Destination Saudi - Discover the data

Our Destination Saudi 2026 report explores the global appetite to own and invest in real estate in Saudi Arabia. The research was conducted in partnership with YouGov and captures sentiment among expatriates residing in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as international respondents considering ownership or relocation to the Kingdom.

The study is based on 1,550 interviews, including 798 international respondents, 552 UAE-based expatriates and 200 Saudi-based expatriates, who collectively own 3,947 homes worldwide with a combined net worth of US$ 1.16bn, excluding primary residences.

Property ownership among respondents is well established, with 48% owning one to two homes, 17% owning three to five, and 7% holding between six and ten properties. A further 24% do not currently own property, while smaller cohorts report portfolios of 11 to 19 homes (2%) and 20 or more homes (2%).

Monthly income levels are weighted toward higher earning brackets, with strong representation across categories above US$ 10,000 per month, underscoring the financially capable profile of respondents evaluating real estate opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Tourism dynamics continue to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s positioning as a high-value tourism market. In Q3 2025, the Kingdom recorded 20.9 million international visitors and 69 million domestic tourists. International tourism spending reached SAR 125.9bn, while domestic spending totalled SAR 102.1bn.

International visitors recorded an average spend of SAR 6,024 per trip and an average length of stay of 18.9 nights. By contrast, domestic travel averaged 6.1 nights for Saudi nationals and 6.7 nights for non-Saudi residents.

Our research shows that Saudi Arabia’s real estate regulatory reforms and the introduction of new property ownership laws are generating strong purchasing intent, particularly among expatriates living in the region.

Appetite to purchase residential property varies significantly by country of residence. Intent to buy during 2026 is strongest among respondents in Egypt (56%), Algeria (48%) and India (41%), while Malaysia records 15%.

By contrast, respondents in the US and UK show lower immediate purchasing intent, with higher proportions indicating they are not interested, at 63% and 54% respectively.

Purchasing timelines vary across respondent groups. Overall, 25% plan to buy during 2026 and 29% within the next 2–5 years. Among Saudi-based expats, near-term intent is strongest, with 40% targeting 2026 and 41% planning to purchase within 2–5 years.

Purchasing timelines vary across respondent groups. Overall, 25% plan to buy during 2026 and 29% within the next 2–5 years. Among Saudi-based expats, near-term intent is strongest, with 40% targeting 2026 and 41% planning to purchase within 2–5 years.

Both financial and lifestyle motivations are driving international investor interest in Saudi Arabia’s residential market. Long-term regional and investment destination appeal remains a key driver, with 18% citing interest in Vision 2030 and 19% highlighting investment opportunity.

Religious and cultural ties are also significant, including proximity to holy sites (17%) and heritage-led motivations. Financial considerations remain prominent, with buy-to-let (14%) and holiday or second home ownership (13%) featuring strongly, alongside work and business opportunities and long-term regional stability.

Financial considerations remain central to purchasing decisions. Portfolio diversification (16%) and property value appreciation (15%) rank among the leading motivations overall, alongside early market entry (11%).

Lifestyle and luxury appeal also feature prominently, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s positioning as both an investment destination and a market offering personal and long-term value to international buyers.

When asked which features most enhance the appeal of a residential community, interviewees placed greatest emphasis on family-friendly environments (28%), followed by gated security and safety features (25%) and green spaces or parks (24%). Proximity to major roads and transport links (23%) and sports and fitness facilities (22%) also rank highly.

Healthcare facilities (24%), smart infrastructure (21%) and on-site schools and nurseries (21%) further underline strong demand for integrated, amenity-rich masterplanned communities.

Riyadh remains the leading target for residential investment, with 55% of interviewees expressing interest in purchasing a home in the capital. Strong demand is also recorded for Jeddah (46%), Madinah (43%) and Makkah (41%), reflecting the continued appeal of both the Kingdom’s commercial centre and the Holy Cities.

Beyond the major urban hubs, interest extends to Dammam (22%), Khobar (15%) and selected giga projects (15%), highlighting broad geographic demand across established and emerging destinations.

Attracting higher volumes of FDI is one of the core pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative. During 2024, Saudi Arabia attracted US$ 31.7bn in FDI, representing a 24% increase on 2023, with the goal of boosting this figure to US$ 100bn by 2030. The real estate sector, which has flourished under various Vision 2030 programmes and initiatives, is likely to emerge as a key vehicle to facilitate this growth.

Among non-residential sectors, retail and F&B is the most preferred investment segment (37% overall), followed by branded residences and hospitality (36% each) and offices (34%). Industrial and logistics (28%) and land (25%) also attract investor interest.