A breakdown of where foreigners can buy in Makkah

Figuring out which zones are included within the foreign ownership policy is rather straightforward. The official SaudiProperties site clarifies each of the zones and their respective boundaries within Makkah (and Madinah, too).

However, this is only the starting point. For those interested in buying property in Makkah, the more important layer is to determine what's available in the market today.

It's important to distinguish between the three categories: eligible zones, announced projects, and projects in the sales stage.

Firstly, there are zones that have been announced under the foreign ownership policy, but with no project details behind them. Take Makkah Zones 1 and 3 as an example.

Secondly, there are projects which have been announced, albeit have not initiated the sales process. One of the most prominent projects in Makkah, King Salman Gate, falls within this category. The more recently announced Mathaba, under Thakher Development, is also one such project.

Details for these projects are slim, but they're in the pipeline.

The third category is the most relevant. These are the remaining projects within the approved foreign ownership zones and currently marketing units for sale.

Within this final category, there is a wide range of residential units on offer.

Within the luxury segment, Jabal Omar's Jumeirah Living is pricing its offering from ⃁5.8M (£1.14M) for studios. Larger units within Jumeirah are priced even higher depending on unit size. With a price per sqm of ⃁85,000-90,000 (£16,800-17,800), this is nearly twenty times higher than the market-entry priced projects in Makkah, driven by Jumeirah's close proximity to Masjid al-Haram.

There are several projects within a 10-minute drive of Masjid al-Haram, priced at approximately ⃁30,000 (£5,900) per sqm.

Within Masar, Arabian Dyar is the largest sub-developer, with other players such as Ramz and Retal also selling units within their respective building plots. Studios are for sale from ⃁1.7-1.9M (£335,000-375,000), with one-bedroom units ranging from ⃁2.0-2.6M (£395,000-515,000) and two-bedroom units ranging from ⃁3.4-3.6M (£670,000-710,000).

Within a similar price range of ⃁30,000 (£5,900) per sqm, Thakher is also selling residential units. Whilst the Thakher project is still under development, there are select building plots that have been completed, such as Novotel Residences. Unlike the units in Masar, which are due to come online from 2027-2029 and thus only purchased off-plan, the units in Thakher are ready units for sale.

The market-entry priced units are further from Masjid al-Haram, approximately 20-25 minutes by car, and located in the west of the city. Roshn AlManar is currently constructing phase 1 of its residential community, offering villas, duplexes and townhouses.

The pricing of these is significantly lower, with units priced from ⃁1.0-1.2M (£195,000-235,000) and a price per sqm of ⃁4,500 (£890).

Across the units available to purchase, the spectrum is broad and the optimal unit varies based on buyer preferences and budget.

The global market to purchase real estate in Makkah is barely two months old. Navigating the space can be complex, and the Buyer's Guide to Makkah (and its sister Madinah publication) provides clarity on the process, as well as more details on each project.