Saudi authorities have launched a digital portal, the Real Estate Balance Platform (Tawazoun), allowing eligible Saudi citizens to apply for affordable, pre-planned residential plots in Riyadh as part of a drive to rebalance the capital’s property market and expand homeownership.
The initiative — issued under a directive from the Crown Prince to curb speculative land hoarding and enhance housing affordability — makes thousands of serviced plots available across planned neighbourhoods, with the government retaining conditions to ensure plots are developed and not left idle.
Under the new framework, applicants must register through the Tawazoun portal where eligibility checks and the application process are handled digitally; the platform also provides guidance and support services to applicants. Authorities have emphasised that allocations will carry obligations such as development timelines to ensure plots are brought into productive use.
The scheme is designed to offer plots at subsidised or regulated price points in targeted growth zones. Reporting on the rollout indicates some plots will be priced attractively relative to market rates — with published guidance suggesting prices in certain areas could be capped around 1,500 SAR per square metre — to make ownership accessible for middle-income families.
Officials say the move is complementary to wider housing reforms under Vision 2030, including measures to penalise undeveloped “white land” and speed up approvals, all aimed at increasing supply and moderating rapid land-price inflation in Riyadh. Planners also expect the programme to steer development into serviced, sustainable neighbourhoods rather than ad-hoc expansion.
Prospective applicants are advised to consult the official Tawazoun portal and the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing platforms for full application criteria, timelines and any supporting documentation required before applying. Authorities have said allocations will be subject to clauses that restrict sale or lease for a fixed period and tie beneficiaries to development commitments.
