Buyer’s advocate for the Holy Cities · Since 2007
Own a home near the Haramain, with an adviser on your side
Saudi Arabia opened Makkah and Madinah to property ownership by Muslims worldwide on 22 January 2026. Ihsan al-Haramain represents you, not the developer, from the first question to the title deed.
Why a buyer’s advocate
A new market, with rules that are enforced
For the first time, a Muslim living in New York or London, Dubai or Karachi, Singapore, Johannesburg or Jakarta, can own property rights in the Holy Cities. The opportunity is real, and so are the risks. The rules are new, the approved zones are specific, and some sellers will count on overseas buyers not knowing either.
Developers and agents are paid by the seller. We are paid by you. Our job is to find the right property for your purpose, check it thoroughly, negotiate the price and see the transaction through to registration.
The facts in brief
- In force since 22 January 2026: the Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis.
- Makkah and Madinah: open to Muslim individuals, resident or not, within zones designated by the Council of Ministers.
- Government charges: 5% Real Estate Transaction Tax, plus a non-Saudi fee currently set at 2% in the designated zones.
- One official route: every application goes through REGA’s Saudi Properties platform.
Where we advise
Four destinations, one programme
Two Holy Cities, the gateway city between them, and the economic city on the Red Sea coast.
Makkah
The Honoured. Homes and investment units within the approved zones around al-Masjid al-Haram.
Madinah
The Illuminated. Residences near al-Masjid an-Nabawi and in the city’s new master-planned districts.
Jeddah
The Gateway. The Red Sea port city, 30 minutes by train from Makkah.
KAEC
King Abdullah Economic City. Coastal communities on the Haramain railway.
The programme
From first enquiry to title deed
Six stages, each with a clear output. You decide at every step whether to continue.
- 1
Enquiry & qualification
You tell us what you want. We confirm whether you are eligible and whether your goal is achievable under the current rules.
- 2
Client brief
Your objectives, budget, time horizon, preferred locations and investment criteria, captured in one document.
- 3
Advisory agreement
We sign an agreement to act as your adviser and buyer’s advocate. Scope and fees are set out in writing.
- 4
Strategic advisory
Market research, sourcing including off-market stock, due diligence, and negotiation on your behalf.
- 5
Transaction execution
We manage the process through the Saudi Properties platform, payments and registration of your rights.
- 6
After completion
Leasing, property management through our Sakinah service, resale and portfolio advice, as you need them.
Two decades in the Holy Cities
We were here before the market opened
Alpha1Estates launched in January 2006 as the first company to market property in Makkah and Madinah to Muslims worldwide. It launched the Ihsan al-Haramain programme, the first real estate advisory programme for buying in the Holy Cities, on 1 January 2007.
Since then we have worked with developers including Jiwar, Taiba, Dar Al Arkan and Emaar; published an annual real estate index for Makkah and Madinah since 2013; and argued publicly, from 2012, for the reforms that opened the market to non-Saudi Muslims in 2026.
Buyer guides
Read before you buy
Plain-English guides, written from the official Saudi sources and updated as the rules change.
The 2026 ownership law, explained
Who may own, where, and what rights you actually acquire.
Designated zones in Makkah and Madinah
How the zones work and how to check a property against the official map.
Costs, taxes and fees
RETT, the non-Saudi fee and a worked example on a SAR 2 million apartment.
How to buy from abroad, step by step
Digital ID, bank account, platform application and registration.
Premium Residency and property
When property ownership can lead to residency, and when it cannot.
Start here
Tell us what you are looking for
Complete a short client brief and one of our advisers will reply within two working days with an initial view and next steps.