If you're renting in Saudi Arabia, Ejar (ejar.sa) isn't optional it's the law. But most tenants don't know what it actually does, what protections it gives them, or how it connects to their Ejari (ejari.sa) experience. Here's everything you need to know.
What Is Ejar?
Government-operated electronic rental registration platform
Launched under REGA (Real Estate General Authority) and MOMAH
Purpose: regulate Saudi Arabia's rental sector and protect all parties — tenant, landlord, broker
Scale: 10M+ registered contracts, ~19,000 new contracts registered daily
Why Is Ejar Registration Mandatory?
REGA mandate: all residential and commercial rental contracts must be registered on Ejar
Without Ejar registration: contract is legally unenforceable in Saudi courts
Protection it unlocks: dispute mechanism, eviction rules, rent change regulations, security deposit recourse
For expats specifically: Ejar registration is essential for iqama-linked housing compliance
What Does Ejar Registration Include?
Contract terms: start/end date, rent amount, unit details
Both parties' national IDs or iqama numbers
Automatic renewal clause (active by default for contracts >3 months)
Payment schedule and agreed terms documentation
Who Pays for Ejar Registration?
Standard practice: landlord pays the registration fee
Broker may handle the process on behalf of either party
Tenant typically pays zero for registration itself
Broker commission (separate): ~2.5% of annual rent, typically paid once
Key 2026 Updates to the Ejar Platform
Riyadh rent stabilization: enforcement now embedded within Ejar (no landlord can raise rent in Riyadh without platform-level approval)
Auto-renewal: contracts >3 months auto-renew unless 60-day notice is given
Digital dispute resolution: integrated directly within Ejar — no need to go to court first
Ejar App: enhanced tenant-side features — track your contract, payment history, renewal status
Ejar (إيجار) + Ejari (ايجاري): How They Work Together
Ejar (إيجار) (ejar.sa): the government registration platform، handles legal compliance
Ejari (ايجاري) (ejari.sa): the RNPL payment service، that lets you rent now and pay monthly, with ease
When you use Ejari: your contract is registered on Ejar automatically as part of onboarding
What you get: monthly payment flexibility + full legal protection at the same time, with no extra steps
How to Register on Ejar
Via ejar.sa or the official Ejar mobile app
Documents needed: national ID or iqama, unit details, landlord agreement
Process: typically completed within 1–3 business days
Or: apply through Ejari and it's handled for you during onboarding
FAQ
Is Ejar registration free for tenants? → Yes — landlord typically covers the fee.
Can I register my own rental contract on Ejar? → Yes, directly via ejar.sa.
What if my landlord refuses to register on Ejar? → REGA enforcement applies; you can file a complaint.
Is my Ejari contract registered on Ejar? → Yes — automatically upon Ejari onboarding.
Does Ejar work for expats? → Yes. Iqama is accepted in place of national ID.
Don't sign a contract that isn't on Ejar. With Ejari, it's handled automatically apply now.
