More than 89k families benefit from Sakani program

A view shows newly constructed residential buildings in Riyadh. (Reuters/File)
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Updated 15 May 2021
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More than 89k families benefit from Sakani program

  • Various projects are underway in parts of the Kingdom in partnership with real estate developers

RIYADH: A total of 89,493 families benefited from the various housing solutions offered by the Saudi Housing Ministry’s Sakani program since the beginning of 2021 until April 30, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

A total of 66,651 families have already moved into their new homes, according to official data.

The Ministry of Housing and the Real Estate Development Fund formed Sakani in 2017 with the aim of facilitating home ownership in the Kingdom through the creation of new housing stock, allocating plots and homes to nationals and financing their purchase. It has a goal of reaching 70 percent home ownership by 2030.

In April alone, 19,373 families benefited from the different housing options offered by Sakani.

The program recently launched new e-services to serve people effectively.

The app, which allows users to access four new services, can be downloaded at: qrco.de/bc5N3L.

HIGHLIGHTS

● A total of 89,493 families benefited from the various housing solutions.

● In April alone, 19,373 families benefited from the Sakani program.

● The program recently launched new e-services to serve people.

The services include electronic financing, ready-made units, approved contractor, and interactive maps.

The services had been added to ensure Sakani becomes “the go-to destination for housing services and solutions, in order to make it easier for Saudi families to own their first home.”

Various projects are underway in parts of the Kingdom in partnership with real estate developers.

About 178 infrastructure projects covering 244 million square meters have been developed at a cost of more than SR8 billion ($2.13 billion), said National Housing Company CEO Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Bati.

“In 2017, housing options under construction were limited, but now developers are racing to obtain licenses,” said General Supervisor of Real Estate Development Deputyship at the Ministry of Housing, Sultan Al-Sheikh. 

“Reservation of residential units on new developments is often complete within a few days and in some cases hours.”


Work suspended on Riyadh’s massive Mukaab megaproject: Reuters

Updated 27 January 2026
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Work suspended on Riyadh’s massive Mukaab megaproject: Reuters

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has suspended planned construction of a colossal cube-shaped skyscraper at the center of a downtown development in Riyadh while it reassesses the project's financing and feasibility, four people familiar with the matter said.

The Mukaab was planned as a 400-meter by 400-meter metal cube containing a dome with an AI-powered display, the largest on the planet, that visitors could observe from a more than 300-meter-tall ziggurat — or terraced structure —inside it.

Its future is now unclear, with work beyond soil excavation and pilings suspended, three of the people said. Development of the surrounding real estate is set to continue, five people familiar with the plans said.

The sources include people familiar with the project's development and people privy to internal deliberations at the PIF.

Officials from PIF, the Saudi government and the New Murabba project did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Real estate consultancy Knight Frank estimated the New Murabba district would cost about $50 billion — roughly equivalent to Jordan’s GDP — with projects commissioned so far valued at around $100 million.

Initial plans for the New Murabba district called for completion by 2030. It is now slated to be completed by 2040.

The development was intended to house 104,000 residential units and add SR180 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP, creating 334,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030, the government had estimated previously.

(With Reuters)