Renting a Home in Saudi Arabia: The Ejar Guide

Oct 24, 2026•4 min read

Renting a home is one of the first big steps when you settle into life in Saudi Arabia, and the single most important thing to understand is the Ejar contract. Ejar is the Kingdom's electronic rental network for documenting residential leases, and a properly documented contract is what protects you if a dispute ever arises. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through how the system works, what the registration involves, the fees, and the approval process — so you know exactly what to expect before you sign.

Why a documented Ejar contract matters

A standardized, documented Ejar contract is generally an enforceable instrument. That means it can be relied upon for official purposes and in disputes or enforcement proceedings. An informal or unregistered rental agreement may not carry the same administrative or judicial weight, which can leave you exposed if things go wrong. For this reason, insist on a properly documented contract rather than a handwritten or verbal arrangement.

Documented contracts are enforceable for disputes and enforcement.
Unregistered contracts may not produce the same administrative or judicial effects.
The official channel for residential lease registration is the Ejar platform under the Real Estate General Authority.

Who creates the contract

Normally the landlord, or an authorized real-estate broker acting on the landlord's behalf, creates the contract through the Ejar platform. Importantly, if the landlord has not registered the lease, the tenant can request registration. For exceptional cases where one party does not have an Absher account, Ejar offers a quick-registration service. There is no universal rule forcing every tenant to use a particular government app for ordinary Ejar registration.

The registration stages

Creating an Ejar contract follows a clear sequence of stages. Knowing them in advance helps you check that your details are entered correctly:

Contract duration — the start date can be entered in Hijri or Gregorian format, and the term can be set in years, months, and days, or as a fixed end date.
Property and unit — identifying the exact home being rented.
Contract parties — the landlord and the tenant.
Financial information — annual rent is entered for contracts of one year or longer, while monthly rent is used for terms under one year.
Terms and conditions — the clauses governing the tenancy.

Fees: what you actually pay

The Ejar residential documentation fee is SAR 125 per contract year. A partial year is rounded up for fee purposes. The contract itself can assign this documentation fee to either the landlord or the brokerage office, so check who is responsible before you sign. The landlord or broker pays the fee through Ejar; the amount is held pending electronic approval and is refunded if the contract is rejected.

Documentation fee: SAR 125 with partial years rounded up.
Brokerage commission is agreed between the parties but may not exceed 2.5% of the first year's rent.

You may come across a SAR 250 annual figure in some materials — this relates to a different service or fee schedule and should not be treated as the standard residential documentation fee. Always confirm the exact amount for your specific transaction on the official Ejar platform.

Approval and authentication

Once the contract is prepared, it is sent electronically to both the landlord and the tenant for review and approval. Each party must electronically authenticate or approve the contract before documentation is completed. Take the time to read every detail — the rent, the duration, the dates, and the terms — because approving it is what makes the contract official.

If you are the landlord, note that you may object to the contract data within 60 days after you are notified.

Renewal, amendment, and cancellation

Timing is everything when it comes to renewing, amending, or cancelling a lease. As a general rule, any of these actions requires notice of at least 60 days. For contracts that renew automatically, the contract fee must be paid before the 60-day window preceding expiry; if the Ejar wallet does not have sufficient funds, the landlord will need to recharge it so the renewal can process.

Give or expect at least 60 days' notice for renewal, amendment, or cancellation.
For auto-renewing contracts, ensure the fee is settled before the 60-day pre-expiry period.

Practical tips before you sign

Always confirm the final fee amounts and any process details on the official Ejar platform, since schedules and services can change. Keep a copy of your documented contract, note your key dates — especially the 60-day windows — and clarify in writing who pays the documentation fee and any brokerage commission. A few minutes of care at signing can save you a great deal of hassle later.

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates: