Brokerage Law Prompts Competitiveness in Saudi Real Estate Sector

 Real Estate Brokerage Law benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Real Estate Brokerage Law benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Brokerage Law Prompts Competitiveness in Saudi Real Estate Sector

 Real Estate Brokerage Law benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Real Estate Brokerage Law benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

CEO of Saudi Arabia's Real Estate General Authority (REGA) Abdallah al-Hammad said the adoption of the brokerage law will help create an attractive competitive environment in the sector according to governance that raises the quality of services, overcomes obstacles and preserves the rights of brokers.

He stressed that the sector will help achieve sustainable development, ensure good quality in its dealings and services, and support real estate establishments.

In late June, the Saudi cabinet approved the Real Estate Brokerage Law to regulate the services and reduce disputes.

The law helps govern transactions and ensures the brokerage contracts are reliable.

It covers all real estate activities and services and is exercised exclusively by licensed and qualified parties.

The regulation benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers.

Hammad stressed that the law is a part of the legislation developed to maintain real estate rights.

It promotes the quality of services and reduces disputes, he remarked, adding that under the law, mediation is required by licensees.

The new law helps achieve Vision 2030, which aims to increase the Kingdom's global real estate indicators classification.

Hammad made the remarks during an event organized by the Real Estate Commission of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.

The event was attended by businessmen and women who discussed the newly approved law.

Hammad underlined the role played by the Kingdom’s chambers to achieve the law’s objectives, namely supporting real estate establishments in various regions, raising the efficiency of human capital and the awareness of the target audience in the real estate sector, and striving to enable the sector to provide quality real estate services in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

All these goals aim to achieve the growth, sustainability and development of the real estate sector.



Saudi Non-Oil Exports Hit Two-Year High

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
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Saudi Non-Oil Exports Hit Two-Year High

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports soared to a two-year high in May, reaching SAR 28.89 billion (USD 7.70 billion), marking an 8.2% year-on-year increase compared to May 2023.

On a monthly basis, non-oil exports surged by 26.93% from April.

This growth contributed to Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus, which recorded a year-on-year increase of 12.8%, reaching SAR 34.5 billion (USD 9.1 billion) in May, following 18 months of decline.

The enhancement of the non-oil private sector remains a key focus for Saudi Arabia as it continues its efforts to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues.

In 2023, non-oil activities in Saudi Arabia contributed 50% to the country’s real GDP, the highest level ever recorded, according to the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s analysis of data from the General Authority for Statistics.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan emphasized at the “Future Investment Initiative” in October that the Kingdom is now prioritizing the development of the non-oil sector over GDP figures, in line with its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

A report by Moody’s highlighted Saudi Arabia’s extensive efforts to transform its economic structure, reduce dependency on oil, and boost non-oil sectors such as industry, tourism, and real estate.

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics’ monthly report on international trade noted a 5.8% growth in merchandise exports in May compared to the same period last year, driven by a 4.9% increase in oil exports, which totaled SAR 75.9 billion in May 2024.

The change reflects movements in global oil prices, while production levels remained steady at under 9 million barrels per day since the OPEC+ alliance began a voluntary reduction in crude supply to maintain prices. Production is set to gradually increase starting in early October.

On a monthly basis, merchandise exports rose by 3.3% from April to May, supported by a 26.9% increase in non-oil exports. This rise was bolstered by a surge in re-exports, which reached SAR 10.2 billion, the highest level for this category since 2017.

The share of oil exports in total exports declined to 72.4% in May from 73% in the same month last year.

Moreover, the value of re-exported goods increased by 33.9% during the same period.