The homeownership rate in Saudi Arabia moved closer to a new threshold as 32,983 families received their first home in the first quarter of 2026. The rate climbed to 66.24 percent at the end of 2025, once again highlighting the transformation seen in the country's housing policy in recent years.
The efforts demonstrated the impact of steps to expand housing access under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The Real Estate Development Fund and the Sakani program surpassed the 1 million mark in subsidized contracts, reaching a significant scale on the financing and regulatory side.
Emphasis on coordination in the housing system
Municipalities and Housing Ministry Spokesperson Mohammed Al-Rassasmah said that 32,983 Saudi families accessing their first home in just three months of the first quarter shows that the different components of the housing ecosystem are working together. Al-Rassasmah explained that a multi-layered progress has been achieved, from strengthening the regulatory and legal framework to increasing housing options, and from financing solutions to private sector partnerships.
Al-Rassasmah stated that projects expanded in a planned manner and different housing products are responding better to the changing needs of Saudi families. He emphasized that digital transformation has accelerated processes, making access to suitable housing easier.
Private sector and land development played a key role
The spokesperson noted that one of the main drivers of growth in the housing sector has been private sector partnerships. He said these collaborations have both increased housing supply and contributed to faster project progress.
He conveyed that in the new era, real estate developers are offering more diverse housing products, while the ministry is working to improve the investment environment and increase competition. Thus, he noted, the sector is not limited to standalone housing production but is moving towards integrated urban communities that include services, infrastructure, and quality of life.
Sales model and financing access stand out
According to Al-Rassasmah, build-on-plot sales projects have become one of the most important tools in recent years for increasing housing supply and accelerating real estate development. These projects expanded ownership opportunities by paving the way for larger and more diverse investments.
It was noted that the ministry's close monitoring of this area with a strict regulatory and supervisory framework increased confidence in the projects and protected buyer rights. The spokesperson stated that for this reason, build-on-plot sales are among the most reliable routes for those wishing to become first-time homeowners.
Al-Rassasmah, who said they approach housing demand with a long-term strategy, stated that the priorities include increasing supply, supporting developers, preparing land and master plans, encouraging investment flows, and expanding projects in high-demand areas.
Al-Rassasmah also said that mortgage financing has been decisive in the increase seen in recent years, and that various financing options supporting families' purchasing power have driven homeownership upwards. He also relayed that 23,222 families benefited from housing support services in the first quarter alone, and that the number of subsidized contracts exceeded 1.02 million as of the end of March.
This transformation in Saudi Arabia has been assessed as signifying a structural change that strengthens the sustainability of the housing market and improves quality of life. The government's target is to raise the homeownership rate to 70 percent.
