The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing stated that the total area of vacant land under development and in circulation in the Riyadh region amounted to approximately 71 million square meters, a figure that reflects the growing impact of the white land and vacant property fee system in stimulating urban development and improving land-use efficiency within urban areas.

Total registered land area
It noted that the registered land area included 29 million square meters of land whose development has been completed, 20 million square meters of vacant land that has entered the market, and 21 million square meters of land still under development, thereby promoting the utilization of underutilized land and supporting an increase in the region’s urban supply.
She explained that revenues from greenfield land fees have helped fund 27 development and urban projects in the Riyadh region, thereby enhancing the efficiency of infrastructure and municipal services and keeping pace with the urban growth the capital is experiencing.
The Ministry emphasized that these results are an extension of ongoing efforts aimed at achieving the objectives of regulating the real estate market and stimulating development within cities, thereby contributing to a better balance between supply and demand, improve the efficiency of land investment, and increase the supply of urban and residential properties.

Stimulating Real Estate Development
It noted that the program for fees on vacant land and vacant properties continues to play a role in stimulating development by applying fees to land located within the geographic areas specified by the system, where the Ministry has issued more than 60,000 invoices for vacant land fees in the city of Riyadh since the beginning of the year, following the completion of the necessary regulatory and technical procedures, in accordance with the provisions of the law and its implementing regulations.
It noted that the law allows taxpayers to take advantage of the statutory grace periods allocated to those serious about developing their land in accordance with specific technical regulations, thereby helping to accelerate the pace of development and transform vacant land into effective urban projects and developments that support economic and urban growth.

The Ministry noted that the Real Estate Developers Services Center “Itmam” continues to provide support to owners of undeveloped land through an integrated digital platform comprising 38 services covering various stages of development, providing clear and accessible pathways for obtaining permits and approvals and coordinating with relevant authorities, thereby accelerating project implementation and enhancing the efficiency of land development within urban areas.
It emphasized that the integration of fee collection with enabling owners to benefit from development services contributes to promoting sustainable urban development, improving the efficiency of land investment, and achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aimed at building more organized, sustainable cities with a higher quality of life.