How to become a real estate broker in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, real estate brokerage is regulated by the Real Estate General Authority (REGA). The licence is called FAL, and you apply for it through REGA’s electronic platform. The Real Estate Brokerage Law has been in force since 18 January 2023, and in September 2026 REGA changed the training path for new brokers. Here is how it works today.

The short version

1. Check that the role is open to you. Brokerage and marketing jobs are reserved for Saudi nationals (see below).
2. Complete the foundational training: three remote programmes from the Saudi Real Estate Institute.
3. Pass the in-person exam at a National Center for Assessment test centre. The pass mark is 70%.
4. Apply for your FAL brokerage and marketing licence on the REGA platform and pay the fee.
5. Sign every client on a REGA brokerage contract and deposit it on the platform.
6. Get an advertising licence for each property ad you publish.

Who can hold a FAL licence

REGA lists four conditions for individuals:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have no conviction for a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, unless your record has been restored.
• You have passed the qualification programme for each activity you want to practise.
• You pay the licence fee. The marketing and advertising licences are free.

REGA’s conditions do not mention nationality. But the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development reserved real estate brokerage and real estate marketing jobs for Saudis at 100%, starting 1 October 2021. In practice, a non-Saudi resident should not expect to be hired as a broker or property marketer. If you are an expat, ask the employer and the ministry which job titles are open to you before you move or sign anything.

Step 1: the foundational level (since 1 September 2026)

REGA has reorganised broker training into levels. The first one, the foundational level, applies to anyone applying for a brokerage and marketing licence for the first time. It includes three mandatory programmes:

• Real estate brokerage
• Real estate marketing (now including e-marketing)
• Combating fraud and money laundering in real estate

The training lasts 8 days in total and is fully remote, down from 10 days before. Each programme gives its own certificate, valid for one year. You then sit a comprehensive exam in person, prepared by the Saudi Real Estate Institute and held at National Center for Assessment centres across the Kingdom. The minimum passing score is 70%.

If you already hold a valid licence, you do not need the new training or exam to renew. You pay the renewal fee as before.

Step 2: apply for the licence

You apply on REGA’s FAL platform. The licence covers brokerage and marketing. Other FAL activities exist, such as consultations, property management, facility management and auctions, but the last three are reserved for licensed establishments, not individuals.

Under the implementing regulations, a licence is valid for one year and can be extended up to five years. You file the renewal within 60 days before it expires.

Working for an agency

You can hold an individual licence or work for a licensed establishment. An establishment needs a commercial registration that covers real estate brokerage. Its staff must complete the qualification programme before they start and be registered on REGA’s platform. Under the law, a company acts through its managing officer or a licensed affiliate, so make sure your name is properly registered with the firm.

Fees

REGA confirms that fees apply to the brokerage licence and that the marketing and advertising licences are free. We could not find the fee amounts published on REGA’s English pages. Okaz reported in July 2026 that the new training did not raise fees. Check the amount on the platform before you pay.

Contracts and advertising

• Brokerage contract. It must be written, on REGA’s approved template, and deposited on the platform. A contract that is not deposited cannot be enforced. If no term is written, it lasts 90 days.
• Advertising licence. Every property ad needs its own advertising licence, and the ad must show your name or licence number. To issue it, you need a brokerage contract with the owner that gives you marketing rights. Anyone can check an ad’s licence on REGA’s inquiry service.

Commission in one paragraph

The law sets the commission at 2.5% of the sale price, or 2.5% of the first year’s rent, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. The client who signed the brokerage contract pays it. Read our full guide: Broker commission in Saudi Arabia.

Penalties

Working without a licence, lying to get one, or hiding material facts about a property can lead to a warning, a suspension of up to one year, a revocation, or a fine of up to SAR 200,000. The fine can be doubled for a repeat within three years.

Rules changed in September 2026 and may keep changing. This guide was checked on the date shown above. Always confirm on REGA’s platform before you pay anything. CloserPass is not affiliated with REGA.

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