Saudi Real Estate Development Fund Drops 'First Housing' Down Payment to 5 %

View shows the King Abdullah Financial District, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
View shows the King Abdullah Financial District, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Saudi Real Estate Development Fund Drops 'First Housing' Down Payment to 5 %

View shows the King Abdullah Financial District, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
View shows the King Abdullah Financial District, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

General Supervisor of the Real Estate Development Fund Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Amoudi announced that the down payment for the first housing has been reduced from 10% to 5% to reduce the burden of the advance payment required by the financing parties.

Amoudi addressed challenges in the financing of retirees during the last period, and private sector employees.

Accordingly, appropriate financing solutions were adopted to find new solutions in partnership with banks and finance companies in obtaining mortgage loans by accepting financing from non-corporate entities.

More so, Amoudi announced the launching the “flexible installment” which tunes monthly installments according to the beneficiary’s income so that rates do not exceed 65% of the monthly income after retirement or in the case of a personal loan.

Amoudi stressed the body’s keenness to provide all facilities to beneficiaries and provide suitable financing solutions for all those on the Fund’s waiting lists.

The Saudi Ministry of Housing and Real Estate Development Fund announced its fourth installment of the “Residential” program for year 2018, with a total of 21,840 housing and finance services, distributed throughout the Kingdom.

This year’s programs is set to hit a target of completing 300,000 products, bringing the total of allocated housing support during the first four months to 83,562 residential and financial services.

Housing services provided by the ministry include 7,686 residential units under construction that are up for sale, in partnership with developers. Some 160 units are found in Riyadh and 188 in the Eastern Province.

At least 5,854 land plots are distributed over nine areas including 1,845 land plots in Makkah, 1,484 in Najran, 1,015 in the Asir region, 590 in Jizan, 396 in Al Jouf, 224 in the Eastern Region, 125 in Riyadh, 95 in Al Baha, and 80 in Al-Qassim region.

Financial support programs include 8,300 real estate loans from the Real Estate Development Fund in partnership with banks and financial institutions distributed throughout the Kingdom.



Saudi Entertainment Sector Continues to Attract More Visitors

An event during Riyadh Season 2024. SPA
An event during Riyadh Season 2024. SPA
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Saudi Entertainment Sector Continues to Attract More Visitors

An event during Riyadh Season 2024. SPA
An event during Riyadh Season 2024. SPA

The entertainment sector in Saudi Arabia continues to attract more visitors to achieve the country's target of 150 million visitors annually by 2030.

The General Entertainment Authority announced last Friday that Riyadh Season 2024 has already welcomed over 12 million visitors since its launch on October 13 with a daily average of around 174,000 visitors.

The number of visitors to Riyadh Season 2024 has already exceeded half the total attendance of last year's season, which was 20 million visitors, with a daily average of about 150,000 visitors.

Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh announced during a press conference for Riyadh Season 2024 that this year's edition will include 14 entertainment areas, 11 international tournaments, and 100 exhibitions and festivals.

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khatib revealed earlier this year that the country had achieved the goals of Vision 2030 by surpassing 100 million visitors. As a result, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s new strategy was set to reach 150 million visitors.

In September, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlighted Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector as a major contributor to the country’s economic diversification.
An IMF report acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s success in exceeding the Vision 2030 target of attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. Tourism revenues reached $36 billion in 2023, with net tourism income increasing by 38%. The sector’s direct and indirect contribution to GDP reached 11.5% in 2023, with expectations to grow to 16% by 2034.