Renting a Home in Saudi Arabia: The Ejar Contract Guide

Finding a place to live is one of the first big steps for anyone settling in Saudi Arabia, and understanding how rental contracts work here will save you time, money, and stress. Almost every residential lease in the Kingdom now goes through Ejar, the official electronic platform used to document rental agreements. In this Saudi Living guide, we explain how the Ejar contract works from start to finish, who pays what, and why a documented lease matters far beyond simply having a roof over your head.

What Is the Ejar Contract?

Ejar is the official system through which unified residential lease contracts are documented in Saudi Arabia. The unified contract it produces is legally approved and recognized by the justice system, which means a properly documented Ejar lease can be relied upon for enforcement if a dispute ever arises. In practice, this makes renting far more transparent for both tenants and landlords, because the terms are recorded in a single standardized electronic contract rather than an informal paper agreement.

One important detail: the Arabic text of the contract is the legally binding version. Any English summary you see is provided for your convenience only, so if something matters to you, confirm it against the Arabic wording before you approve.

Who Starts the Contract and How You Approve It

The lease is always initiated by the landlord or a certified real estate broker. They log into the Ejar platform and enter the key details, including:

• The property details
• Your ID number (National ID or Iqama)
• The rent amount and the payment schedule
• The contract duration

Once the contract is created, you as the tenant receive an SMS and a digital notification. You then review and approve the lease electronically. Approval is done through the Ejar portal or via login using the national digital identity system (Nafath), and the Absher app is commonly used as an integrated channel as well. Take a moment to check that the rent, dates, and payment plan match what you agreed verbally before you sign.

Contract Duration and Activation

Residential Ejar contracts typically run for 12 Hijri months, and both the duration and the rent schedule are stated explicitly in the system, so there is no ambiguity about when the lease starts and ends.

The lease only becomes legally active after both the landlord and tenant have signed and approved it electronically within Ejar. Once that happens, the system marks the contract as documented ("attested") and lets you download a PDF copy. Keep that PDF safe, because you will need it for several official processes.

Fees: How Much and Who Pays

Ejar charges a documentation (platform) fee for issuing the contract. Here is what you should know:

• The residential documentation fee is currently shown in the system as 125 SAR per rental year, and any partial year is rounded up to a full year.
• Some recent guidance describes a structure of 250 SAR for creating a new residential contract and 125 SAR per year for renewal. Other materials still show 125 SAR
• Because amounts can vary, the system always displays the exact fee before payment, so check the figure on screen and confirm it on the official platform.

As for who pays: the landlord is generally the party legally responsible for the documentation fee, unless the contract explicitly states that another party — the tenant or the brokerage office — will cover it. The Ejar screens let the parties designate who bears the fee, so make sure this is clear before approving. The fee is reserved when the contract is created and only charged once both parties approve; if the contract is rejected, the fee is refunded.

Why a Documented Lease Matters

A documented Ejar contract is more than a formality — it unlocks a range of essential services. You will typically need it for:

• Residence permit (Iqama) renewal
• Registering your national address
• School enrollment for your children
• Various banking services

Without a documented lease, many of these steps become difficult or impossible, so treat the Ejar contract as a key piece of your paperwork from day one.

Practical Tips Before You Sign

• Confirm the rent, payment schedule, and duration on screen match your verbal agreement.
• Read the Arabic contract text carefully, since it is the binding version.
• Clarify in writing who pays the documentation fee and any maintenance responsibilities.
• Download and store your PDF copy safely once the contract is documented.
• Always verify current fees and steps on the official government platform before paying.

Renting in Saudi Arabia is straightforward once you understand the Ejar process. Take your time at the approval stage, keep your documented contract handy, and you will find that your lease smooths the path for everything from your Iqama renewal to opening the door to daily life in the Kingdom.

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