His Excellency Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipalities and Housing and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Real Estate Authority, today that the Kingdom has succeeded in building a smart and balanced real estate system that has contributed to raising the homeownership rate among Saudi families from 47% in 2016 to more than 66% by the end of 2025, an indicator that reflects the effectiveness of housing policies and regulatory reforms implemented in the sector over the past years.

The Path to Real Estate Balance
This came during His Excellency’s speech at the opening of the fifth edition of Real Estate Future Forum, noting that the Kingdom has chosen the “real estate balance” as a strategic approach aimed at enhancing market stability, improving its efficiency, and ensuring fairness, noting that this path has been translated into precise regulatory tools whose effects became apparent in less than a year since the launch of its programs in 2025.

He explained that the implementation of the non-Saudi home ownership system within a disciplined regulatory framework enhances the real estate market’s appeal and ensures its sustainability, emphasizing that balanced regulation is a fundamental pillar in stimulating investment and improving the sector’s efficiency.

Stimulating Real Estate Supply
In the context of land regulation and stimulating supply, His Excellency added that the program for fees on vacant land and vacant properties aims to mobilize unused land, noting that more than 60,000 invoices have been issued since the beginning of 2026, in addition to the availability of land ready for development in the city of Riyadh exceeding 100 million square meters, which contributes to increasing supply and achieving a balance between supply and demand.

His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities and Housing explained that the Ministry, in partnership with the private sector, is working to deliver more than 300,000 housing units in Riyadh over the next three years, noting that more than 300,000 housing units will be added by the end of 2025 in 16 cities across various regions of the Kingdom, while the number of beneficiaries of housing support programs has exceeded one million, in a move that enhances the sustainability and diversity of housing solutions.

Regarding financing and investment, he revealed that the total real estate financing portfolios of Saudi banks amount to approximately 27%, noting that domestic sukuk worth more than 20 billion riyals have been issued, and international issuances worth $4.5 billion, in addition to attracting global developers through an investment portfolio exceeding 40 billion riyals, reflecting the sector’s strength and investor confidence in it.

The Minister of Municipalities and Housing highlighted the diversity of the housing solutions system through various tools, including rent-to-own, partial ownership, and real estate tokenization, which expand options for beneficiaries and increase market flexibility.

Mr. Al-Hogail emphasized that the Kingdom now possesses an advanced digital real estate system that ranks among the best in the world, with 13 digital platforms serving more than 35 million users, and has processed approximately 80% real estate transactions digitally, in addition to issuing more than 1.3 million real estate records, thereby enhancing governance and transparency and improving operational efficiency.

Regarding real estate tokenization, His Excellency explained that the regulatory journey consists of seven stages, beginning with the launch of a regulatory pilot for the private sector involving nine companies, while the journey toward the future of tokenization spans three main phases, in a move aimed at building a more open and innovative real estate market.

His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities and Housing concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the Saudi real estate sector is moving confidently toward a new phase of maturity and sustainability, supported by regulatory, financial, and digital reforms that reinforce its position as one of the main drivers of the national economy.

The Future of Real Estate Forum Kicks Off

The fifth edition of the Future of Real Estate Forum 2026 kicked off today, Monday, in Riyadh, under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities and Housing and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Real Estate Authority, Mr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, under the theme “Expanding Horizons, Thriving Real Estate,” amid growing local and international interest and broad participation from decision-makers, experts, and investors representing more than 140 countries, and an elite group of 300 speakers comprising government and executive leaders, as well as experts from the public and private sectors, alongside a number of influential figures at the local and international levels, reflecting the prominent position the Saudi real estate sector now holds on the global stage.

40 panel discussions and private meetings
The forum will feature more than 40 panel discussions and a number of private meetings, addressing the future of urban planning and design for residential communities, their health, environmental, and social sustainability, and the role of real estate technologies in urban development and the construction of green buildings, with the participation of a select group of economists, investors, and experts from the local and international real estate sector.

The Future of Real Estate Forum coincides with the entry into force of the updated regulations governing real estate ownership by non-Saudis, which opens up regulated channels for foreign investment and enhances the attractiveness of the Saudi real estate market, and supports its sustainable growth, at a time when the Kingdom is experiencing unprecedented development momentum across its various regions.

Specialized Real Estate Exhibition
The forum is accompanied by a specialized real estate exhibition featuring major local and international companies and organizations, showcasing the latest real estate technologies, artificial intelligence applications, sustainable building materials, innovative development models, and diverse financing and investment solutions, while also serving as a platform for signing a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding among participating entities.

The Future of Real Estate Forum is a leading platform that brings together stakeholders, experts, researchers, and entities operating in the real estate sector, and through its panel discussions, specialized workshops, and accompanying real estate exhibition, it provides knowledge and unique experiences that help shape the sector’s future, strengthen regulatory and investment frameworks, and build effective partnerships that support the growth and sustainability of the real estate market.