If you own property in Saudi Arabia, the real estate registration deadline for your area is the date to watch. Under the Real Estate Registration Law, each announced area gets a fixed window for first registration, and missing it can lead to a fine of up to SAR 100,000. Registration itself is free and happens on the Real Estate Registry platform, rer.sa. Below: how the deadline works, what the law says about fines, and how to register, with notes for residents and owners abroad.
What the Real Estate Registry is
The law was issued by Royal Decree M/91 dated 19/9/1443 AH, and Article 2 applies it to all property located in the Kingdom (law text, Arabic). Areas open for registration in phases. Once a property is registered, it gets a property number and a title registration deed that records its exact location, owner details, description and any rights attached (REGA, Arabic). First registration is free under Article 34.
On 26 October 2026, the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) said more than two million registry records had been issued and that registration now covers more than 5 million properties (Argaam, Arabic).
How the real estate registration deadline works
The law itself does not fix a number of days. Article 7 says the decision announcing each real estate area sets the period for receiving first-registration requests. In practice, the Real Estate Registry has described this window as 90 days per announced area (Okaz, Arabic).
The date that counts is the end date printed in the announcement, and it is often a few days more than 90. Recent examples:
| Announcement | Regions | Window |
|---|---|---|
| 167,352 parcels (REGA, Arabic) | Riyadh, Qassim, Tabuk, Hail, Eastern Province | 2 August 2026 (19 Safar 1448 AH) to the end of Thursday 5 November 2026 (25 Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH) |
| 84,177 parcels (Okaz, Arabic) | Makkah, Qassim, Riyadh, Madinah | Announced 18 October 2026, ends Thursday 21 January 2027 |
| Several sites in Riyadh city and governorates (Okaz, Arabic) | Riyadh | Announced 25 October 2026, ends Thursday 28 January 2027 |
Many announcements list “part of” a district rather than the whole district, so the name of your neighbourhood alone does not settle whether your plot is covered. You can check on the announced areas page of rer.sa, or call the registry on 199002.
Fines: what Article 35 says
Article 35 sets a fine “not exceeding one hundred thousand riyals” for five violations, without prejudice to any harsher penalty in another law. The one most relevant to the deadline is item 5: failing to submit a first-registration request for your property within the period set for your area. The other four cover withholding documents or data needed for registration, obstructing registration work, failing to report building changes on your property within 90 days (Article 24), and failing to file a request required under Article 31.
Three points are worth knowing:
- It is a ceiling, not a fixed amount. The law says “not exceeding”. We have not found a published schedule of amounts per case, so we don’t estimate one.
- A committee decides. Article 36 sets up committees of at least three members, one with a university degree in Sharia or law, to review violations and impose the penalty.
- Decisions can be challenged. A committee decision can be appealed before the Administrative Court within 60 days of learning of it (Article 36, paragraph 4).
What happens after the deadline
Registration stays open. REGA has said that “real estate title registration applications will continue to be accepted” in all announced areas even after the period ends (REGA). The same announcement warns that missing the window may expose owners to financial penalties, set by a committee that reviews violations. So if your deadline has passed, the practical step is to register as soon as you can and keep your request number.
Some properties are registered without an application, when the deed data meets the legal requirements and the geospatial data is complete (Article 14 of the regulation, Arabic). The owner then gets a message (Okaz, Arabic), so check the platform before assuming the worst.
Paper deeds and the “paper submission” service
Registration normally needs an electronic deed issued by the Ministry of Justice. If your deed is still on paper, or you have a pending request on the Ehkam platform, the registry offers a “paper submission” service (التقديم الورقي) (Okaz, Arabic). You attach the deed plus either the Ministry of Justice digitisation request number or your Ehkam request number. According to the registry, applying exempts the owner from the violation regardless of the request’s status, as long as the owner follows up and provides any extra documents until the registration deed is issued.
The source does not say clearly whether paper submission must happen before the deadline. To be safe, use it within the window and confirm with 199002. Separately, the Ministry of Justice lets owners convert a paper deed into an electronic one through its Najiz portal, without visiting a court (Okaz, Arabic).
How to register on rer.sa, step by step
Requirements, from REGA’s service page:
- A valid national ID or residency permit (individuals).
- A valid commercial registration (companies).
- An electronic deed issued by the Ministry of Justice.
- A valid power of attorney if someone applies for you.
- The property must be in an announced area.
Steps:
- Go to rer.sa, open the e-services and log in with Nafath, the national single sign-on.
- Choose “First registration” (التسجيل العيني الأول) and start the service.
- Enter the details of the property and its deed number and date.
- Check the property’s geospatial information: its location and boundaries.
- Review the request, attach any supporting documents, and submit.
You receive a request number by notification. A survey may be carried out, the registrar checks the conditions and documents, and then the title registration deed is issued (Article 10 of the regulation). REGA does not publish a fixed processing time. You can also apply through the Real Estate Registry app or at a service centre after booking an appointment.
If you are a resident (non-Saudi) owner
The law applies to all property in the Kingdom, and the service accepts a valid residency permit (Iqama) as ID. We found no separate deadline for non-Saudi owners: the end date in your area’s announcement is the one that applies. A few practical points:
- Check that your Iqama is valid before you start. The requirement is a valid ID.
- Keep your registered mobile number up to date. The regulation lists text messages to a verified mobile number as one way the registry notifies applicants (Article 5).
- REGA lists the service language as Arabic. If that is a barrier, the call centre on 199002 can explain the steps.
If you live abroad
The deadline is tied to the property’s area, not to where the owner lives. There are two routes:
- Apply yourself online. Login is through Nafath, so you need working access to your Nafath account from where you are.
- Appoint a representative. The regulation lets the owner “or their representative” submit the request (Article 10), and REGA requires a valid power of attorney in that case.
Issuing a power of attorney from abroad depends on your situation, so we do not cover it here. The Ministry of Justice handles them, and 199002 can confirm what the registry accepts. Whatever route you choose, do not share your Nafath login or verification codes with anyone. Sakudar will never ask for them.
Inherited and family property
Undivided inherited property needs the heirs’ documents in order first. For example, the Ministry of Justice has said an heirs’ deed (صك حصر الورثة) cannot be issued if one heir’s ID has expired (Okaz, Arabic). We cover this in inherited property in Saudi Arabia. White-land fees are a separate obligation with their own objection window; see white land tax in Saudi Arabia.
How Sakudar helps
Sakudar is an independent subscription app, not a government body. You add your properties once: city, district, deed type and share. Each day our team reads the official registration and white-land fee announcements, matches them against your districts, and alerts you by WhatsApp, in the app and by email. Each alert says how sure we are (confirmed, or possible when an announcement covers only part of a district), counts down to the official end date in Hijri and Gregorian, and comes with a document checklist for your deed type. We never register on your behalf, never connect to government systems and never ask for your Nafath login. See features and pricing: the Owner plan is SAR 149 a year and Family & heirs SAR 399 a year, VAT included.
FAQ
What is the deadline for real estate registration in Saudi Arabia?
There is no single national date. Each announced area has its own end date, usually a little over 90 days after the start. Check the announcement for your area on rer.sa.
Is registration free?
Yes. Article 34 of the law makes first registration free.
Can I still register after the deadline?
Yes. Applications are still accepted in announced areas, but you may face a fine of up to SAR 100,000, decided by a committee.
Can someone register on my behalf?
Yes, with a valid power of attorney.
My deed is on paper. What should I do?
Update it to an electronic deed through the Ministry of Justice, and use the registry’s paper submission service within your area’s window.
In short
Find your area’s official end date, make sure your deed and ID are in order, and apply on rer.sa before that date. If your properties are spread across cities, or you manage family property from abroad, you can try Sakudar free for 14 days, no card needed. Registration itself always happens on the Real Estate Registry platform, rer.sa.