Interview: Mohammad Al Suliman, CEO, Real Estate Registry, on how technology is transforming property investment
What are the ways in which digital tools will reshape property ownership and transactions?
MOHAMMAD AL SULIMAN: A national property database linked to geospatial maps has been developed and is operational, allowing businesses and individuals to capture ownership rights. Since the launch of title registration in May 2023, aircraft-based geospatial surveys mapped over 100,000 sq km with 10-cm resolution imagery, significantly accelerating verification and registration processes. Tokenisation directly enables fractional real estate investment, improves market accessibility and liquidity. The rollout of title registration faced challenges, but growth has been rapid – from 2800 announced parcels at the time of the launch to meeting our target, with over 4m parcels ready for registration. Processing capacity has expanded from 50 titles per hour to 6000 per business day on average, each guaranteeing secure ownership rights within one year.
Where are opportunities to integrate accurate real estate data with giga-projects?
AL SULIMAN: Giga-projects such as NEOM, New Murabba and Diriyah rely on accurate, up-to-date property data. Reliable ownership records integrated with digital dashboards allow these developments to manage rights while ensuring transparency and informed investment decisions. Our platforms provide insights on supply and demand, transaction volumes and property valuations. Meanwhile, regulatory advancements such as the ability to manage properties remotely reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to openness, innovation and investment-friendly policies.
In what ways can clear property rights and reliable title registration attract investment?
AL SULIMAN: Absolute ownership – where titles gain full validity within one year of registration, with no objection to the ownership – offers the long-term security investors demand. This assurance eliminates disputes, facilitates more secure financing and reinforces trust in Saudi Arabia as a safe environment for capital inflows. Global interest is strong, with firms partnering with local developers on housing projects totalling more than 20,000 units over recent years.
By guaranteeing absolute ownership, Saudi Arabia is setting regional benchmarks in transparency and investment security. At the same time, the Kingdom’s young and growing population is driving sustained real estate demand. Reliable and transparent property systems serve as powerful magnets for global investment, fuelling large-scale developments that shape thriving, demographic needs, support affordability and stabilise prices – all of which are key pillars of Vision 2030.
How will integrating real estate market data with urban planning help ease affordability pressures as demand continues to outpace supply?
AL SULIMAN: Using advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, we give authorities real-time insights to direct housing projects where they are most needed and restore balance in the market. Our digital infrastructure is also accelerating market execution. In one case, a developer split nearly 7000 plots from a single deed – a process that once took months and was completed in 72 hours through our systems. This enabled immediate access to mortgages and sales, allowing developers and financiers to respond more quickly in line with market demand.
We are also strengthening off-plan credibility as part of supporting housing delivery. Once approved, projects are automatically certified, enabling banks to finance unit certificates that can also be resold securely through our platform, increasing market confidence and liquidity. In addition, our new business services enable institutions to manage entire portfolios under a unified digital framework, combining speed, transparency and comprehensive oversight – critical tools for addressing affordability pressures over the long term.
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