Real estate lawyer in Saudi Arabia: sales, leasing, ownership disputes, and eviction

Reviewed by: Lawyer Hussain Aldadi · Published: 20 July 2026 · Last updated: 10 October 2026

Many real estate disputes begin before reaching court — from an unclear sale contract, a deposit whose effects were not defined, a lease contract in which the obligations were not organized, or a disagreement over the ownership of the land and its boundaries. The work of a real estate lawyer therefore begins by reviewing the title deed or ownership document, the contract, and the facts, then determining the appropriate path before taking a step that may be difficult to reverse.

From its office in Jeddah, Al-Safwa provides legal services related to sale, purchase, and lease contracts, title transfer and registration, and ownership, eviction, and encroachment disputes, with the ability to review files remotely for the rest of the Kingdom’s regions according to the nature of the service.

Send: the type of property — the city — the nature of the matter: sale / purchase / lease / eviction / ownership / encroachment — the most important document available to you.

When do you need a real estate lawyer?

You need a real estate lawyer when the decision is tied to an ownership right or an important financial obligation — such as buying or selling a property, signing a lease contract, paying a deposit, transferring ownership, a tenant refusing to vacate, a dispute over the title deed or boundaries, or an encroachment on land.

This does not mean every file needs a lawsuit. The right step may be reviewing the contract before signing, sending a notice, enforcing an existing instrument, or settling the dispute before litigation.

What do you receive from the real estate lawyer?

Depending on the nature of the service, the deliverables may include:

Review of the sale or lease contract with written legal observations.
A summary of the risks before paying the deposit or the price.
A list of the missing documents.
A map of the procedure, the authority, and the expected path.
Drafting a contract, a notice, or a settlement agreement according to the scope of work.
A statement of claim or a memorandum in the real estate dispute.
Review of the ownership documents, title deeds, and correspondence.
Determining whether the file needs a lawsuit, enforcement, or settlement.

Real estate lawyer services at Al-Safwa

Buying and selling real estate and title transfer

We review the deal before paying the deposit or signing the contract, verifying the ownership document and the clauses that govern the price, handover, title transfer, and termination.

For practical details, see drafting a real estate sale contract in Saudi Arabia.

Lease contracts and landlord–tenant disputes

We review the lease contract and the obligations related to rent, maintenance, renewal, and termination, and determine the appropriate path when a breach by one of the parties arises.

Lease contracts notarized through “Ejar” regulate the relationship between the parties, and the unified contract may have the status of an enforceable instrument depending on its condition; it must therefore be determined whether the dispute needs a lawsuit or direct enforcement.

Eviction lawsuits and handover of the property

Filing an eviction lawsuit is not the required path in every case; the existing instrument may allow moving directly to enforcement.

See the guide to a property eviction lawsuit in Saudi Arabia.

Ownership and title-deed disputes

Ownership disputes require arranging the chain of title, the documents, and the evidence before determining the appropriate judicial request.

For details, see a lawsuit to establish property ownership.

Encroachment on land and boundaries

The dispute may relate to adverse possession, fencing, construction, or a difference in boundaries, and it requires documenting the incident, the documents, and the location before choosing the procedure.

See the procedures for a land encroachment complaint.

Commercial and investment real estate

We review commercial real estate deals and investment and development contracts in terms of obligations, handover, returns, and contractual risks.

You can read about buying commercial real estate in Saudi Arabia.

Buying, selling, and title transfer: what does the lawyer review before completing the deal?

Before completing the sale or purchase of a property, legal review helps uncover the risks associated with ownership, the contract, the deposit, and title transfer before the obligation moves to a stage that is difficult to amend. The lawyer’s role here centers on examining the documents and arranging the rights and obligations before signing the contract or paying the amounts.

The ownership document

We review the property and owner data, and any apparent restrictions, rights, or obligations that may affect the transfer of ownership or the execution of the agreement.

The contract and the deposit

We review the value of the deposit and the cases for refunding or crediting it, and the dates for payment, termination, and compensation upon breach.

Handover and title transfer

The contract must specify the handover date, the condition of the property, and the seller’s obligation to complete the title transfer or registration, and what happens if that is not possible.

The documents before payment

The documents differ according to the deal, but they may include the title deed or the ownership registration deed, the contract, powers of attorney and authorizations, and anything related to the mortgage or restrictions.

For those dealing specifically with land, see a land sale contract template in Saudi Arabia.

The real-rights real estate registration system relies on registering ownership data, rights, and restrictions in the real estate register, and subsequent transactions on the registered property are also recorded in accordance with the system.

Leasing and eviction: how do we determine the right path?

When a disagreement arises in the lease contract, eviction or filing a lawsuit is not the correct path in every case. The assessment begins by reviewing the contract, documenting the breach, and determining whether a notice, settlement, termination, lawsuit, or direct enforcement is most appropriate according to the available instrument.

First: we review the contract

We determine the lease term, the rent, the payment method, maintenance, renewal, termination, notices, and the handover conditions.

Second: we determine the type of breach

Is the problem non-payment? Expiry of the contract? Non-compliant use? Damage or harm? Or a disagreement over a contractual clause?

Third: we examine the instrument

A lawsuit before the court may be required, and a notarized contract or an existing judgment may allow proceeding to enforcement instead of filing a new lawsuit.

Fourth: we choose the procedure

The path may begin with a notice or settlement, then a lawsuit when needed, or an enforcement request when a valid enforceable instrument is available.

If a judgment has already been issued, see the time to enforce a property eviction judgment instead of filing a new lawsuit.

The store service covers eviction, ownership, and real estate dispute lawsuits after studying the title deeds and contracts, while pleading in the hearings is determined by a separate agreement.

Proving ownership, possession deeds, and encroachment on land

Proving ownership

When there is a dispute over the ownership of land or a house, or the ownership documents are incomplete, we review the origin of the right, the chain of documents, and the evidence before determining the appropriate lawsuit.

Possession deeds and old documents

Commercial deals require additional examination; the property may be tied to existing lease contracts, a commercial activity, regulatory requirements, or third-party rights.

As for non-Saudis, the Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law came into effect on 22 January 2026, and ownership applications are now subject to specific controls, geographic zones, and categories through the official portal, so relying on old conditions when assessing the possibility of ownership is not advisable.

For updated details, see registering real estate ownership for foreigners in Saudi Arabia.

Encroachment and boundaries

If the dispute relates to fencing, construction, adverse possession, or exceeding the land boundaries, we begin by examining the ownership, the plans, and documenting the incident, then determine the appropriate request.

Commercial real estate and ownership by non-Saudis

Commercial deals require additional examination; the property may be tied to existing lease contracts, a commercial activity, regulatory requirements, or third-party rights.

For updated details, see registering real estate ownership for foreigners in Saudi Arabia.

How do we work on the real estate file?

We understand the problem and the goal

We determine whether the file is a contract before signing, a sale deal, a leasing relationship, or an existing ownership or eviction dispute.

We review the documents

We examine the contract, the title deed or ownership document, the correspondence, the notices, and the evidence of payment or breach according to the case.

We determine the path and the deliverables

We clarify whether you need a contract review, document drafting, a settlement, a lawsuit, or enforcement, and what will be delivered to you within the scope of work.

We carry out what has been agreed

The team begins on the agreed deliverable or procedure, with clear follow-up according to the stage of the file.

Real estate lawyer's fees

Fees vary according to the nature of the file. Reviewing a contract before signing differs from drafting a new contract, filing an eviction lawsuit, an ownership dispute, or a file that needs follow-up and enforcement.

Fees are affected by the volume of documents, the value and importance of the deal, the number of parties, the stage of the dispute, the type of deliverable required, and whether judicial representation is needed.

Al-Safwa determines the scope of work and the fees before starting, and does not provide a guarantee of the dispute’s outcome or a fixed duration that disregards the facts of the file.

See lawyers’ fees in Saudi Arabia

Real estate lawyer in Jeddah and the Western Region

Reviewing files in Jeddah

Al-Safwa receives sale, purchase, lease, and real estate dispute files at its office in Jeddah by prior appointment, with the ability to review the relevant contracts, title deeds, and documents.

For more on the local presence, see Jeddah lawyer.

Makkah, the Western Region, and the rest of the Kingdom

The consultation and the review of contracts, title deeds, and documents can begin remotely for files in Makkah, Taif, Madinah, and the rest of the Kingdom’s regions, then the scope of follow-up and attendance is determined when needed according to the nature of the file.

To learn which cities the office’s services cover and how the service is provided in each region, see legal service areas.

Frequently asked questions about the real estate lawyer

What does a real estate litigation lawyer do?

A real estate litigation lawyer reviews the contracts, ownership documents, and facts related to the deal or dispute, then determines the appropriate path such as contract review, notice, settlement, lawsuit, or enforcement according to the case.

Do I need a real estate lawyer before buying a property?

Review is especially useful before paying the deposit or the price when there are handover, title-transfer, mortgage, or other conditions that need examination. The scope of review differs according to the type of property and the deal.

Does the sale contract alone transfer ownership of the property?

The sale contract regulates the rights and obligations of the parties, but the transfer of ownership is also subject to statutory registration or title-transfer procedures according to the condition of the property and the real estate zone.

When do you need an eviction lawsuit and when is enforcement direct?

That depends on the contract, the available instrument, and the grounds for eviction. Some cases may need a court judgment, while other cases tied to an enforceable instrument allow going directly to enforcement. The contract must therefore be examined before choosing the path.

What do I do if someone encroaches on my land?

Start by documenting the incident and preparing the title deed or ownership document, the plans, the photos, and any correspondence, then determine the appropriate authority or lawsuit according to the nature of the encroachment and the property boundaries.

How do I handle a dispute over an old possession deed?

The nature and status of the document must first be determined, along with whether the dispute relates to updating it, a conflict with another ownership, or an incomplete ownership application. The current procedures differ from the old possession-deed path.

Can a non-Saudi buy a property in the Kingdom?

Yes, within the controls, categories, and zones defined by the updated law, the regulations, and the implementing decisions; the current status of the property and the buyer must therefore be reviewed before completing the deal.

How long does a real estate case take?

There is no single duration for all cases; the duration is affected by the type of request, the documents, the number of parties, the notification, the expert examination, and the judicial and enforcement procedures.

Start by reviewing your contract or your real estate dispute

If you are before buying or selling a property, or you have a lease contract, a tenant, or an ownership or encroachment dispute, send the most important document you have and a summary of the facts before choosing the procedure.

Al-Safwa Law Firm & Legal Consultations

Jeddah – Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street (“Tahlia”), Al-Yamamah Building.

Phone and WhatsApp: +966 59 591 1136

What did our clients say about the real estate lawyer services?

Before paying a deposit on a villa in Jeddah, I consulted Al-Safwa. They uncovered an undisclosed mortgage restriction on the title deed and amended the handover and termination clauses. The written risk summary saved me from a major loss and spared me a long time in dispute.

I suffered from a defaulting tenant for 8 months. The legal team cleaned up the whole file for me: from notarized legal notices to filing an eviction lawsuit in the real estate court. The result was recovering the unit and compensation in less than 4 months, with clear steps I was kept informed of.

The process of transferring ownership of inherited land was complicated by the many heirs. The lawyer organized the list of missing documents and followed up the procedures with the relevant authorities on our behalf. The written procedure map made everything clear, and the process went smoothly.