Renting a Home in Saudi Arabia: The Ejar Contract Guide

Renting a home is often the first big step for anyone settling into life in Saudi Arabia, whether you're a newcomer arriving on an Iqama or a resident moving to a new city. The good news is that the process is well-organised and increasingly digital. At the centre of it all is Ejar, the national platform that makes every lease official and legally protected. This Saudi Living guide walks you through how renting works, what the Ejar contract is, and what you can expect to pay.

Why Ejar matters for every tenant

In Saudi Arabia, a lease is only legally valid and enforceable in court if it is registered on the Ejar platform. Ejar operates under the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) and the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing. That means a handshake agreement or an informal paper contract offers you very little protection.

Once your lease is authenticated through Ejar, it becomes an executive instrument — a document that can be acted on directly by judicial and enforcement bodies, including the Ministry of Justice enforcement courts. In practice, this protects both sides: it helps landlords recover unpaid rent and helps tenants enforce their rights without a lengthy dispute.

How the contract is actually created

Here is an important point many newcomers miss: tenants and landlords cannot create Ejar contracts themselves. Contracts must be issued through a licensed real estate brokerage office that is registered with Ejar.

The broker logs into the Ejar system, chooses "Register New Contract," and selects whether the lease is residential or commercial. They then enter the full details, including:

• Property address and title deed number
• Unit data — type, number of rooms, area, floor, and unit number
• Contract start and end dates (Hijri or Gregorian)
• Rent amount and the payment schedule
• Landlord and tenant personal details

The system lets you set the duration in years, months, and days, and automatically calculates the end date. The lease is always built on the standard Unified Tenancy Contract — this standardised format is what makes it enforceable.

Logging in with Nafath

Access to Ejar is available through the official portal at ejar.sa and the Ejar mobile app. Login uses Nafath single sign-on: you enter your National ID or Iqama number, then approve the request via the Nafath app or a verification code. This ties your identity securely to the contract, so keep your Nafath access working before you begin.

What's inside the standard contract

The Unified Tenancy Contract is designed to leave little room for ambiguity. It typically includes:

• Personal data and addresses of the landlord, tenant, and broker
• Contract start and end dates
• The rent value and the security deposit amount
• The payment method and schedule
• The general obligations of both parties

Read every field carefully before it is authenticated. Because the contract becomes legally binding once finalised, this is the moment to confirm the deposit, the rent, and any special conditions are correct.

Fees and who pays them

Fee practice has shifted in recent years, so it helps to understand the general models rather than assume a single fixed number. Some brokers apply a fixed documentation schedule for residential contracts — for example a smaller fee for the first year and a higher fee for each additional year. Other guidance describes a fee of around 2.5% of the annual rent, often split so each party carries roughly half, though the split can be changed by agreement.

The most common practice in the current period is that the landlord pays the registration/documentation fee, and tenants usually pay nothing specifically for registration unless the contract assigns part of the fee to them. Fees are paid through SADAD and other Ejar-approved digital payment channels.

Because exact figures vary by contract length and broker, always confirm the current fee and how it will be split before signing. Ask your broker to show you the fee breakdown on the official Ejar system rather than relying on a verbal quote.

Practical tips before you sign

• Only deal with a brokerage office that is licensed and registered with Ejar.
• Make sure your Nafath login is active so you can approve the contract quickly.
• Check that the deposit amount and payment schedule in the system match what you agreed verbally.
• Keep a copy of the authenticated contract — it is your proof and your enforcement tool.
• Confirm any fee split in writing within the contract itself.

Handled correctly, the Ejar process gives you a clear, court-backed agreement that protects your home and your money. For the latest fees and official steps, always verify details directly on ejar.sa or the Ejar app.

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