How to Rent an Apartment in Saudi Arabia — Complete Expat Guide

Quick Answers

Who Is This For?

New expats and residents in Saudi Arabia who need to find and rent an apartment or villa — whether in Riyadh, Jeddah, the Eastern Province, or elsewhere.

Step-by-Step Process

1. 1Decide on your requirements before searching — settle on the area or neighbourhood, whether you want a furnished or unfurnished unit, apartment or villa, your maximum monthly budget, and how far you are willing to commute to work or school. In Saudi Arabia, furnished apartments are common and practical for expats arriving without furniture; unfurnished units are cheaper but require buying everything from scratch.
2. 2Search on Aqar (aqar.fm), Property Finder (propertyfinder.sa), or Bayut (bayut.com/sa) — these are the main platforms and cover listings across all Saudi cities. For off-market deals and faster responses, also join WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups for expats in your city (e.g. 'Expats in Riyadh', 'Jeddah Expat Community'). Agents post new listings in these groups daily, often before they appear on the portals.
3. 3Visit shortlisted apartments in person before committing to anything — photos on rental apps frequently flatter properties and hide issues. During the visit, check water pressure from the kitchen and bathroom taps, test all air conditioning units (critical in Saudi summers), inspect the parking space and whether it is covered, confirm the building has a working elevator if you are above the ground floor, and check mobile signal in the apartment.
4. 4Negotiate the asking price and payment schedule — landlords, especially those with vacant properties, typically have flexibility of 5–10% on price. Payment terms are negotiable too: some landlords insist on one cheque for the full year, but you can often negotiate two cheques (semi-annual) or four cheques (quarterly), sometimes for a slightly higher total rent. Get the agreed payment schedule in writing before signing anything.
5. 5Agree on all lease terms before signing — a standard lease in Saudi Arabia is 1 year. Make sure the contract explicitly states: the total annual rent amount, the payment schedule and dates, who is responsible for maintenance and repairs (hot water heater, AC servicing, plumbing), notice period required by either party, and the conditions for the security deposit refund. If the contract is entirely in Arabic and you cannot read it, have a bilingual colleague or a typing centre translate the key clauses before you sign.
6. 6Register the lease on the Ejar platform (ejar.sa) — this step is legally mandatory in Saudi Arabia for all residential rental agreements. Both you (the tenant) and the landlord must have active Absher accounts for Ejar registration. The registered Ejar contract is legally binding and is required for connecting utilities in your name, for visa-related address verification, and for any future dispute. If your landlord refuses to register on Ejar, treat this as a serious red flag.
7. 7Pay the security deposit and keep documentation — the deposit is typically one month's rent. Pay by bank transfer rather than cash so you have a paper trail. Send the landlord a WhatsApp or email confirming the deposit amount and the agreed conditions under which it will be refunded when you vacate. Before moving in, photograph every room, including any pre-existing damage to walls, floors, or fixtures, and share the photos with the landlord in writing.
8. 8Set up your utilities after the Ejar contract is registered — electricity and water in Saudi Arabia are managed by the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and the local water authority. Apply for connections in your name through the SEC app or the relevant local water authority. For internet, choose from STC, Mobily, or Zain — fibre connections are widely available in cities and setup usually takes 3–7 business days. Utility bills are low by international standards due to government subsidies.

Frequently Asked Questions