Revealed that large areas of residential land are not being utilized
The Ministry of Housing is adopting specialized designs for multi-unit residential buildings and properties
Riyadh—Amlak
The Ministry of Housing has revealed the projects it is currently undertaking, which include developed residential land designed to accommodate the construction of multi-story residential units (apartment buildings) as well as land for the construction of detached residential units (villas), explaining that the Ministry of Housing is currently adopting designs specifically for apartment buildings—which are multi-unit residential properties with vertical heights that differ from those of villas— with careful consideration given to ensuring that the residential density within the housing complex, once completed, is socially acceptable. Building heights vary from one location to another within a single administrative region, a matter determined by regulations and guidelines based on local urban development needs. He added that building height regulations and conditions are determined in light of the community’s needs and culture, as well as the level and quality of urban development it aspires to, and it is not solely a matter of land and its availability, especially if urban areas allow for horizontal expansion; building heights are a matter determined by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in accordance with applicable regulations and instructions.

Land and Loans
In a press statement, the source denied that citizens were shying away from land and loan products, noting that the Ministry has not yet opened applications for housing support programs, which are expected to enable families to build homes that suit their needs, noting that the developed land projects being implemented by the Ministry in many regions of the Kingdom have undergone technical site studies to ensure they are suitable from urban, social, economic, and geographic perspectives—including water flow and soil conditions. Furthermore, the site plans have been designed to be attractive due to the services and integrated facilities they provide, in accordance with a model plan that serves as avibrant inner life and ensures the smooth flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic amid an efficient infrastructure of roads, sidewalks, lighting, sanitation, irrigation, water, and electricity, as well as parks and facilities distributed in a balanced manner within the neighborhood.
Vacant Land
Regarding the abundance of undeveloped land, the official source emphasized that the Ministry is actively working to facilitate access to suitable housing for Saudi citizens and families, whether through open-market transactions or through support programs and products provided by the Ministry based on the Housing Support Regulation, which was approved this month. One of the most important ways to achieve this is ensuring that the residential land needed for housing construction is available and within the financial means of citizens—especially those who do not require housing support— so that they are not prevented from meeting their housing needs and are not forced to apply for housing support from the Ministry, which would increase the Ministry’s waiting lists and hinder those who are truly eligible for housing support. Consequently, the Ministry prepared a study that revealed the existence of large, unused areas of residential land within the urban boundaries of cities and governorates suffering from inflated residential land prices, It reviewed international experiences and the solutions adopted to address this problem, established all necessary measures and procedures to utilize undeveloped land, and sought input from experts in their respective fields. These measures are currently being discussed with the relevant authorities. The Ministry notes that there are some challenges it faces and is working to coordinate with the relevant authorities to overcome them, such as a shortage of land in major cities, the low efficiency of some licensed contractors, and a shortage of personnel needed to carry out tasks and projects. However, these challenges do not constitute obstacles that would deter or diminish the Ministry’s determination to accomplish its assigned tasks and objectives.

He noted that the Ministry seeks to achieve a balance between supply and demand by supporting supply through the provision of developed land and by providing indicators for rental market trends through the ”Ijar” program and by partnering with the private sector to utilize the land it owns and incentivize it to build more housing units that suit citizens“ means and preferences, in addition to supporting financing through various channels in cooperation with the financial sectors and encouraging coordination to help strengthen the housing marketresidents, its stability, and its balance.
Housing Projects
On another note, the new official source provided an update regarding the completion of 500,000 housing units, explaining that the Ministry has taken delivery of four housing projects in several regions and is preparing to take delivery of seven others, with construction projects comprising 17,000 housing units, adding that 10 projects—for which contracts have been signed—are currently underway as part of the development of fully serviced land parcels, which will provide approximately 60,000 housing units for the development of model neighborhoods with comprehensive services and the implementation of infrastructure works, including water, sanitation, and irrigation networks; electricity and telecommunications lines; street lighting; sidewalks; paving; tree planting; and parks, in addition to providing sites for educational, recreational, and commercial facilities, as well as mosques, all in accordance with the highest planning standards and technical specifications set by the relevant authorities, ensuring the creation of a vibrant social environment for Saudi families. Once development is complete, these plots will be distributed to citizens along with loans to build on them, The Ministry is also in the process of signing agreements for additional projects across all regions.
He noted that the projects are spread across a number of regions and provinces of the Kingdom, and projects are currently being proposed for implementation in Al-Hanakiyah, Turbah, and Khamis Mushait. Additionally, 82 projects are currently in the design phase across all regions, accommodating more than 110,000 housing units, He added that the Ministry strictly requires contractors to adhere to the project’s timeline and quality standards during implementation; it will not accept any phase of the project that does not comply with the technical specifications stipulated in the contract, and contractors will be issued warnings and subject to regulatory measures to ensure the project’s completion.