Renting in Saudi Arabia: How the Ejar Contract Works

Finding a place to live is one of the first big steps when you move to Saudi Arabia, and understanding how rental contracts work here will save you a lot of stress. The Kingdom has moved almost entirely to a digital system for leases, where your contract is registered electronically and becomes legally recognized once it is documented. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through renting a home, how the official Ejar platform works, what your contract should include, and what fees to expect.

What Is Ejar and Why It Matters

Ejar is the official Saudi platform for registering rental contracts. Once your lease is documented through the platform, it becomes an electronic, legally recognized contract. This applies to both residential and commercial leases. The key point for tenants and landlords alike is simple: an unregistered contract is not treated as enforceable in the same way a registered one is. If you ever need to prove your tenancy, resolve a dispute, or rely on the terms you agreed to, a properly registered Ejar contract is your protection.

How to Log In and Get Started

Access to the platform runs through Saudi identity infrastructure. The normal path is to visit the Ejar portal and authenticate using نفاذ (Nafath). You will need:

• Your National ID or Iqama number.
• Approval through the نفاذ app, or a verification code sent to your registered mobile number.

Because login is tied to نفاذ, make sure your mobile number is up to date and that you can access the Nafath app before you begin. Note that the primary channel for creating your Ejar contract is the Ejar platform itself via نفاذ — not أبشر, مقيم, قوى, or ناجز, even though you may use those services for other purposes as a resident.

How the Contract Gets Registered

In the standard documented workflow, a licensed real-estate broker registers the contract in Ejar. The tenant and the landlord then review the details and approve the contract electronically. This means you should always read the full contract carefully before you approve it — once you confirm, you are agreeing to legally binding terms.

A few practical tips:

• Confirm the broker is licensed before handing over any deposit.
• Check that every name, number, and date matches what you actually agreed to.
• Do not transfer large payments until the contract details are correct and ready to approve.

What Your Ejar Contract Should Include

A standard Ejar contract captures the core details that protect both sides. Before you approve, verify that the following are accurate:

• The identity of the landlord, the tenant, and the broker.
• The contract start and end dates.
• The rent amount.
• The security deposit.
• The payment method and schedule.

These details are the heart of your agreement. If anything looks off — a wrong end date, an incorrect deposit, or an unfamiliar payment method — raise it before approving rather than after.

What Fees to Expect

There is a documentation fee tied to registering a residential contract on Ejar. Based on guidance for 2026, the residential fee is around SAR 125 for the first year and SAR 250 for each additional year. As an example, a three-year residential contract would come to roughly SAR 625 in total.

Important: these figures are provided as general guidance and are not confirmed by an official government fee schedule here. Fees can change, so always verify the exact current amount inside the Ejar platform before you pay. Never rely on a number you saw elsewhere as final.

Practical Tips Before You Sign

• Insist on registering the lease through Ejar — an unregistered contract offers far weaker protection.
• Keep your نفاذ access ready so you can approve without delays.
• Save a copy of the electronic contract once documented.
• Clarify who pays for maintenance, utilities, and any service charges before approving.
• Confirm the deposit terms and the conditions for getting it back at the end of the lease.

With a registered contract, clear terms, and verified fees, renting in the Kingdom is a straightforward and secure process. Take your time reviewing the details before you approve — that final check is the most valuable step you can take as a tenant.

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