Can Foreigners Buy Property in Mecca and Medina?

Saudi Arabia’s new ownership framework has opened a carefully regulated path into its two holiest cities. For international buyers, however, eligibility depends on who is buying, where the property stands and exactly what legal right is being offered.

Imagine finding an apartment in Mecca with views towards the city centre, or a home in Medina intended for family visits throughout the year. The development looks impressive, the location feels meaningful and the sales representative says international buyers are welcome.

Before discussing the view, the expected return or even the price, there is a more important question: are you legally entitled to own that particular property?

The short answer is encouraging, but qualified. Muslim foreigners can buy eligible property in approved areas of Mecca and Medina, whether they live in Saudi Arabia or abroad. Non-Muslim foreign individuals cannot directly own property in the two holy cities, while separate rules apply to companies and other legal entities.

In official Saudi usage, the cities are written as Makkah and Madinah; this article uses the internationally familiar spellings Mecca and Medina.

What changed in 2026?

Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate Ownership System for Non-Saudis entered into force on 22 January 2026. It expanded the routes through which foreign residents, non-residents and international entities can acquire property or other real-estate rights in the Kingdom.

The Real Estate General Authority, widely known as REGA, confirmed one particularly important condition: ownership in Mecca and Medina is restricted to Saudi companies and Muslim individuals, including Muslims who reside outside Saudi Arabia.

For someone living in Britain, nationality is therefore not the deciding factor. A British Muslim may be eligible to buy in an approved part of either city without first becoming a Saudi resident. A British non-Muslim, however, is not eligible for direct individual ownership in Mecca or Medina under the current framework.

This distinction is important because the phrase “foreign buyers” can be misleading. The rules do not place every international buyer in the same category.

Eligibility does not cover the entire city

Permission to buy in Mecca or Medina does not mean that every apartment, villa, hotel unit or parcel of land in either city is available to an international buyer.

Foreign ownership is controlled through designated geographical zones. Different conditions may also apply to individual locations, projects and types of real-estate rights.

Before paying a reservation fee, you should check the property against the official maps and eligibility information available through the Saudi Properties portal. A marketing brochure stating that a project is “open to international investors” should not replace verification through the official system.

The building may stand inside an approved district while the particular unit, phase of development or ownership arrangement remains subject to additional conditions. In other words, the precise address and legal documentation matter more than the general name of the neighbourhood.

Are you buying ownership or a right of use?

The word “ownership” can conceal several different legal arrangements.

Depending on the project and the controls governing its geographical zone, an offer may involve full ownership, a long-term usufruct right or another registered real-estate right. These arrangements are not interchangeable.

Before signing anything, ask the seller to explain:

• What legal right will be registered in your name?
• Is that right permanent or limited to a fixed period?
• Can the property be sold, inherited or rented?
• Are there restrictions on residential, personal or commercial use?
• What service charges and management fees will apply?
• Does the individual unit qualify for acquisition by a non-Saudi buyer?
• What happens if the project is delayed or not completed?

The answers should appear clearly in the legal documents—not only in a presentation, advertisement or conversation with a sales representative.

How can a buyer living in the UK apply?

Saudi Arabia has established different application routes for residents and non-residents.

A foreign national already living in Saudi Arabia can apply through the Saudi Properties portal using an Iqama number. Eligibility checks and much of the process can then be completed electronically.

For someone living in the UK without Saudi residency, REGA says the process begins through a Saudi embassy or official representation. The applicant can obtain the digital identity needed to continue the ownership application through the portal.

You do not necessarily need to move to Saudi Arabia before beginning the process. You should, however, follow the official route from the beginning and avoid transferring money merely because a development is being marketed to overseas buyers.

A sensible order would be to:

1. Confirm your personal eligibility.
2. Verify that the property is inside an approved zone.
3. Establish the precise legal right being offered.
4. Check the developer and project documentation.
5. Appoint an independent Saudi property lawyer.
6. Review the payment schedule, fees and exit conditions.
7. Commit funds only after the necessary checks are complete.

A reputable developer should be comfortable answering these questions and providing documents for independent review.

Mecca and Medina should not be treated as one market

The spiritual importance of both cities is undeniable, but their property markets do not necessarily move in the same direction.

Saudi Arabia’s official Real Estate Price Index recorded a 1.3 per cent annual increase nationwide in the second quarter of 2026, while residential prices rose by 2.6 per cent. Apartment prices increased by 1.1 per cent, whereas villa prices declined by 9.7 per cent.

Regional figures showed another important contrast. Prices in the Mecca Region increased by 0.4 per cent year on year, while the Medina Region recorded a 4.5 per cent decline. These are regional rather than city-level figures, but they demonstrate why broad claims about rapidly rising property values in the two holy cities deserve closer examination. The complete figures are available from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics.

Within each city, two apartments a short distance apart may have very different prices, running costs and demand patterns. Proximity to the holy sites may support visitor demand, but it can also mean a higher purchase price and more expensive property management.

Seasonality matters as well. A property may experience strong demand during Hajj, Ramadan or other busy periods without maintaining the same occupancy throughout the year. Any advertised rental return should therefore be examined alongside annual occupancy assumptions, management charges, maintenance costs and periods when the property may be unavailable.

A meaningful location is not automatically a profitable investment—and a sound investment does not necessarily depend on having the closest possible view of a holy site.

Does buying property provide Saudi residency?

Not automatically.

Property ownership and immigration status are separate legal matters. Saudi Arabia offers a Real Estate Owner Residency product, but purchasing any property does not by itself qualify the buyer for Premium Residency.

Under the current criteria, an applicant must own, use or purchase qualifying residential property worth at least SAR 4 million. Additional conditions apply, including requirements concerning mortgages, property type and approved off-plan developments.

The duration of this residency is linked to the qualifying property or usufruct right. It should not be confused with an automatically permanent residence permit. Buyers can review the current conditions through the Saudi Premium Residency Centre.

It is therefore possible for an international Muslim buyer to purchase an eligible apartment in Mecca or Medina without that property meeting the separate requirements for Real Estate Owner Residency.

Remember the British side of the purchase

If you remain resident in the UK, buying abroad does not remove your British tax responsibilities.

UK residents normally pay UK tax on foreign income, including rent received from overseas property, although individual circumstances and available reliefs vary. HMRC also notes that relief may sometimes be available when the same income is taxed in more than one country. Further information is available in the government’s guidance on tax on foreign income.

Before purchasing, it is sensible to consult both a Saudi property lawyer and a UK tax adviser. Currency movements, inheritance planning, banking arrangements and the cost of transferring rental income can all affect the real outcome of the investment.

Bringing the questions to London

For buyers in Britain, exhibitions can provide a convenient first look at several developments without requiring an immediate trip to Saudi Arabia.

The UK-Saudi Real Estate Exhibition, organised by International Investment Gate, is scheduled for 2–4 August 2026 at The Chancery Rosewood in London’s Grosvenor Square.

The practical value of attending will depend on the questions visitors ask. Rather than beginning with discounts or projected returns, ask each developer to identify the property on the official ownership-zone map, explain the legal title being offered and provide the relevant project documentation.

It is also worth comparing several developments before making a decision. A polished architectural model can show what a project may eventually become; the legal documents reveal what you would actually own.

So, can foreigners buy property in Mecca and Medina?

Yes—Muslim foreign individuals can purchase eligible property within approved zones in Mecca and Medina, whether they live in Saudi Arabia or overseas. Non-Muslim foreign individuals cannot directly own property in the two holy cities under the current framework.

For an eligible buyer, the opportunity is real. So are the conditions.

The safest decision rests on three clear answers: Are you eligible? Is the property inside an approved zone? And what precise legal right will be registered in your name?

Once those questions have been settled, the more enjoyable decisions—where to buy, what view to choose and how the property might fit into your family or investment plans—can properly begin.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Regulations and designated zones may change, so buyers should verify the current position through the relevant Saudi authorities before making a financial commitment.

Read also: Saudi Premium Residency Through Real Estate Investment