RIYADH: Property developers in Saudi Arabia are seeing increased interest from international investors following the Kingdom’s recent amendments to real estate ownership laws, industry figures told Arab News.

Speaking at the Real Estate Future Forum in Riyadh, developers said the new regulations permitting foreign ownership of land are beginning to influence market behavior, including decisions by developers and speculators.

The updated regulatory framework officially came into effect on Jan. 22, enabling non-Saudis to apply for property ownership through the Saudi Arabia Real Estate digital platform.

Under the new rules, foreign individuals, companies, and entities are allowed to own property across the Kingdom, including in major urban centers such as Riyadh and Jeddah. Ownership in Makkah and Madinah, however, remains limited to Saudi companies and Muslim individuals.

Developers say the policy shift is already shaping large-scale projects, including Alma Destination on the Red Sea coast.