Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has put into effect the executive regulations for the Housing Support Law, setting a detailed legal and procedural framework that defines eligibility conditions and priority criteria for citizens seeking state-provided housing support.

Published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura following Cabinet approval, the new regulations establish a comprehensive points-based system as the main mechanism to assess applications and determine allocation paths, while also setting clear requirements on residency, property ownership, and financial capacity.

Applicants must be Saudi nationals with their families residing in the Kingdom.

Neither the applicant nor family members can own suitable housing at the time of application or within the year before signing a contract.

Families with assets valued at SR5 million ($1.3 million) or more are excluded, though exceptions apply for personal vehicles and small residential plots.

Special provisions allow certain groups to apply independently, including divorced or widowed women under set conditions, unmarried women over 25, and individuals with disabilities or serious illnesses.

The points system prioritizes low-income families, granting 20 points to households earning less than SR3,000 monthly when applying for standard housing units, and 10 points for designated residential communities.

Extra points are awarded for applicants with serious health conditions or cases filed by mothers, wives, or siblings jointly. In case of equal points, priority goes to larger families, then lower incomes, then older applicants.

The regulations outline mechanisms for support allocation—housing units, land, or financing—with priority given to those able to repay installments.

For others, family guarantees or co-signers are required. Beneficiaries must use allocated support within set timeframes: land recipients must begin construction within a year and complete it within three years, or risk forfeiture.

Repayment is capped at 33 percent of the applicant’s income, with a maximum 25-year term, provided the beneficiary is no older than 65 at the end of repayment.

The regulations also impose strict data transparency requirements. Applicants must update their electronic accounts within 15 days of any change affecting eligibility.

Contracts obtained through false information will be voided, and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing reserves the right to reject or halt applications if required documents are not provided on time.

A grievance committee of at least three members will handle appeals, which must be filed within 60 days of notification of a ministry decision.