How to check a Saudi property broker

You can verify a property broker in Saudi Arabia through public electronic inquiry services provided by the Real Estate General Authority (REGA). REGA defines the FAL licence as an official permit that allows individuals and establishments to conduct real estate activities within the capacity of the licence. These activities cover brokerage and marketing, property management, facility management, auctions, consultations and real estate advertising. Confirming these credentials protects your purchase when buying a home in Makkah (Mecca) or Madinah (Medina).

What the FAL licence covers

A FAL licence issued by REGA permits individuals and establishments to conduct specific real estate activities. Each licence is restricted to the specific category granted to that holder. An individual licensed only for consultations or property management cannot conduct brokerage transactions on your behalf. Asking for their exact licence category before you engage them confirms they operate strictly within their authorised remit.

Looking up a broker licence

REGA provides public electronic inquiry services so buyers can check broker credentials directly.

Anyone can check a real estate broker’s FAL licence through REGA’s public broker inquiry service at eservicesredp.rega.gov.sa/auth/queries. This service allows clients to search by broker licence number, brokerage contract number or ownership document number.

REGA also maintains a dedicated FAL-licence enquiry with different search fields. That public enquiry has two search fields, the licence holder’s ID number and the establishment number. Because of this structure, checking a broker through that tool requires an ID number or establishment number, and cannot be done by name or by licence number.

To check an intermediary, ask for their establishment number or ID number, as well as their broker licence number.

Broker commission and transaction costs

Broker commission forms part of what it costs to buy in Makkah and Madinah.

Under Article 14 of the Real Estate Brokerage Law, broker commission defaults to 2.5% of the transaction value unless agreed otherwise in writing, paid by the party who engaged the broker.

If you hire a broker directly to locate a property in Makkah or Madinah, you are responsible for paying the agreed commission fee. If a seller engages the broker to market a property, the seller pays that fee unless the written contract assigns payment differently. Always record the agreed rate and payment terms in a written brokerage contract before moving forward.

Steps to take before paying

Checking credentials takes only a short time when you verify before you pay.

Request the broker’s FAL licence number and their establishment number or ID number. You can verify their credentials on REGA’s public broker inquiry service using their broker licence number, brokerage contract number or ownership document number.

If you use REGA’s FAL-licence enquiry, search by their ID number or establishment number, as that service does not search by name or licence number.

Next, confirm that their permit covers brokerage and marketing rather than consultations, property management or facility management.

Finally, specify the commission in a written contract under Article 14 of the Real Estate Brokerage Law, confirming whether it follows the statutory 2.5% rate and who pays it.

This is not legal advice. Rules change, and each fact above shows the date we last checked it. Speak to a licensed adviser before you commit money.