Saudi Arabia Lowers Housing Support Eligibility Age to 20 in Push to Boost Homeownership

In a major policy shift aimed at expanding access to homeownership, Saudi Arabia has lowered the minimum age for housing support eligibility from 25 to 20, the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing announced this week.

The move is part of the Kingdom’s broader strategy to promote early homeownership among its younger population and supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 — an ambitious national plan focused on economic diversification and social reform.

Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, hailed the Cabinet’s decision in a post on social media platform X, thanking King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support. “This step will contribute to enabling more families to benefit from diverse housing and financing options, in line with the goals of the Housing Program and Saudi Vision 2030 to raise the homeownership rate to 70 percent,” Al-Hogail stated.

The updated eligibility age is one of several reforms introduced to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of the Saudi Housing Program, also known as Sakani. The program, which has been instrumental in advancing social welfare and economic stability, was recently praised by the International Monetary Fund. In its September Article IV Consultation, the IMF cited the program’s success in raising the homeownership rate to around 64 percent and achieving a 90 percent satisfaction rate among beneficiaries.

Among the other key reforms is the elimination of the financial dependency condition previously imposed on wives and divorced mothers, a move designed to promote gender equality in housing access. Additionally, the mandatory waiting period for divorced women seeking housing support is set to be revised, with specific guidelines to be announced in upcoming regulatory updates.

Another significant change involves reducing the minimum holding period for housing-supported properties from 10 years to five. This adjustment is intended to provide greater flexibility for homeowners, allowing them to sell or transfer assets more easily and respond to evolving personal or economic circumstances.

To ensure integrity within the system, authorities have also introduced stricter penalties for false information submitted during the application process. Under the new rules, the government will be empowered to reclaim financial support, residential units, or land from any applicant found to have misrepresented their eligibility.

Applications under the new criteria will be accepted once the updated regulatory framework is officially finalized and implemented, the Saudi Press Agency confirmed.

The latest reforms underscore Saudi Arabia’s commitment to making homeownership more accessible and adaptable to the needs of a younger, more dynamic population.