Renting in Saudi Arabia: The Ejar Contract Guide

Renting a home in Saudi Arabia has become a streamlined, digital process built around one central platform. Whether you are a citizen or an expat settling into a new city, your lease should be created and authenticated electronically to be fully recognized and protected. The official rental-contract system is Ejar, and understanding how it works will save you time, protect your deposit, and give you legal standing if a dispute ever arises. Here is Saudi Living's practical breakdown of what to expect.

What Ejar is and why it matters

Ejar is the Kingdom's official electronic platform for documenting residential and commercial rental contracts. It is operated under the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) with housing-ministry oversight. A contract created and authenticated through the platform is treated as an enforceable document for judicial and enforcement purposes.

This is the single most important thing to know: an unregistered lease is generally not recognized as enforceable, whether administratively or before the courts. If your rental agreement lives only on paper or in a WhatsApp message, you may have very little protection. Insisting on a properly documented contract is protecting yourself.

How the contract is created step by step

The standard flow is straightforward and identity-verified from start to finish:

• The landlord or a licensed real-estate broker starts the contract on the platform.
• Property details and tenant information are entered.
• The tenant logs in and reviews the terms.
• The tenant approves, and the contract is finalized electronically.

Login and authentication are handled through Nafath, using your National ID or Iqama for verification. In the current guidance, involvement of a licensed real-estate brokerage is required for writing the contract on the platform, so expect a licensed party to handle the drafting.

What a standard contract records

Every documented lease captures the essentials so both sides are clear on their commitments:

• Landlord and tenant identities
• The broker involved
• Start and end dates
• Annual rent and payment method
• The security deposit

One current guide reports that security deposits are capped at 5% of the lease value. Confirm the deposit line in your contract before signing, and keep proof of any payment.

Fees: what you may pay

Fee reporting for 2026 is not fully consistent, so treat the figures below as guidance and verify directly on the platform before you commit:

• One reported schedule is a fixed documentation fee of SAR 125 for the first year and SAR 250 for each additional year — a three-year lease example totaling SAR 625.
• Another guide reports the fee as 2.5% of annual rent, split roughly 1.25% tenant and 1.25% landlord.

Because these two figures conflict, do not assume a number. Check the current fee schedule on the official Ejar platform before signing so you know exactly who pays what.

Renewal, rent increases, and your rights

Understanding renewal rules helps you avoid surprises:

• Automatic renewal: One current guide states contracts renew automatically unless either party notifies the other at least 60 days before expiry. If you plan to move out or renegotiate, give notice well within that window.
• Rent increases: There is reported to be no national rent cap, but a five-year freeze on rent increases inside Riyadh city applies from 25 September 2025. If you rent in the capital, this is significant.

Because rules can change and city-specific measures apply, always confirm the latest position on the official platform or the relevant Saudi government portal.

Practical tips before you sign

• Confirm the contract is genuinely created on the official platform and authenticated via Nafath.
• Check that names, dates, rent, and deposit match what you agreed.
• Keep a digital copy of the finalized contract.
• Verify fees and any deposit cap before payment.
• Use official channels — the platform, Nafath, and Absher — for access and verification.

A properly documented lease is your best safeguard as a tenant in Saudi Arabia. Take the extra minutes to get it right, and you will have a contract that stands up when it matters.

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