 584, declining by a similar percentage.

Land most affected in terms of value
In terms of total value, land transactions recorded the largest decline, falling to 7.6 billion riyals compared to 20.1 billion riyals in February of last year, a decrease of 62%. The value of apartment transactions also fell to 3 billion riyals from 5.2 billion riyals, a 42.1% decline, while villa transactions totaled 1.9 billion riyals compared to 4.9 billion riyals, a 60.1% decrease. The value of duplex transactions reached approximately 789.9 million riyals, compared to 1.2 billion riyals, a decrease of 35.1%, while other categories recorded transactions worth 618.9 million riyals compared to 815.2 million riyals, a decline of 24.1%.

Stability in Average Sizes and Prices
The data showed that the average size of traded land plots was approximately 544 square meters, while the average area for apartments was 164 square meters and for villas 428 square meters, with limited changes compared to previous periods. As for the average transaction value, it stood at approximately 653,000 riyals for land, with relative price stability, while the average transaction value for duplexes was 1.14 million riyals, for apartments 655,000 riyals, and for villas approximately 1.54 million riyals.