Saudi Arabia Allocates 100 Mln Sqm of Land to Reduce Real Estate Prices

Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al Hogail (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al Hogail (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Allocates 100 Mln Sqm of Land to Reduce Real Estate Prices

Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al Hogail (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al Hogail (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al Hogail said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered allocating the residential sector with 100 million square meters (sqm) of land in Riyadh and other cities, where land and real estate prices are rising.

Al Hogail revealed that about 1.5 million Saudi families have benefited from housing subsidies during the past four years.

Moreover, the minister affirmed that the rate of ownership among Saudis has reached about 60% since the launch of the housing program until 2020. This means that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of having 70% Saudi ownership of homes is almost achieved.

In a Monday press conference, Al Hogail said that real estate financing recorded significant leaps, providing more than 300,000 annual mortgage loans since the launch of Vision 2030.

The Kingdom is exerting efforts to ensure a sustainable housing environment that aligns with four key axes that include financing, supply support, legislation development, and services.

The Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) wholly owned Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co. (SRC) supported market liquidity by purchasing portfolios of over SAR25 billion ($6.6 billion) in the last two years.

“By the end of this year, we aim to buy additional portfolios worth SAR45 billion ($12 billion) to inject liquidity into the financing sector, and ensure products of up to 25-year term to facilitate loans for nationals,” Al Hogail added.

The housing program targets providing 365,000 homes until 2025 to fulfill the applications in the program, the minister affirmed.

The ministry aims to find solutions for all income brackets, including the neediest families. The Joodeskan platform served 8,000 households through offering units and supporting rents. Total contributions on the platform surpassed SAR 1 billion ($266 million) in 2022.



Saudi Arabia, Italy Sign 26 Investment MoUs

The Saudi-Italian high-level roundtable took place in AlUla on Sunday. SPA
The Saudi-Italian high-level roundtable took place in AlUla on Sunday. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Italy Sign 26 Investment MoUs

The Saudi-Italian high-level roundtable took place in AlUla on Sunday. SPA
The Saudi-Italian high-level roundtable took place in AlUla on Sunday. SPA

The Saudi-Italian high-level roundtable took place in AlUla on Sunday, with the participation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, CEOs, private sector leaders, and representatives from major companies of both countries.

The meeting highlighted the expanding partnership between the two countries and resulted in the signing of 26 memoranda of understanding across key industries, including construction, renewable energy, cultural exchange, and advanced technologies.

It also explored collaborative prospects in green energy, automotive manufacturing, infrastructure development, tourism, agrifood, solar and wind energy projects, sustainable tourism initiatives, and advanced construction technologies.

Italian businesses highlighted their aim to capitalize on an estimated SAR11.8 trillion in Saudi inward investment over the next six years.

Heritage tourism was also a key focus, with participants highlighting Italy’s expertise and Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a leading global travel destination. As the Kingdom plans to create 1.6 million tourism jobs by 2030, Saudi-Italian partnerships are poised to drive skills development, promote sustainable tourism, and expand opportunities in the private sector.

In 2023, Saudi exports to Italy reached SAR18.5 billion, driven primarily by mineral fuels and petrochemicals, while imports from Italy totaled SAR22 billion, reflecting strong demand for Italian products such as machinery, pharmaceuticals, and advanced engineering solutions.

In 2024, 63 investment licenses were granted to Italian firms in the Kingdom—an increase of 110% over the previous year—underscoring the rising Italian interest in advanced manufacturing, construction, and renewable energy.