The 3 projects to keep an eye on in Madinah

The foreign ownership zones have been out for a few weeks now, clarifying where exactly you can buy in Madinah.

The choice is surprisingly limited. We recently covered the projects in Makkah, and there was certainly more choice for an international audience looking to enter the Saudi residential market.

So what do we have in Madinah? The SaudiProperties website is the single source of truth when it comes to where foreigners can purchase property in Madinah. It's also our reference point whenever we convey any information regarding foreign ownership.

However, relying on this source alone will only give you a flavour of the different geographic zones included in the latest policy.

If you want to know what type of units are in each project, what makes it different, and whether it's residential-friendly or not, you'll want to keep reading.

Of the 10 geographic zones officially communicated, there's information on only 5 of them publicly available today. Of those 5, only 3 are focused on residential sales.

Take Al Mahwa, one of the 10 zones. Search for it and there's little to find. That's a reflection of the phased nature of any real estate project. It's only once a project reaches a certain degree of maturity that you start seeing meaningful detail.

So we filtered the list down to these 3.

1. Rua Al Madinah

The highlight of Madinah's future development story. Immediately adjacent to the eastern side of Masjid an-Nabawi and the Baqi cemetery, there are few parcels of land that can compete with such a location.

The project is being developed by a PIF subsidiary, which gives Rua Al Madinah a backing and credibility that other smaller projects cannot compete with.

It is expected to be the future flagship project of Madinah. Covering 1.3M sqm of land area, it will bring rise to 47,000 hotel keys.

There are already deals signed with 19 hotel brands across the Marriott, Accor and Hyatt portfolios. This alone is evidence of the confidence in this project.

Whilst residential sales have not been announced for Rua Al Madinah, its offering is expected to be unique. Few projects can claim a few minutes' walking distance to Masjid an-Nabawi.

2. Knowledge Economic City

Located on the eastern side of Madinah, Knowledge Economic City comprises 5 sub-districts, from pure residential plays like AlAlyaa to its culture-themed Islamic World District.

KEC creates a city within a city. Retail malls, parks and hotels, all within a single development. For those looking for Madinah's new lively destination, KEC is offering precisely that.

Within 10 minutes, you can expect to be under the umbrellas of Masjid an-Nabawi.

Its projects are currently selling off-plan, with 2, 3 and 4-bedroom apartments for sale.

3. Meshraf al Majdiah

A pure residential play, again in the east of the city. Meshraf is located on the other side of the Haramain station to KEC, providing a quieter community for those looking for a family-oriented neighbourhood.

Its sales track record speaks for itself, with Phase 1 completely sold out and buyers currently on the waitlist for Phase 2.

There are over 1,000 apartments and around 400 villas on offer across Meshraf. Given its popularity and, admittedly, the lack of options across Madinah, it's certainly one to watch as it enters its second phase.

What does this mean for you?

You now have a flavour of Madinah's 3 biggest residential projects. Over time, there'll be new entrants coming into the market.

If you're looking to make a decision about purchasing in Madinah, then you'll want to read our Buyer's Guide to Madinah.

The guide breaks down how to buy property, where to look, and what's on offer in more detail. Download it today and stay informed with Madinah's development scene.