The rules you follow every day

Saudi rules are detailed, and REGA checks them. The good news: once you build the right habits, most of them protect you. This lesson covers the rules you will use every single day.

1. The brokerage contract

Every job starts with a contract. Under Article 7 of the Brokerage Law:

• It must be in writing, on REGA’s approved template, and deposited on the platform. A contract that is not deposited cannot be enforced.
• It must have a fixed term. If none is written, it lasts 90 days.
• When you sign with an owner, you must get a copy of the proof of ownership (Article 9).

You keep your right to commission if the deal closes during the contract or within two months after it ends, and you can prove you brokered it. Without a contract, a verbal promise of commission is worth very little.

2. Down payments

• A down payment (arboon) cannot exceed 5% of the deal value. Anything above counts as an advance on the price.
• It only counts as a down payment if this is written.
• If the deal fails and the seller or landlord keeps it, the broker is entitled to 25% of it, unless the contract says otherwise.
• You can never hold a down payment as security for your fee.

3. Advertising

Every property advert needs its own REGA advertising licence, on a portal, a website or social media. To issue it, you need a brokerage contract that gives you marketing rights. REGA’s regulations make advertising licences free. Raghdan’s 2026 guide mentions a SAR 50 invoice per advert on the platform, so check what the platform shows you.

According to Raghdan, an advert must show, among other things:

• The advertiser’s name and capacity, the ad licence number and the broker’s FAL number.
• The city, district and plan number, the property type, age and size.
• The price and a working contact method.
• Any mortgage or restriction on the property, and anything else that could affect its value.

The ad licence ends when the brokerage contract ends. Online platforms must also be licensed by REGA: 71 were licensed by April 2025. Publish only on licensed platforms.

4. Leases and Ejar

Every lease is registered on Ejar, the national rental platform, using the unified contract. If the landlord does not register it, the tenant can. Al Tamimi notes that the unified Ejar contract can be enforced directly at the execution courts, which makes unpaid rent easier to recover.

In Riyadh, a five-year rent freeze started on 25 September 2025. It covers new and existing residential and commercial leases inside the city’s urban area. A previously rented unit is fixed at the last rent registered on Ejar, and leases renew automatically except in specific cases. Fines can reach 12 months’ rent. REGA can extend the freeze to other cities, but no extension had been confirmed by October 2026. Never promise a Riyadh landlord a rent increase.

5. Off-plan projects

No off-plan unit can be marketed, sold or rented without a project licence on Wafi. Before you promote anything, check the licence on Wafi and make sure all buyer money goes to the project’s escrow account. Selling or collecting money without a licence is a crime under the off-plan law, punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to SAR 10 million, or both. Read our full guide on off-plan sales and Wafi.

6. Anti-money laundering

Real estate is a high-risk sector, and REGA’s guide for brokers is strict:

• Complete customer due diligence before you accept any funds. If you cannot, stop the deal and report.
• Report suspicious transactions immediately to the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence (SAFIU), using the unified template.
• Never tell the client that a report was made or that the deal is delayed for that reason. That is called tipping off, and it is forbidden.
• Keep due diligence and transaction records for at least 10 years.

A client who wants to pay a large sum in cash and will not explain where it comes from is a clear warning sign.

What gets brokers fined or banned

Breach	Possible consequence
Brokering or advertising without a licence	Fine up to SAR 200,000, suspension, revocation
Misleading information or hiding material facts	Fine, suspension of up to one year, revocation
Repeat breach within three years	Fine can be doubled
Selling unlicensed off-plan units	Up to 5 years in prison or SAR 10 million
Raising rent in breach of the Riyadh freeze	Fine up to 12 months’ rent

These rules are updated often. Check the official source before you act. Then test yourself on the Saudi rules exercises and the Saudi off-plan exercises.