Ejar Network
Saudi Arabia's mandatory rental contract registration network. REGA-run under MoMaH. 10+ million contracts on file, 19,000 added daily.
On this page
Launched
2018
Operator
REGA Saudi Arabia
Cost
~2.5% of annual rent
Languages
Arabic, English
Overview
Ejar (ejar.sa) is Saudi Arabia's mandatory rental contract registration network, run by the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) under the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing. The platform was launched to regulate the kingdom's rental sector, bringing landlords, tenants, brokers, and government entities into one digital ecosystem. As of 2026 it has registered over 10 million rental contracts since launch, with a daily average of 19,000 contracts documented, which makes it the most critical touchpoint for the kingdom's housing sector.
REGA requires all rental contracts (residential and commercial) to be registered on Ejar. Once a contract is on the platform, it unlocks a set of legal protections: a formal dispute resolution mechanism through the rental judicial committees, clear eviction rules, rent change regulations under the kingdom's tenancy law, and recourse for security deposit disputes. Without registration, neither tenant nor landlord can avail of these protections, and the contract may not be admissible as evidence in housing disputes.
Three operational points matter. First, the Ejar registration fee is the landlord's legal responsibility, although tenants may agree to cover other costs like broker commissions. Second, contracts registered on Ejar can be set for automatic renewal at the end of the term, which prevents the lapse that has historically caused many tenancy disputes. Third, Ejar is integrated with Absher (for tenant identity), Najiz (for any dispute escalation), and the Ministry of Justice's enforcement courts, so an Ejar-registered contract has a clear digital trail through the entire legal system. Confirm specific registration fees and processes on ejar.sa before assuming any figure.
For Saudi residents Ejar is the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) mandatory rental contract registration network under the Ministry of Housing: every residential and commercial lease must be registered on Ejar before tenants can connect electricity (SEC), enrol children in school, sponsor family members for residence, or file rental disputes. The 2026 pattern: tenant and landlord sign through Nafath, the platform calculates fees, and the registered contract becomes the legal record. Pair Ejar with Absher (resident view), Najiz (real-estate and rental-dispute escalation), and Nafath (sign-on). Country context at our Saudi Arabia guide.
What changed and matters operationally in 2026: Ejar is now the only legal channel for rental contract registration - unregistered contracts are not enforceable and disqualify tenants from many downstream services; the platform integrates with REGA dispute resolution which handles tenant-landlord conflicts; fees are typically 2.5% of annual rent (1.25% each from tenant and landlord) but vary by contract type; the digital signature via Nafath has replaced paper signatures for most contracts. Landlord cooperation on contract registration is more reliable than in some neighbouring markets because the legal consequences of non-registration are severe.
Services offered
Residential and Commercial Contract Registration
Register every type of rental contract on Ejar, with the platform validating both parties' identities through Absher and the landlord's title deed through the kingdom's property registry.
Automatic Contract Renewal
Set the contract to renew automatically at term-end on the same terms, preventing accidental lapse. Either party can opt out of auto-renewal with the standard notice period. Annual renewal aligned to lease term.
Rent Dispute Resolution
File a dispute through Ejar that routes to the rental judicial committees. The platform tracks the dispute through to resolution and enforcement. REGA handles tenant-landlord conflicts.
Security Deposit Management
Track the security deposit, its return at end of tenancy, and any deductions for damages, with a clear evidence trail.
Contract Modification and Cancellation
Modify contract terms (rent, occupancy, additional clauses) with both parties' digital consent through Nafath, or cancel with the agreed notice period. At move-out; landlord typically initiates.
How to access Ejar
- 1
Landlord initiates registration
The landlord (or their licensed broker) opens ejar.sa, logs in with Nafath, and chooses Register New Contract. The platform pulls the landlord's identity and any title deeds from the kingdom's property registry.
- 2
Add tenant and contract details
Enter the tenant's National ID or Iqama, agreed rent, payment schedule, contract duration, security deposit, and any additional clauses. The platform validates the tenant identity through Absher.
- 3
Tenant approves through Nafath
The tenant receives a Nafath notification to review and approve the contract. Approval is biometric and constitutes the digital signature. Both parties now have an electronically signed contract with legal weight.
- 4
Pay the registration fee
The landlord pays the registration fee through SADAD. The fee is the landlord's responsibility under the law, although contracts can contractually shift costs. Once paid, the contract is registered and the PDF is available to both parties.
- 5
Manage the contract through the term
Both parties access the contract through their Ejar accounts. Renewals are managed through the same flow; disputes filed through the integrated dispute channel; modifications require both parties' Nafath approval.
Troubleshooting
The errors residents hit most often on Ejar, and the fix that works.
File complaint with REGA. Tenant can also initiate from their side via Ejar with signed contract upload; landlord is notified to confirm.
Confirm contract details on Ejar match what SEC sees (premise number, tenant name). Mismatches block SEC connection.
Nafath enrolment lapsed. Re-enrol via face-scan; for persistent failure, kiosk visit.
Verify annual rent figure on the contract; Ejar calculates from there. For commercial or short-term contracts, the schedule may differ.
Landlord must initiate. If refused, file with REGA - similar to Dubai's Ejari cancellation issue. Move-out condition photos support the case.
REGA handles via the Ejar platform. Upload evidence (contract, communications, photos). Resolution typically 30-90 days.
Tenant becomes month-to-month under default terms; landlord can issue notice. Register the renewal promptly to lock in new terms.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. REGA requires every residential and commercial rental contract in the kingdom to be registered on Ejar. Without registration, the contract loses access to the legal protections of the tenancy law and may not be admissible in dispute resolution.
By law, the landlord pays the registration fee. Tenants are not legally required to pay although some landlords try to push the cost to tenants contractually. Read the contract before paying anything and confirm the fee schedule on ejar.sa.
Once both parties approve through Nafath and the landlord pays the registration fee, the contract is registered immediately and the PDF is available to both parties. The whole process can be completed in under 30 minutes if both parties are responsive.
No. Ejar is the registration platform; the rental judicial committees are the dispute resolution body. Ejar feeds disputes into the committees and tracks them, but the actual adjudication is the committees' role.
Yes if both parties agree, or under the standard notice provisions of the contract, or in the cases recognised by the tenancy law (material breach, premises uninhabitable). Early cancellation flows through Ejar with both parties' Nafath approval.
If auto-renewal is enabled, the contract renews on the same terms for the same duration. If either party opted out, the contract ends on the term-end date and the parties either negotiate a new contract or vacate. Disputes about end-of-term are filed through Ejar.
Yes. Log in to ejar.sa or the Ejar app with Nafath, and the platform shows every contract registered against your National ID or Iqama, with PDF download for each.
Most family residence visa flows accept an Ejar-registered tenancy as proof of adequate housing for the sponsored family, with the unit size matching the family composition. Specific requirements vary by region and visa category; confirm with Jawazat or the relevant authority before submission.
Tenant exposure: an unregistered rental contract cannot be enforced in REGA disputes, blocks SEC electricity connection in many cases, disqualifies the tenant from filing a family residence visa application that requires proof of housing, and removes legal protection against arbitrary eviction. Saudi law requires Ejar registration; landlords who refuse are non-compliant and exposed to fines. First step: ask the landlord in writing to register within 7 working days, citing the legal requirement. If refused, file a complaint with REGA via the Ejar platform - REGA can compel registration or fine the landlord. As a tenant you can also initiate the registration from your side via Ejar with the signed contract upload; the platform then notifies the landlord to confirm. Most refusal cases resolve once the landlord understands the legal exposure of non-compliance.
The Ejar registration fee is typically 2.5% of the annual rent, split between tenant and landlord at roughly 1.25% each (the exact split can be modified by contract agreement). For an annual rent of SAR 60,000 the total Ejar fee is SAR 1,500, split as SAR 750 tenant + SAR 750 landlord. The fee is paid via SADAD at contract registration. Some commercial contracts have different fee structures; some short-term contracts (under a year) have reduced fees. The fee is a one-time per-contract charge, not annual unless the contract renews. Compared to Dubai's Ejari (AED 120 fixed) Ejar is materially more expensive on absolute terms but proportional to rent, which means the % cost is comparable for typical 1-bed apartments. Confirm exact fees on the Ejar screen before signing - REGA may adjust schedules.
Guides from the blog
Walkthroughs that use Ejar
Step-by-step guides for the most common transactions on this portal.
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