Renting a Home in Saudi Arabia: The Ejar Contract Guide

Renting a home in Saudi Arabia has become a fully digital, standardized process. Whether you are a long-time resident or an expat arriving for a new job, the single most important thing to know is that your lease must be registered on the Ejar network. A registered contract protects both tenant and landlord, is legally enforceable, and is often required for everyday tasks like utility connections and residency-related services. This Saudi Living guide walks you through how Ejar works and what to expect step by step.

What is Ejar and why it matters

Ejar is the official electronic rental network operating under the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing and the Real Estate General Authority (REGA). It standardizes the rental relationship through a Unified Tenancy Contract used across the Kingdom.

• All residential and commercial rental contracts must be registered in Ejar.
• An unregistered lease is not legally valid or enforceable before Saudi courts or administrative bodies.
• A registered Ejar lease becomes an "executive instrument" — meaning it can be enforced directly through the Enforcement Court without a lengthy separate lawsuit.

In short, registering on Ejar is not optional paperwork; it is what gives your rental agreement legal weight.

Who creates the contract

Ejar contracts are typically documented through licensed real estate brokers registered on the platform. In some implementations, tenants and landlords cannot independently create a contract without a licensed broker involved. The platform is fully integrated with national digital identity systems, so verification and signatures rely on Nafath and Absher.

Accounts and documents you need

Before starting, make sure both parties have their essentials ready:

• Both parties: a valid Saudi National ID or Iqama, an active Absher account, and a mobile number registered in Absher.
• Landlord additionally: a bank account for receiving rent and settling documentation fees.

The main channels used throughout the process are the Ejar portal and app (ejar.sa) for creating, viewing, renewing and terminating contracts; Nafath for single sign-on and digital signature; Absher for identity verification, notifications and approvals; and the SADAD payment gateway inside Ejar for fees and rent-related payments.

Step-by-step: registering an Ejar contract

• Agree on the terms: the tenant selects a unit and agrees with the landlord on rent, duration, payment schedule, and key terms.
• Create the contract: the landlord or licensed broker logs into ejar.sa or the Ejar app using Nafath, chooses "Register Residential Lease Contract," and enters tenant data, unit details, rent amount, duration (Hijri or Gregorian), payment method, and security deposit.
• Electronic approval: both tenant and landlord receive an SMS or platform notification and approve electronically using Absher/Nafath. A verification code is sent to the mobile number registered in Absher.
• Issue the certificate: after approval and fee payment, the standardized Unified Tenancy Contract is issued as a digital Ejar certificate, downloadable from the portal or app.
• At contract end: the landlord must renew or terminate the Ejar contract, and the tenant receives a digital notification.

Documentation fees in 2026

Ejar applies fixed residential documentation fees:

• SAR 125 for the first year of a residential contract.
• SAR 250 for each additional year of the same contract.

For example, a three-year lease would carry a documentation fee of SAR 625. Because fee arrangements and the exact payer can vary by agreement and may be updated, always confirm the current fees and who pays them directly on the Ejar portal before signing.

Practical tips for tenants

• Insist on Ejar registration — without it you have limited legal protection.
• Check that the unit details, rent, deposit and payment schedule on the contract exactly match what you agreed verbally.
• Keep your Absher mobile number active, since approvals and codes are sent there.
• Download and save your digital Ejar certificate; you may need it for utilities and other services.
• Before the lease ends, watch for renewal or termination notifications so you are not caught off guard.

By understanding the Ejar system before you sign, you turn renting into a transparent, enforceable, and stress-free process — exactly how it should be.

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