Renting in Saudi Arabia: How the Ejar Contract Works

Renting a home is one of the first big steps when you settle in Saudi Arabia, and the process today is far more structured and transparent than it used to be. The Kingdom uses an electronic rental-services network called إيجار to document unified residential lease contracts, so that both landlords and tenants have a clear, certified record of what they agreed to. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through how an إيجار lease actually works, what it costs, and how to protect your rights as a tenant.

What Is an Ejar Contract?

An إيجار contract is an electronically documented, unified residential lease. Once documented, it becomes an electronically certified agreement that is recognised as an enforceable instrument — meaning it carries real legal weight if a dispute ever arises. The contract records all the essentials in one place:

• The parties (landlord and tenant)
• The property details
• Rent amount and payment schedule
• Lease term and security deposit
• Maintenance responsibilities and utilities
• Termination conditions

How the Lease Is Created and Approved

In most cases the contract is created by the landlord or a licensed real-estate broker directly through إيجار. As the tenant, your role is to review the unit and the contract terms carefully, then approve the lease electronically.

Identity verification is tied to the mobile number registered with أبشر. Saudi citizens and residents generally need a valid national ID or residency ID to complete the process, and resident identity records are linked through مقيم. You do not normally need other government channels for an ordinary residential lease — the documentation happens inside إيجار itself.

Rent, Payments and Deposits

Rent can be scheduled in the way that suits both parties, as long as you both agree. Common options include:

• Monthly
• Quarterly
• Semiannually
• Annually

You pay through the agreed payment method, which can include إيجار’s electronic payment service where it is enabled. Keep records of every payment, and make sure the deposit amount and conditions for its return are clearly written into the contract before you approve it.

Fees and Broker Commission

Residential registration fees are reported as 125 ريال سعودي per year, with partial years rounded up, and some cases show a first-year discount. Because amounts can vary by case, always confirm the figure displayed on the إيجار screen before paying. The fee may be assigned to the landlord or the brokerage office during contract creation — the إيجار screen shows exactly which party is responsible.

Note that a separate “rental incident” registration service is listed at 250 ريال سعودي for a one-year residential case. This is a different service and is not the ordinary lease-documentation fee, so don’t confuse the two.

If you use a licensed broker, their commission must not exceed 2.5% of the first year’s rent. Anything above that is not in line with the rules.

Maintenance Responsibilities

As a general rule, the landlord is responsible for building safety and regular maintenance — unless the contract lawfully assigns specific maintenance tasks to the tenant. This is one of the most important sections to read carefully: make sure you understand exactly which repairs fall on you and which remain the landlord’s duty before you sign.

If the Landlord Refuses to Document the Lease

A documented lease protects you, so if a landlord refuses to register it through إيجار, you can request registration yourself. The landlord then has a window to object to the recorded data: they may raise an objection within 60 days of being notified. Documenting the contract is in your interest, since an unregistered verbal arrangement leaves you with far weaker protection.

Renewing Your Contract

Either party can start a renewal through إيجار. The other party reviews and approves it electronically, and payment is made from the إيجار wallet. For an automatic renewal, the landlord must pay the contract fee before the 60-day period preceding the contract’s expiry. Mark your calendar ahead of the renewal date so you have time to review any changes to rent or terms.

Where to Get Official Help

For documentation, disputes, and official information, the relevant channels are إيجار, the Real Estate General Authority, and the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing. Always confirm current fees and procedures on the official إيجار platform before you pay or sign anything.

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