Saudi Arabia Residency by Investment: Routes and Costs (2026)
Does buying property give you residency?
Not automatically. A standard purchase does not grant residency rights. But Saudi Arabia does run an official residency-by-investment programme, and property ownership opens one of its strongest routes.
The Real Estate Owner route
Buy an unencumbered property worth SAR 4,000,000 or more (about GBP 820,000) and you can apply for self-sponsored Premium Residency, covering you and your family. You keep the property, live, work and rent without needing a sponsor, and the residency stands independently of employment.
| Premium Residency option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Limited duration (renewable) | SAR 100,000 per year | Flexible, good first step |
| Permanent | SAR 800,000 one-time | Lifetime, includes family |
| Real Estate Owner | Property of SAR 4m+ | Residency via qualifying property |
Other pathways
- •Investor residency: through a licensed Saudi company with qualifying investment
- •Entrepreneur: innovative business endorsed in the Kingdom
- •Special Talent: senior professionals in demand fields
- •Company formation route: your own 100% foreign-owned company sponsors your visa and iqama, and covers dependants
Which route fits a property investor?
If you are buying a single property under SAR 4m and want residency, company formation is usually the practical path: the company holds assets, sponsors your residency and can add family members. If you are buying at or above SAR 4m, the Real Estate Owner route may give you residency with no extra fee beyond the property itself.
Family coverage
Premium Residency and company-sponsored iqama both extend to spouse and children, with schooling and healthcare access. Personal visitors' visas remain separate. Our formation team, Vision Saudi, runs the full application, led by senior legal counsel Dr. Abdullatif Alwasm.
How to start
Book an investor briefing and tell us your goals: investment only, investment plus residency, or business plus residency. We map the route, costs and timeline in one session, and the legal work is handled end to end.
Ready to see live opportunities?
Book a private briefing, or run your numbers first with our free calculators.