Renting a Home in Saudi Arabia: The Ejar Contract Guide

Renting a home in Saudi Arabia has become far more organized and transparent thanks to the official Ejar platform, which registers residential and commercial leases and turns them into legally recognized documents. Whether you are a new arrival searching for your first apartment or a long-term resident renewing a lease, understanding how Ejar works protects your rights, clarifies your obligations, and prevents disputes later. In this guide, Saudi Living walks you through the process step by step.

What Is Ejar and Why It Matters

Ejar is the Kingdom's official rental contract registration system, operating under the Real Estate General Authority and linked to the housing ministry. Its core purpose is simple: to create a single, trusted record for every lease. Once a contract is registered on the platform, it is treated as the official legal document governing the relationship between landlord and tenant.

This matters because unregistered rental agreements are not recognized as valid or enforceable, either administratively or before the courts. If a dispute arises over rent, deposit, or the terms of your tenancy, only a registered Ejar contract gives you a solid legal footing.

Who Creates the Contract

A common misunderstanding is that the tenant sets up the contract. In practice, the lease is normally initiated by the landlord or a licensed real-estate broker, not by the tenant alone. The tenant's main role comes at the approval stage, where you review and digitally confirm the details.

Because of this, if you are renting through a broker, make sure they are licensed and that they will register the agreement on Ejar. If you are dealing directly with a landlord, confirm early that they will issue an official Ejar contract rather than an informal paper agreement.

Step-by-Step: How the Ejar Contract Works

The process is fully digital and identity-verified through Nafath. The typical flow looks like this:

• The landlord or broker logs in to ejar.sa using Nafath with their National ID or Iqama number.
• They enter the contract details and the specifics of the unit being rented.
• They set the contract start and end dates.
• They add the rent amount, the security deposit, and the payment method.
• The tenant then reviews everything and approves the contract digitally.

Once approved, the contract is officially recorded. A standard Ejar lease documents the landlord, the tenant, the broker (if any), the property details, the contract dates, the rent, the security deposit, and the agreed payment method.

Ejar Fees in 2026

For residential contracts in 2026, the registration fee is SAR 125 for the first year and SAR 250 for each additional year. You may also come across a reference to a fee of 2.5% of the annual rent split between tenant and landlord; however, this conflicts with the fixed figures above, so treat the fixed amounts as your reference point and always confirm the current fee on the official platform before signing.

Renewal and Notice Periods

Ejar contracts are described as automatically renewed unless one party notifies the other that they do not wish to continue. To end or avoid automatic renewal, notice must be given at least 60 days before the contract end date.

This is a crucial detail for both tenants and landlords:

• If you plan to move out, mark the 60-day deadline in your calendar and notify the other party in time.
• If you intend to stay, be aware that the contract may simply continue under the same terms.
• Keep proof of any notice you send, in case of a later disagreement.

Practical Tips for Tenants

• Never rely on an unregistered agreement. Only a registered Ejar contract is enforceable.
• Check every detail before approving. Confirm the rent, deposit, dates, and payment method match what you agreed verbally.
• Verify the property details in the contract match the actual unit you are renting.
• Confirm the deposit terms and understand the conditions for its return at the end of the lease.
• Keep a copy of the digital contract for your records.

For any point that is not clear — including current fees, deposit rules, or how your lease may interact with other services — confirm the latest details on the official Ejar portal at ejar.sa and through Nafath before you commit. Taking a few extra minutes to verify now can save you significant hassle later.

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