Wednesday, February 1, 2023

How to find accommodation in Saudi

Saudi Arabia is governed by strict laws therefore, it is important to have the right information when looking for a place to live. Most expats will live in apartments in the city or in compounds, so this article focuses on these 2.

The first one we'll discuss is apartments. These are usually easy to find with different sizes and conditions all over the city. They can be much cheaper than a compound, so if you are on a budget or trying to save for that new home or car, this is where you want to be.



How to find apartments in a new city.

The first option is to look online like expats.com etc. This is a popular classifieds website where you can find furniture, services, housing etc. You could also try social media, there are usually groups for each city where you can find a lot of information. However, if you are new here you might not have the contacts or the knowledge to know the good areas, so in this case I'd suggest going to a real estate agent (Aqaar). 

These agents have small offices all over the cities and will have listings of all available properties. Unfortunately, the only issue is many of them do not speak English so take someone with you to negotiate. They will take you around to look at apartments and If you like any of their offerings, you can immediately sign a deal. All contracts have to be registered through the government platform called Ejar and the agent will do it all for you. The whole process only take a few minutes and you can immediately move in.

Apartment sizes are usually decent but the conditions vary so always try before you buy. Don't trust pictures so if you can’t check it yourself ask someone you trust to do so or at least ask for a video. FYI The cheaper your apartment the more carte blanche you have to make changes. 

I remember early on in my career, I was on a very tight budget and rented a very old apartment. During my stay there I overhauled the bathroom and the kitchen (this can be quite cheap if you do your homework). I obviously first got permission from the owner before starting my renovations. I got to pay a cheaper rent and now had a nice apartment.

Rent like anywhere in the world varies by location, however a very important point to remember is rent is usually paid in 6 months or yearly instalments. So if your apartment is advertised for Sr40000, it means you will have to cough up at least SR20000 before moving in. However, one thing you learn in KSA is that almost everything is up for negotiations, and I've know some agents who would allow 3 months installments too. People are quite sympathetic here so if you can convince the agent or the owner, then anything is possible.

A basic 2 bedroom apartment in the big cities can start from SR20000 up to SR60000. The utilities also vary but water bills are usually quite low and electricity is fair. Internet connections are easy to arrange, stable and not too expensive. I currently have a 200mb unlimited fiber optic line that costs around SR350 per month. 



The next option is compounds. These are gated communities with lots of in-house facilities, like swimming pools, squash courts, restaurants etc. They are obviously convenient as all the facilities are on your doorstep and are especially popular for families as there are places for kids to play all around. Most neighbors will also be fellow expats, so connecting is much easier.

How to find compounds.

The same rules apply as with the apartments, but the better compounds actually have websites where you can make enquiries and see pictures and videos. I would still advise to ask someone to have a look before you sign anything as pictures can be deceiving.

The rental procedures are also the same as for apartments but the rent can be anything from SR50000 up to Sr200000 a year.

Even after writing all this information I would strongly advise anyone new to find some help before trying to rent anything. Use your social media to connect with fellow expats in the area you'll be going to. As a whole, most expats would gladly help any newbie and could save you a considerable amount time, money and anxiety.

This information will definitely change after a while as things in KSA are quite fluid so PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT,


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