Saudi Arabia is preparing to introduce a new professional qualification framework for people entering the real estate brokerage industry, with updated requirements for first-time applicants taking effect on September 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
The new foundational level is designed to strengthen professional standards before brokers enter the market, combining specialized training with formal assessment and a greater focus on regulatory compliance.<\/p>\n
The changes form part of a broader effort by the Real Estate General Authority to improve the quality of brokerage services and establish a more structured professional pathway for practitioners.<\/p>\n
First-time applicants will be required to complete three core training programs covering real estate brokerage, real estate marketing, and fraud and money laundering prevention in the property sector.<\/p>\n
The brokerage program will run for two days, while real estate marketing will take four days. A further two days will be dedicated to fraud and anti-money laundering training.<\/p>\n
The mandatory qualification period will therefore total eight days, compared with 10 days under the previous pathway.<\/p>\n
The curriculum has also been reorganized, with electronic real estate marketing incorporated into the main marketing course rather than offered separately.<\/p>\n
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of dedicated fraud and anti-money laundering training as a mandatory component for new applicants.<\/p>\n
The program is intended to help future brokers recognize suspicious activity, understand relevant regulatory obligations and become more familiar with practices designed to protect clients and the wider property market.<\/p>\n
Its inclusion reflects the changing nature of the profession as Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector becomes increasingly regulated.<\/p>\n
A broker’s responsibilities now extend beyond connecting buyers and sellers or landlords and tenants. Compliance, transparency and awareness of financial crime risks are becoming an increasingly important part of professional practice.<\/p>\n
Training under the new pathway will be delivered through live online sessions, allowing applicants across the Kingdom to participate without having to travel for the classroom component.<\/p>\n
The final examination, however, will be conducted in person.<\/p>\n
Applicants who complete the required courses will sit a standardized examination at National Center for Assessment testing locations, with the process designed to verify candidates’ identities and assess their understanding of the material covered during training.<\/p>\n
Candidates will need to achieve a minimum score of 70% to pass.<\/p>\n
The Saudi Real Estate Institute will be responsible for preparing the examination and its academic content, while the National Center for Assessment will host and supervise the testing process.<\/p>\n
The new foundational requirements are primarily aimed at people applying for a real estate brokerage and marketing license for the first time.<\/p>\n
Brokers who already hold valid licenses will not be required to restart their qualification or complete the new training and examination requirements during the current phase.<\/p>\n
Existing practitioners will continue to renew their licenses under the procedures already in place.<\/p>\n
New licenses can continue to be issued through the current qualification route until August 31, before the foundational pathway takes effect the following day.<\/p>\n
The revised framework reduces the mandatory training period from 10 days to eight while also lowering the overall cost of the required programs.<\/p>\n
Mandatory training fees will stand at SAR 1,897.5, down from SAR 2,127.5 under the previous structure.<\/p>\n
With an additional SAR 150 examination fee, the total stated cost for a new practitioner will be SAR 2,047.5.<\/p>\n
Optional development courses will also remain available for practitioners who want to expand their professional knowledge, including programs related to the Ejar platform and financial aspects of real estate activity.<\/p>\n
The foundational level is intended to serve as more than a licensing formality.<\/p>\n
It is being positioned as the first stage of a broader professional pathway that could allow brokers to progress toward more advanced and specialized levels as their careers develop.<\/p>\n
The approach places greater emphasis on ensuring that new practitioners understand regulations, marketing, transactions and compliance before entering the market.<\/p>\n
The changes come as Saudi Arabia’s real estate brokerage sector continues to record significant activity.<\/p>\n
Official figures for the first quarter of 2026 showed 119,179 real estate brokerage contracts, alongside 15,414 licenses for brokerage activities and 112,728 licensed property advertisements.<\/p>\n
Alongside the new qualification pathway, a Diploma in Real Estate Laws and Regulations has also been introduced through cooperation between the Saudi Real Estate Institute and the Institute of Public Administration.<\/p>\n
The diploma is designed for professionals seeking deeper knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework governing the property sector.<\/p>\n
It remains an optional and separate professional program, however, and is not a requirement for obtaining or renewing a real estate brokerage and marketing license.<\/p>\n
The September changes point to a broader shift toward a more professionalized brokerage industry in the Kingdom, where regulatory knowledge, compliance and specialized skills are becoming increasingly important as the real estate market continues to expand and evolve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Saudi Arabia is preparing to introduce a new professional qualification framework for people entering the real estate brokerage industry, with updated requirements for first-time applicants taking effect on September 1, 2026. The new foundational level is designed to strengthen professional standards before brokers enter the market, combining specialized training with formal assessment and a greater focus on regulatory compliance. The changes form part of a broader effort by the Real Estate General Authority to improve the quality of brokerage services and establish a more structured professional pathway for practitioners. Three Mandatory Training Programs First-time applicants will be required to complete<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11169],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-en-category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n