The Ministry of Housing, through the "Ejar" program and in cooperation with the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce, held the first introductory meeting on the Ejar network, aimed at organizing the real estate rental sector. The event witnessed the participation of several stakeholders and specialists in real estate affairs.

The introductory meeting addressed the electronic system of the "Ejar" network, steps for registration, and the advantages and obligations of each party involved in the rental process. It also included a detailed explanation of the unified rental contract and all its specific provisions.

General Supervisor of Rental Sector Regulation Engineer Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Bati explained that "Ejar" is being implemented in multiple phases. The first phase, launched in February, focused on registering real estate brokers with "Ejar" alongside holding workshops for real estate brokerage establishments. The second phase, set to commence soon, will include the addition of residential units and brokerage agreements.

He emphasized that "Ejar" is an integrated system designed to develop and regulate the Kingdom’s real estate rental sector in a balanced manner by introducing sustainable solutions to market challenges, safeguarding the rights of all parties involved, and streamlining rental sector procedures with transparent, efficient, and secure systems and mechanisms.

Al-Bati noted that "Ejar" seeks to achieve several key objectives, including enhancing rental sector performance, increasing its contribution to GDP, reducing rental-related disputes, and striking a better balance between supply and demand to ensure fair rental prices. The program also aims to strengthen trust in the rental market and regulate the work of real estate brokers, thereby creating more job opportunities for citizens.

He added that a clear set of conditions has been established for registering real estate brokers with "Ejar." These include that the broker must be a Saudi national, and the brokerage establishment must hold a valid commercial registration covering the activities of "management and rental of owned or leased residential properties" and "management and rental of owned or leased non-residential properties." Additionally, the establishment’s headquarters must be registered in the National Address System, and brokers must complete an electronic training course specifically designed to qualify them before engaging in rental contract activities, while also complying with real estate office regulations.

"Ejar" will provide real estate brokerage establishments with a range of benefits, enabling brokers to operate more effectively. Chief among these is the regulation of the real estate brokerage profession, as "Ejar" only accepts contracts processed through registered brokers. The program also provides brokers with advanced tools to verify tenant and lessor data, as well as the ownership status of rental properties, reducing the likelihood of disputes. Further services include electronic rental payment options, periodic notifications on financial transactions, important alerts, and a dedicated database for each broker, allowing them to store and retrieve contracts electronically, eliminating the burden of manual record-keeping, along with other features.

"Ejar" is one of several initiatives launched by the Ministry of Housing to organize the Kingdom’s housing market through an advanced electronic platform that provides integrated solutions for the rental sector. The platform brings together all parties to the rental process in a single virtual environment, ensuring transparency and protection of rights for tenants, lessors, and brokers. It also guarantees optimal utilization of rented properties and strict adherence to all contractual terms. The unified rental contract, activated through the system, serves as a key mechanism to guarantee and safeguard everyone’s rights.

The system will also provide tenants with a rental history record and link contracts to an electronic payment system, allowing tenants to make payments with flexibility. Multiple payment options will be available, including monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual payments. In addition, the system enables linking electricity bills to the tenant’s name for the contract duration.